Spending quality time with our Jesse with two breakfasts and a BBQ

First there was a breakfast buffet at The Chaterbox Pub in Saint Paul. I am always tempted by the amazing selections of the buffet, and then ultimately disappointed. Even with the cheddar hash browns, I would have been better off ordering from the menu. Note to self: NO MORE BUFFETS.

This is also the place Stan and I had our first double date with Sarah and Jesse.

The connect four game was intense. Noah usually won.

Jesse is defeated!

Then came the family BBQ at Reade and John's house. It was both mellow and delicious.

The guest of honor and his peeps.

We got to spend some quality time with our Jesse.

Jesse with his big brother.

And his little brother.

Me, my boy and my best friend ever.

Last, but not least, was breakfast at The Bad Waitress before Sarah flew off to Norway for a month. There was lots of smooching.

Aww. . .

Double awww. . .

Seven days and counting down to Jesse's departure to California. Sigh.

Barak Obama's Tax Plan vs. John McCain's tax plan

Some of the many, many lies of McCain

Signing of the GI Bill: Now enthusiastically for it... after it passed. Previously attacked the Webb Bill. Didn't even bother to vote on it.
http://bravenewfilms.org/...

Campaign reform: On political reform, McCain last January opposed a grassroots lobbying bill he once supported. In 2006, the "New York Sun" reported that his presidential ambitions led McCain to reverse his support of a campaign financial bill called McCain/Feingold.
http://www.nysun.com/...

Alien Minors Act/Immigration: Last October he said he would vote against the development, relief and education for Alien Miners Act that he co-sponsored, and then said he would vote against an immigration bill that he introduced.
http://www.youtube.com/...

Gay Marriage: In 2006, he said on "HARDBALL," quote, I think that gay marriage should be allowed. Then after the commercial break he added, I do not believe that gay marriages should be legal.
http://www.youtube.com/...

Abortion: On abortion, 1999, publicly supporting Roe v. Wade, privately opposing it in a letter to the National Right to Life Committee. In the 2000 debates, he would change the GOP platform to permit exceptions for rape, incest, the life of the mother. May 2007, "flipped", ABCNews.com reported.
http://abcnews.go.com/...

Nuclear Waste: No Storing Nuclear waste at Yucca mountain earlier..now flipped
http://www.lasvegassun.com/...

Negotiating with Kim Jong-Il: Negotiating with Kim Jong-Il not acceptable until President Bush did it last week.
http://bondibox.newsvine.com/...

Negotiating with Cuba/Castro: With Fidel Castro acceptable in 2000, not 2008.
http://vids.myspace.com/...

Negotiating with Hamas/Terrorists: ...with terrorists appropriate when Colin Powell went to Syria and in 2006 when McCain said sooner or later we‘ll talk to Hamas, but not appropriate now re: Obama's willingness to use diplomacy.
http://bondibox.newsvine.com/...

Pakistan: Unilateral action against suspected terrorists in Pakistan; "Confused leadership" when Obama suggested it, not when Bush did it.
http://www.crooksandliars.com/...

Warrantless Wire-taps: Six months ago, presidents had to obey the law, not anymore.
http://www.nytimes.com/...

Torture: Torture detainees, no way, except for the CIA. Hold them indefinitely, wrong in 2003, the right move in 2008.
http://www.youtube.com/...

Iraq War: The Iraq war, the right course 2004, stay the course 2005. Today, McCain has always been a Rumsfeld critic.
http://thinkprogress.org/...

Tax Cuts: In 2001, he could not in good conscious support them. Now he can.
http://www.youtube.com/...

Estate Tax: 2006, "I agree with President Roosevelt who created it". In 2008, "most unfair".
http://www.crooksandliars.com/...

Privatizing Social Security: This month not for privatizing Social Security, never has been. In 2004, he "didn‘t see how benefits will last without it".
http://www.youtube.com/...

Balanced Budget: In February, promised a balanced budget in four years by April, make that eight years.
http://www.perrspectives.com/...

Windfall Profits Tax: In May, glad to look at the windfall profits tax. By June, that was Jimmy Carter's big idea.
http://flipfloptracker.blogspot.com/...

Offshore Drilling: In 2000, no new off shore drilling. Last month, it would take years to develop. This month, very helpful in the short term.
http://thinkprogress.org/...

Coyotes..Bush Big Time Fund Raisers: The Bush fund-raisers McCain called coyotes breaking the law in 2000. By 2006, they were co-chairing McCain fund-raisers.
http://abcnews.go.com/...

