New Representation

Meet my new congress(wo)man (not sure what she goes by). I didn’t vote for her, but alas, here she is in DC representing me. I ran into her a few times when I was back in Arizona working for my congressman and out on the campaign trail campaigning against her. She seems like a nice gal with a good head on her shoulders so I’ll give her a shot, but only until election time...because remember, I’ve sold my soul to the Republican Party (evil Dick Cheney smile appears on my face.)

So here she is, Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ CD-1).

Here’s what she says on her official House page, “I am working to jumpstart our economy and get folks back to work, secure our borders, bring the fiscal discipline of small towns to Washington and pay our eternal debt of gratitude to our Veterans. None of those are Democratic or Republican issues, and we will only make progress on them if we are willing to work across the aisle.”

Oh those freshman members, always so idealistic when they first come to Washington promising to cross party lines. I hope for the sake of Arizona and the nation that she does.

It does seem like she’s looking out for our Veterans and she’s obviously grown up in rural Arizona based on the legislation that she’s introduced in the 111th. Kirkpatrick is currently on the Committees on Homeland Security, Small Business, and Veterans’ Affairs – all three great committees for Arizona.

Cool story. I met Congress(wo)man Kirkpatrick at an Arizona State Society event in late June. We got to talking and I told her I originally hail from Bullhead City. She asked, “Do you know Keith or Joe Heath?” The gears started turning in my head. I think it was Keith who was the director of the Boys and Girls Club, but those weren’t the Heath’s I knew – it was their mother that I had known. I told Kirkpatrick that Jan Heath was my 2nd grade teacher. Turns out Mrs. Heath is Ann’s aunt. Small world I tell you!

Being serious for just a moment - as someone who was the chairman of her campus' College Republican club, volunteered countless hours to the Bush campaign and various other Republican campaigns, and worked for a Republican member of congress, I think Ann Kirkpatrick seems like a pretty sensible person. I don't know where she stands on all the issues, but she seems pretty moderate and like she's truly looking out for the best interest of rural Arizona. If there has to be a Democrat representing me, I'm sure glad it's her and not some ACLU quack like Ellen Simon.

Now I'm walking away to wash my mouth out with soap so I can regain my Republican card.

Finally Friday Music Clip of the Day - The School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Edition

In honor of me seeing Harry Potter part the 6, I give you some spell-binding music.

Screamin Jay Hawkins - I Put a Spell On You



John Sebastian and NRBQ - Do You Believe In Magic?



GO SEE IT!

Desperately hoping to experience the Divine

I have loved Bette Midler since I was a grade-schooler and saw her in Hocus Pocus. When her Diva Las Vegas concert aired on HBO back in the late 90's, I recorded it to a VHS tape and watched it over and over until I knew the entire two hours by heart. I would wait until everyone in the household was gone, turn up the volume on the television, and sing along with Bette as loud as I could. Her touring schedule has previously evaded me, and even now that she's performing in Vegas just 90 miles away from where I grew up, I am living across the country. But mark my words, I will see her in concert before she is no longer performing. Because I will be devastated if I miss the opportunity to experience the Divine Miss M live.

One of my favorite songs is Bette singing "Stay With Me" from her Diva Las Vegas Concert. It is such an emotionally intense rendition. She lays it all out on the table. THAT is what I'm dying to witness in person - her electric stage presence, her absolute ferocity, and her ability to pull the audience in and give them more than what they were ever hoping to receive. She is a true entertainer in every sense of the word.



See my description of "Stay With Me" - it pretty much applies to Bette singing "When a Man Loves a Woman" from her Kiss my Brass tour.



She can go from bawdy to sultry in 10 seconds flat.



And it isn't a Bette Midler show without the crude Sophie Tucker jokes (not suitable for children or those who blush easily).

The Future (hopefully) - in the shortert of terms

What I hope to do - in the broadest of terms:

Saffie: I'm sorry, mum, but I've never really seen what it is that you actually do.
Eddie: PRrr.
Saffie: Yes, but...
Eddie: PR! I PR things! People! Places! Concepts...
Patsy: ...Lulu.
Eddie: Lulu... I PR them. I make the fabulous... I make the crap into credible. I make the dull into...
Patsy: ...Delicious
Eddie: Delicious. I PR, darling!
(Absolutely Fabulous - series 3, episode 4)

Where I hope to do it - figuratively speaking:
In all seriousness, just submitted my application to the local opera company for an internship position in their PR Department. I would be out of this world excited if I got it. Loved PR in school and love opera now. love + love = dream come true.

A tip from Meryl

"The other thing I learned was, and I've been cooking for hundreds of years, that if you have garlic and onions on your fingertips, if you dip your hands in salt and then rinse them in cool water, the smell goes right away."

Meryl Streep in the August 2009 issue of Ladies' Home Journal when asked what tips she learned on the set of Julie & Julia.

Much obliged Meryl. As one who often cooks with garlic and sometimes with onions, I'm left with that smell on my finger for days despite soap and a good scrub. I can't wait to put this tip to the test. Or see Meryl's new movie.

Bravery in a nutshell

You're a 19 year old kid. You're critically wounded and dying in the jungle in the La Drang Vally, 11/14/1965, LZ X-ray, Vietnam. Your infantry unit is outnumbered 8-1, and the enemy gunfire is so intense that your own Infantry Commander has ordered the MediVac helicopters to stop coming in.

You're lying there, listening to the enemy machine guns, and you know you're not getting out. Your family is half way around the world...12,000 miles away...and you'll never see them again. As the world starts to fade in and out, you know this is the day.

Then, over the machine guns, you fainlty hear that sound of helicopter, and you look up to see an un-armed Huey, but it doesn't seem real, because no MediVac markings are on it.

Ed Freeman is not MediVac so it's not his job, but he's flying his Huey down into the heavy gunfire. After the MediVacs were ordered not to come, he's coming anyway.

He drops it in and sits there in the gunfire as they load 2 or 3 of you on board.

Then he flies you up and out through the gunfire to the doctors and nurses.

And, he keeps coming back...13 more times...and taks about 30 of your buddies out, men who would never have gotten out without him.

Medal of Honor Recipient, Ed Freeman, died Wednesday, March 25th, 2009 at the age of 80, in Boise, ID...May God rest his soul.

(received via email)