Robert Downey, Jr.

This is for my sis, Raquel Annette, just to make it official after our conversation this past weekend.

Robert Downey, Jr. On the exempt list. Always has been even in his major drug head days . Yes, exempt even when I heard he woke up in a drug induced daze in a strangers house and got arrested for like the 50th time. He's my "gen" (generation) and I've always rooted for him. And now that he's Tony Stark, he's cooler than ever. Love him. Totally, always, exempt... He is IRON MAN!! :-)

Bernie Mac

I just completed my blogging and checked CNN.com only to see that comedian, Bernie Mac died this morning. I love Bernie Mac. I used to laugh hysterically at the "The Bernie Mac Show." This is sad news. Rest easy Bernie!

Steven Curtis Chapman

I have always like Steven Curtis Chapman. Back in the early 90's when I decided on my own to delve further into my faith, I saw Steven in concert at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas. I remember that his words were very influential to me and he just shined with this perfect peace. I have always enjoyed his music as well.
It was with a heavy heart that I watched Larry King Live this week when the Chapman family was on to talk about their recent tragedy in losing their youngest daughter who was hit by her older brother in their driveway at their home.
Most people asked, why and how they could want or be ready to talk about this tragedy so soon. It only happened this past May. The Chapmans explained that they felt God wanted them to talk about it to show that bad things happen to good people and that God is able to heal even the worst pain. They were obviously still in the healing process but hearing them speak was very moving.
I remember Steven saying that as they drove away in the ambulance with their daughter and he saw his 17 year old son hunched on the ground, devastated, he said someone told him he shouted to his son, "Your Father loves you Will Franklin". He said he doesn't even remember saying it now.
Also, they found a drawing done by their daughter the morning she died. It was a six petal flower with only one of the petals colored inside and she wrote the word "see" on the paper. She had never written this word before. Steven said when they found the paper later, after what happened. As the days went on, they felt God was speaking through Maria. They have six kids with one in heaven. They are supposed to "see" the beauty in the ashes....
Wow...that's all I can say...
To learn more about Steven, his music and see the GMA interview with Steven and his wife, click here.

6:45AM, Saturday Morning

Why did I wake up at this time today? I guess it's because I get up at this time every other day and so, of course, I had to go tinkle! Then I couldn't go back to sleep so I decided to blog...
Yes, I've been on the computer at 6:45AM on a Saturday morning. Sad, huh??? :)

"We're All Going To Be Eating Chinese Food For Dinner One Day"...

This is one of my many anecdotal little phrases that I use sometimes. Some of you have probably heard me say it and thought, "what is she talking about?"...First, this blog was inspired by many of my friends that have written lately about China. It's probably because of the Olympics and what not.
So, let me say that my little heading is NOT a comment on race. It's meant to say just what it says. This comment springs from my ever increased learning about the country and government of China and how the United States is in this co-dependent relationship with the regime of China.
In short, I think we have to elect leaders that will deal head on with the problem of China, but ultimately it will start with you. With me. Yes, China is a problem. Here's why:
As I said on another blog, our "Wal-Mart" way of life, made possible by cheap products from cheap labor from China is really hurting us. I realize that China has lifted many of their people out of poverty and has raised their level of living but come on. Who's really getting rich here?
China's obvious human rights violations and their basic "f" you attitude with the world about it because everyone has to stay friends with China..
America's continued borrowing to fund our oil consumption habit. What happens when they decide that the note is due or decide to say no? We borrow billions..every single day. Hello, McFly? The same way it's not good for Americans to be dependent on credit cards, it's not good for America, to be dependent on Chinese money. Period. What happens if the American economy gets so bad that we can't buy enough of their products to allow them to have the cash surplus to lend to us? What are we gonna do then? Stop driving at all? Talk about an Energy Plan...
Also, there are approximately 1.3 BILLION Chinese. Their demands on the earth's resources just to feed them is astounding. Of course, the Chinese government uses their money to make countries like Brazil wealthy so they will tear down more of the rain forest to make it into soybean fields so they can continue to feed their nation. They gotta eat though, right? I'm not saying we should starve an entire nation but the Chinese go to countries that need their money to buy it cheaper. It's the old "golden handcuffs" rule. Once you've had the money, you'll do anything to keep getting it even if it means depleting something as environmentally important as the rain forest. Beuller? Beuller?
So, what can we do?
-Buy Local whenever possible! (Food especially so it doesn't travel across the country to get to you!)
-Try your best to find things made in the U.S. even though you won't succeed 99% of the time.
-Make your own energy plan. Curb energy consumption where ever you can.
-Support locally owned businesses. Restaurants, clothing, anything you can buy from a local business owner.
-Recycle
-Buy clothing from re-sale shops...(I need to put this into practice myself!)
-Speak up. Don't just sit on the couch and say how bad it is. Get involved, let your leaders know what you want and be heard.
-Learn - knowledge is power. Learn about where your designer labels, CD's and everything else are made and have your eyes opened.
Consume Less/Consume Responsibly - Do our kids really need 500 different toys? Can they have 2 toys that we pay more for because it's not a cheap chinese product? Stop raising little consumers people! Do we need 15 pairs of jeans? Yes, I hear you now. I've been working on this myself as well. Do we really need all of this junk? When we moved recently we were floored by how much "stuff" we had. We cleansed. Now we're working on not replacing it all....(Yes, I am even going to try to curb my nasty little Christmas Wrap addiction!)

So, do what you can, be aware and read between the lines. THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY!!!

Shalom Out!

First Lady of Lakewood

Many of you have heard of Lakewood Church here in Houston. You know, it's Joel Osteen's church. Well, his wife, Victoria Osteen has been embroiled in controversy the last few months. Victoria's civil suit, brought against her by an airline flight attendant, started this week. Victoria is being represented by Houston's own, Rusty Hardin. The same guy representing Roger Clemens and many other local celeb types.

So, Victoria is accused of hitting the flight attendant because she refused to clean water off of her first class seat. Now, mind you, I have met many airline employees in my day that I would have loved to smack. Rude seems to be the new way to go with airline employees these days. It's not just civil liberties that have gone by the wayside in the name of "Homeland Security." Politeness and customer service are also pretty much gone but that's another story I'll tell sometime...

Is Victoria being victimized because of her money and status? Did this flight attendant see deep pockets and decide to go after them? Probably. Or, is Victoria the type that tells people to bow down before Jesus when she really thinks they should bow before her?? Probably.

This seems like the "perfect storm" scenario to me. Privileged Lakewood Princess meeting opportunist at the same time. I doubt the controversy will last for long. I do give the Osteens credit for fighting. They had to release their financial documents to the world so I think that says something. I would have expected this situation to go away quietly. We'll have to see how things pan out. Besides, Dodie is the real First Lady of Lakewood...

Weird Dream...

Last night I had the weirdest dream. I dreamt that I was being held prisioner by a serial killer. It's funny, because we were going all over the place together. Every place we went, I would try to get someone to help me but the serial killer dude would kill them first.

At some point, I woke up. I went back to sleep and actually finished the dream! That has never happened to me before.

So, to finish the weird dream. The serial killer dude and I were in a hallway in some kind of building. I see a cop. I decide to make a move. I go for the cop's gun and pull it from his holster. I go to shoot the serial killer and the gun won't fire. I hear my Boo somewhere behind me saying, "take off the safety!!". I, of course, don't know how to do that. So, the cop eventually comes and takes away the gun and shoots the serial killer for me.

I have no idea what this means but I'm thinking, no more Taco Bueno before bedtime!