"Agents of Intolerance": Buddy Jerry Falwell...an "agent of intolerance in 2000". Kissed Falwell's ass in 2007... The Reverend Hagee and Parsley in, then out this year alone.
http://www.youtube.com/...

Martin Luther King Holiday: In 1983, opposed Martin Luther King Day. Today, all for it.
http://www.boston.com/...

Confederate Flag: In 2000, defended South Carolina's confederate flag as a symbol of heritage. Two years later, McCain calling it, quote, an act of political cowardice not to say the flag should come down. Quote, "everybody said, look out. You can't win in South Carolina if you say that."
http://www.youtube.com/...

Evolution in Public Schools: In 2005, McCain said alternatives to evolution should be taught in school. "Evolving" the opposite position he had taken in 2000.
http://thinkprogress.org/...

Restoring the Everglades: On June 5, John McCain traveled to the Everglades to win over Floridians and environmentally-minded voters. There he proclaimed, "I am in favor of doing whatever’s necessary to save the Everglades." Sadly, as ThinkProgress documented, McCain not only opposed $2 billion in funding for the restoration of the Everglades national park, he backed President Bush’s veto of the legislation in 2007. "I believe," he said, "that we should be passing a bill that will authorize legitimate, needed projects without sacrificing fiscal responsibility."
http://www.crooksandliars.com/...

Swiftboating: McCain's sudden embrace of Swiftboating --- which today is synonymous with a concerted effort to lie about an opponent's history --- is all the more deplorable because he has hired retired Col. George "Bud" Day, a proud member of the group that Swiftboated Kerry --- and someone McCain once described as having "tunnel vision" --- to lead what McCain is calling his "Truth Squad."
http://digg.com/...

GITMO/Habeus Corpus:Despite John McCain's outrage last week that the Supreme Court ordered Gitmo detainees know why they were being held, or released -- Political Base has stumbled upon a McCain appearance on Meet the Press in 2005 where he argued they deserved trials, going so far as to say "if it means releasing some of them, you'll have to release them." Shameless.
http://www.politicalbase.com/...

Divestment from South Africa: During his June 2 speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), John McCain called for the international community to target Iran for the kind of worldwide sanctions regime applied to apartheid-era South Africa. Unfortunately, McCain’s lobbyist-advisers Charlie Black and Rick Davis each represented firms doing business with Tehran. Even more unfortunate, John McCain was frequently not among those offering "moral clarity and conviction" in backing "a divestment campaign against South Africa, helping to rid that nation of the evil of apartheid."
http://thinkprogress.org/...

Opposing Hurricane Katrina Investigations: During a June 4th town hall meeting in Baton Rouge, John McCain answered a reporter’s question regarding Hurricane Katrina and the failure of the New Orleans levees by announcing:

"I’ve supported every investigation and ways of finding out what caused the tragedy. I’ve been here to New Orleans. I’ve met with people on the ground."

As it turns out, not so much. McCain’s revisionist history neglects to mention that in 2005 and 2006 he twice voted against a commission to study the government’s response to Katrina. He also opposed three separate emergency funding measures providing relief to Katrina victims, including the extension of five months of Medicaid benefits. And as ThinkProgress pointed out, "until traveling there one month ago, McCain had made just one public tour of New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina touched down in August 2005."
http://thinkprogress.org/...

McCain On His Economic Abilities: "I have not. I have not. Actually, I have not." "I said that I am stronger on national security issues because of all the time I spent in the military and others. I am very strong on the economy. I understand it. I have a lot more experience than my opponent."

-- Sen. John McCain, in an interview on ABC News, when asked why he "admitted that you're not exactly an expert when it comes to the economy."

However, NBC News compiles past McCain quotes in which he said "The issue of economics is not something I've understood as well as I should" or "I'm going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated."
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/...

On Criticizing Obama While "Overseas": Traveling in Colombia, he told reporters that he wouldn't criticize Obama while he was overseas, but on the plane, he blasted Obama’s opposition to the proposed Colombia free trade...
http://blogs.abcnews.com/...

UPDATES from KOSsacks:

Temperment and Temper: "My temper has often been both a matter of public speculation and personal concern," he wrote in a 2002 memoir. "I have a temper, to state the obvious, which I have tried to control with varying degrees of success because it does not always serve my interest or the public's." Not true and not under control, according to many of those on the "W"rong side of McCain's famous temper.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...

Drilling For Oil and Automobile Efficiency: "Last week, Senator McCain reversed himself and said we need to drill more. Today, he has reversed years of failing to support more efficient cars, new energy technologies and green jobs.
http://www.speaker.gov/...

