Mental Musings

I just returned from Harford County Circuit Court this morning concerning our Florida home. As I have previously shared, we have been unable to sell the home and stopped making payments in April 2008. The court case today was with SunTrust who holds our secondary mortgage for which we owe $70,000. SunTrust gave us the loan in 2006 based on their appraisal of our home at between $185,000-225,000. We were renting the home out for a monthly profit of around $250. About six months after we moved, our insurance and taxes doubled. Due to this we were losing money each month. We informed the renters that we would need to increase the monthly rental upon renewal and they chose to move out without paying for their final month. We then continued paying on the home at a loss of about $1100 per month until April 2008 when we notified both banks that we could no longer afford to do so. In total we have already lost approximately $12,000. Since we did not contest or dispute any of SunTrust’s claims

The first and most basic requirement of an open minded individual is whether or not they are willing to change their opinion once presented with the facts. This does not mean that you need to trow out all of your core values, but that you are willing to learn and accept fact when it is presented to you. Another term for an open mind could be wisdom which is gained from knowledge and experience. The Liberal movement brags that they are the party of the open minded, free thinkers. They point to the fact that the fringe groups and minority groups tend to support liberal politicians. Liberals have become ensconced in the educational wings of our country, especially in colleges. But are they really open minded? They are usually the ones who discriminate against anyone who has a different opinion than their politically motivated viewpoint. It is amazing to me how people choose to ignore the facts when they do not fit with their socio-political agenda. Take the hot topic of Global Warming. If

I wrote this for a Fourth of July program in 2006, but I don't remember if we actually used it. This poem is to be read by Uncle Sam. Many believe that Uncle Sam is a reference to Samuel Wilson who was born in Arlington, Massachusetts in 1766. He sold meat to the US Army and shipped it in large crates stamped U.S. Somebody joked that the U.S. stood for "Uncle Sam" Wilson. Cartoonists later began to depict Uncle Sam as the character that became famous in the 1916 WWI "I Want You" army recruiting posters. I WANT YOU to listen to me See, I was born here before we were free I WANT YOU to remember the cost A great price was paid, many lives were lost People came here from far, far away Risking it all, they came here to stay From Europe and Asia and Africa by sea Praying that they would escape tyranny Nations and people all mingled in one A great melting pot mixed under our sun Living and working and worshiping free Open to all from sea to sea A c

I stopped by Five Below with my boys today and saw a George W. Bush voodoo doll kit. I could not believe that the liberals in this country could have so much hatred toward a president that they would stoop to such a demented franchising scheme. The box shows images of pins being pushed into the doll which had the head of former president George W. Bush. Could you imagine what would happen if conservatives were to come out with a Barack Hussein Obama voodoo doll kit? I can almost hear the screaming liberals claiming racism. I can envision the mainstream media doing their best to crucify the entire conservative movement over just such a cheap merchandising ploy. I can imagine the lawsuits against the corporation that distributed the doll. The liberals would claim that the company was promoting harm toward the president of the country.

This amazing cartoon was in the Chicago Tribune in 1934 . Look carefully at the plan of action.

This is not from me, but I found it an interesting summary of religions. Capitalism – He who dies with the most toys, wins. Hari Krishna – He who plays with the most toys, wins. Catholicism – He who denies himself the most toys, wins. Anglican – They were our toys first. Greek Orthodox – No, they were OURS first. Branch Davidians – He who dies playing with the biggest toys, wins. Atheism – There is no toy maker. Polytheism – There are many toy makers. Evolutionism – The toys made themselves. Church of Christ, Scientist – We are the toys. Communism – Everyone gets the same number of toys, and you go straight to hell if we catch you selling yours. B’Hai – All toys are just fine with us. Amish – Toys with batteries are surely a sin. Taoism – The doll is as important as the dumptruck. Mormonism – Every boy can have as many toys as he wants. Voodoo – Let me borrow that doll for a second. Hedonism – To heck with the rule book!? Let’s play! Hinduism – He who plays with

My children had to do a graphic organizer character sketch as part of their homeschool writing curriculum. The chose me as their subject. It is very interesting to read what your children think about you. It can be very humbling and sometimes a little embarrassing. Here is what they listed about me. Physical Characteristics Mustache Goatee Black hair (he says it is brown) [It is brown] Brown eyes sort of tall Talents Directing Singing Trumpet Computer stuff Monopoly Hobbies Music Directing Watch TV Take naps Hiking Writing Swimming Reading Facebook Solitaire Likes Music Quiet noise [is there such a thing as quiet noise?] Naps Directing Tigers Tigger Sherbert [our cat that we had to give up] Computer Mom Solitaire Dislikes Ashton's music [not true] Loud noise Cats that pee on stuff The pee on his chair Obama Biden [didn't know they knew who he was] Anchovies Squash Personality Busy Tired [because I am so busy] Generally happy Somewhat uptight [especially when cats pee on my stuf

“He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.’” Acts 1:7 (NIV) "’For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” Isaiah 55:8-9 A famous story, whether true or not, tells us about the faith of the inventor, scientist and farmer George Washington Carver. One day he was walking among his fields pondering God’s great creations while he prayed. He asked God to share with him the knowledge of how the universe works. God responded, “Your brain is not able to comprehend something so vast.” He then asked God to explain how the solar system works. God replied, “Your brain is not able to comprehend even that.” George then asked God to share with him how this planet called Earth works. God responded again that he was not able to comprehend even that. Finally looking down at his