Offshore Drilling: Two weeks ago, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) offered "a bit of a capitulation to the oil companies" by announcing that he would end the federal ban on offshore oil drilling. Not only is McCain’s move a break with environmental activist, but it is also "a reversal of the position he took in his 2000 presidential campaign.
http://thinkprogress.org/...

Payroll Taxes: "When he was asked in 2005 whether he could see himself lifting the cap on the payroll tax, (McCain) said, 'I could.' Two years later, during a May 13, 2007, appearance on "Meet the Press," Russert asked McCain if he was still open to lifting the Social Security tax cap as part of a compromise. "Am I opposed to tax increases?" said McCain. "Yes. But we've got to sit down together and figure out what our options are, and tough decisions have to be made, Republicans and Democrats. And I know how to do that." Asked about the 2005 remark, a McCain spokesman acknowledged the tension with his current position while arguing that the Arizona senator's criticism of his Democratic rival is still valid because McCain has spoken out against higher Social Security taxes as a 2008 White House hopeful.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/...

Ethics Reform and Abramoff: On the stump, Sen. John McCain often cites his work tackling the excesses of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff as evidence of his sturdy ethical compass. A little-known document, however, shows that McCain may have taken steps to protect his Republican colleagues from the scope of his investigation.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
http://digg.com/...

The Keathly's 9th Wedding Anniversary! Woot!!!

Wednesday was our 9th Anniversary.

Still crazy (in love) after all these years.

We celebrated by having dinner with Jesse and Sarah at Sawatdee.

Noah loves the cream cheese wantons.

Jesse and Sarah were color coordinated.

Sarah took the boy home, which left Jesse, Stan and myself with 3 tickets to Go Team and CSS at First Avenue. We stopped first for a beer.

I hate it when Jesse winks at me. His wink is filled with the evil of clowns.

He then did an impersonation of me without a bra on.

Jesse and Stan both had stout mustaches. Murphy's makes a better one that Guinness.

Then it was off to the show!

Jesse bought me a CSS shirt for an anniversary gift. Thanks Jesse!

Zach was there to witness Jesse drinking a HUGE bottle of Maibok.

Jesse and the K's.

Stan and Jesse

It was a good night, topped off with the obligatory White Castle stop on the way home at 1:30 in the morning. I count this as the kickoff of all the celebrations for Jesse that will be happening in the next couple weeks. We will send you off in style, my friend.

And now, I leave you with this:

Family Breakfast Sunday

Jesse is going to be leaving us soon. The way I figure it, we have two family breakfast Sundays left before he takes off for his new home and job in sunny California.

So we made this last one count. First was breakfast at Mill City in good ol' Nordeast. Eating on the deck there is so pretty and quintessentially summer for us, although this time we didn't bring the dog. It was a little more peaceful that way.

Then, it was off to the park for Noah's first attempt at riding a two wheeler without training wheels. After Jesse tuned up the bike, Sarah took off the training wheels and we were off.

How many adults does it take to teach a kid to ride a bike? Answer: Four.

We went up a few streets to a park with plenty of flat area to practice on.
It was HOT and HUMID. We filled that water bottle three times.
After the bike ride, we all got ice cream and Sarah and I hit Crafty Planet and the local thrift store Rewind.
I bought some new sunglasses.
Then we went to visit Grandma Reade and hang out in her amazing garden.

It was nice and mellow, except when Stan decided to help with the stump removal.
See, there was this stump that Noah obviously didn't like.
So it was decided it must be removed.This was about as far as we got.
Jesse is coming back later in the week with dynamite to finish it off.
Mr. Miagi loves his new home and now will even eat from your hand.
I loves me the toad stools.
Jesse grew a catalpa mustache for the occasion.
Sarah was cold, despite the horrendous heat.
Actually, she was under the gun to finish a blanket.
Through perseverance and hard work, she did just that, and it is beautiful.
Noah looks like a miniature of his brother. Or maybe it's just the glasses.

I am writing it here for the first, but not last time: I will miss the Jesse.

Tired

This last week has sucked.

I made a, well, let's call it an "error in judgment" that has so far cost us $4,900.

I feel broken.

Maybe I could be rebuilt, but I doubt it.

I guess I'll just soldier on.

Without my best friend of 14 years. Who is moving hundreds of miles away in three weeks.

Yeah. Life is . . . great? Ri-ight.

First Buffy, Then Angel - Now Comes Dr. Horrible

Update: This was free when I made this post. Now that popularity has reared it's ugly head, you have to pay $2 an "act" to watch it. Darn.

The time: 11:57 PM

The scene: Lisa walking the dog.

Halfway around the block, a huge black dog ran out at us, seemingly friendly-like, but I grabbed Dodi and picked her up, just in case.  She was making the equivalent noise of a junior high school girl who has just been asked out on a date by Mr. Joe Cool because she wanted to play.  The owners thought she was being killed by their dog.  Cue two college guys running out in full on panic mode.  Once they realized it was Dodi and me, and I realized the black hulking shadow was really good old gray spotted Chu-Cho, all was fine.

So I proceeded on my walk, all fine and dandy with the world.  Then, I turned onto my street.  I saw the neighbor from the party house two doors down from me standing in his yard.  The one whose wife calls him Stan even though his name is really Dan.  Hmm, what the heck is he doing?  Rolling up the garden hose?  Spreading fertalizer?  No.  No, he's not.  He's shirtless, knees bent in a semi-crouching stance, practicing his nunchuck skills.  

Seriously.  Nunchucks.  

Wow.

McCain is an asshole. Part 2

When McCain released his tax return for 2007 on Friday, he separately disclosed that he received a pension of $58,358 that was not listed as income on his return.

If McCain had to pay taxes on the full amount of the pension, it would have increased his tax bill by about $18,000 based on the percentage of his income he paid to the federal government.

I realize that his 5 years as a prisoner of war were hell and his rehabilitation was extremely painful. However, after that, he regained full flight status and commanded a Navy squadron.

In his autobiography, he states that his disabilities are: not being able to raise his hands over his head and that his knee hurts in cold weather. That garners him $58K a year in supposedly tax free money?

He was able to fly and command a Navy squadron, yet is still disabled? He is in "perfect health" and able to run our country, yet is still receiving disability checks? Something stinks here, and yes, it is McCain, the quintessential Republican asshole.

This will be MINE.

There are so many to choose from! How is a girl to decide? I know, I'll just get them all!!!

McCain is an asshole.

During this past week:

• McCain called the most important entitlement program in the U.S. a disgrace.
• McCain's top economic adviser called the American people whiners.
• McCain released an economic plan that no one thought was serious.
• McCain flip flopped on Iraq.
• McCain joked about the deaths of Iranian citizens (Let's kill them with cigarettes!)
• McCain denied making comments that he clearly made -- TWICE. 

Read all about it here.

Sharks with laser beams!

I think Noah needs this. . . for me.

4th of July Road Warning

Good thing Noah's taking karate.

Castle Rock Getaway

Last weekend, I went to Castle Rock House in Lutsen, MN for a two day intensive course on Hands On Healing taught by Cheryl Berg.

I haven't been up to the North Shore since Stan and I had our honeymoon at the creepy Cotton Mansion in Duluth. The web site makes the place look, oh so pretty, but in reality it is the setting for every B horror film ever made.

The house we stayed in was far from creepy. It was big, beautiful, and I would love to go back there with a group for a weekend stay.

The back of Castle Rock house with some of our group packing up to go home.

The windows in the upstairs living room were amazing.

Hands on Healing Class in progress.

Balconies for hanging out on either side and the walk out patio were awesome as well.

This was the view from the walk out patio. It was the plateau before you went down one more level to the rock beach.

The fire pit. Many a marshmallow met their end at this place.

Then came the beach.

Sarah and Catherine thought they could swim to the island, even in the freezing cold water. They only made it this far.

We took a ton of rocks from this beach to use in our stone massages. I only fell once in all my hours on the shifting surface.

The motley crew of Juut.

Before we headed home, we hiked Cascade Falls. I forgot how pretty they were!

Juut hikes to the falls.

Some of us held back and climbed out on the rocks to get a better view of the falls. They thought we got lost, so Aaron came back to find us.

He did it chicken style.

It was a perfect getaway.

Conversations with Noah

"Who is this?" Noah says pointing to a picture of his great-grandpa.

"That's my grandpa you were named after.  His name was Palmer Hall."

"Hall?"

"Yes, hall.  Like Hallway."

"Oh .  .  . or alcohol."

"Yes, um, like alcohol, except it's spelled a little differently."

How to count to ten in Japanese

Noah had a night of very little sleep followed by 5 hours of hard core playing with a group of his friends at the indoor playground. Come 4:30 all that boy wanted was a nap. Unfortunately, he had to cope with his first Shorin-Ryu karate class instead.
If I hadn't joined in to "try it out" with him, he wouldn't have made it. He was a lot more shy and reticent to join in than usual. However, he was highly observant and remembered all of the moves he learned in the class. His sensei, Dieter Von der Marwitz, is from South Africa and represented his country twice in the World Grand Championships. Besides that, he is a very nice guy and Noah likes him quite a lot.
When they are doing their moves, they count to ten in Japanese. Noah wanted to learn how to do that before his next class on Monday. So, let's all learn how to count to ten in Japanese! Come on! It'll be fun!

1. Ichi (ee-chee)
2. Ni (knee)
3. San (sahh-nn)
4. Shi (she)
5. Go (go)
6. Roku (ro-koo)
7. Shichi (she-tchee)
8. Hachi (Ha!-tchee)
9. Kyu (Q)
10. Jyu (joo)

Holy Crap Birthday

It just hit me that Noah' birthday is this Sunday. Holy Crap, but I have a shit ton of stuff to do. For those who are interested in watching and/or joining in with a big group of kids on inflatable fun, the party is at Pump It Up in Plymouth from 3 - 5 PM.

After that, the fun moves to the Keathly house. There will be drinks and grilling. Please bring your own meat to grill and a beverage to share. We will have condiments, chips and whatnot.

Now I must go. I have a house to clean, purchases to make and a self inflicted haircut to fix on the boy's head.

See you Sunday!

I know what Stan and I are doing tonight . . .

Noah's Last Day of School

I remember buying our house while I was pregnant, not even worrying about the school system. The elementary school was okay, but realistically, a lot can change in 5 years, and I couldn't even imagine my yet to be born baby in kindergarten.

Yup, that seems like only yesterday, but in reality yesterday was Noah's last day of kindergarten.

Noah pouting on his last day of school.

His first day coincided with my test for a massage license in the City of St. Paul so I only had a couple of minutes to tear up before I had to get it together and focus on anatomy questions. Starting my new job was a perfect distraction for me and a huge change for all of us.

Noah on his last day of kindergarten.

Noah woke up this morning missing his teacher. Now he is standing, pajama pants around his ankles, singing a made up song and flipping the light switch on and off. Already, he has discovered the joy of summer vacation.

Noah with his teacher and assorted classmates.

To the 2008 Graduating Class of Northwestern College, my Alla Matter

First of all, let me say how honored I am to be speaking here today at Northwestern College. Seriously. I can't believe you can't get anyone better. I mean, really, you are a religious college and I haven't been to church in over ten years. You people must be desperate.
So, what I would say to the graduating class of 2008. Well, since I graduated in 1996 I have learned a lot that may help you on your journey in life. First off, let me assure you that I still believe in God. I play fast and loose with the term "God" but C.S. Lewis is still a revered writer in my book and I'm not just talking about the Narnia series and movies, although those are awesome.
Something I would like to impart is that so many professors, parents and pastors have and will tell you who and what God is. Don't listen to them. Listen to your heart. God doesn't kill. God doesn't take away basic human rights that everyone should have. In short, God doesn't play favorites. Political leaders will play with the term "God says" as well. They should not be listened to either. Religion and morality do not apply to politics - only law does. Please do not confuse what you believe is morally right with freedom.
Shame plays a big part in religion as well. If you are harming others, or yourself, you should be ashamed. But healthy living is not shameful. A healthy sex life is not shameful. Neither is drinking that is not done to excess. And card playing? Dancing? Mary Mother of God, have fun. Printed cards do not pave the way to hell. Neither does dancing or nicotine. Gamble your house away or pass out drunk when you're supposed to be babysitting and then we'll commence with the "you will never get into Heaven" smack down.
Attending a religious college has helped you avoid the sorority girl "I dated the fraternity" label. I mean, even wearing heavy eyeliner here is rebellious, so worse pitfalls have been avoided. Kudos to you! The extra 10K - 20K a year has kept you from venereal diseases and unwanted pregnancies. Just think, you could have been one of those chapel speakers crying about your aborted child, if you had attended the U of M.
I am proud of you. The Ex-Lax in the brownies trick will regale your friends for years to come at the Women's Support a Missionary League. I just hope your heart is in it. If not, be honest with yourself and your God, including who your God, who a trully just God is.
Thank you! Now that you all are graduates, you are freed from the Lifestyle Agreement and can drink alcohol, smoke and have premarital sex! The party starts at Dreamgirls (with free drinks from 9PM - 11Pm compliments of yours trully) and stops whenever you do! Good night Roseville, and God Bless!!!

Stay true to your roots.

Once Jesus got famous, he changed, man.