Mothers

Here are some quotes that I think exemplify the role of a mother:

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.--Tenneva Jordan

The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness.--Honoré de Balzac

An ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy.--Spanish Proverb

One good mother is worth a hundred schoolmasters.--George Herbert

Mothers are life sustainers, they meet the day to day physical needs of their children. Good mothers meet those same needs, as well as the emotional and spiritual.

Mothers are selfless agents who bear their children, before and after birth. They will go without, to ensure their children have their needs met. They will sacrifice their own desires until they can be sure the children get what they must have in order to survive, and thrive.

God bless mothers everywhere, today and everyday.


*Addendum: I stumbled onto this after I posted this. You have to see this:



To all of the mothers who read this blog:

Happy Mothers Day

Friday Flashback

The wit and wisdom of the one we called Maggie:



As you can see, we are still fighting the same weak and faulty arguments today.

Geraldine Ferraro 1935-2011

"Though we were one-time political opponents, I am happy to say Gerry and I became friends in time — a friendship marked by respect and affection. I admired Gerry in many ways, not the least of which was the dignified and principled manner she blazed new trails for women in politics." — Former President George H.W. Bush.

That was Mr. Bush's statement, now here is mine:

I stood on the opposite side from her on many political issues of the day. But there was no question that Geraldine Ferraro was always a lady, who deserved the respect she had earned--both as a trailblazer for women and as a person.

In the heat of political discourse, she took on the argument... and not the person who stood on the opposite side of it. She was very openly critical of the opposition's stances and policies, but I cannot recall her ever demonizing anyone she disagreed with personally.... like many we see on the Left today.

She was classy, dignified, and certainly very principled in her beliefs. Unlike many today, she did not waiver for the sake of party unity. If she felt it was wrong, it was still wrong--even if her party openly waffled on any given subject.

Four years younger than my mother, Ms. Ferraro was a tough lady from the same generation who had to overcome many of the same sets of circumstances. I didn't know Ferraro personally, but I had the utmost respect for her and what she accomplished in her lifetime.

I pray that her family can find solace and peace in this time of grief. She will certainly be missed by everyone whose lives she touched, but I also know it is THEY who will miss her the most. We will all have some sorrow and sympathy, but THEY who will be saddened the most. Ours will pass more quickly, theirs may last a lifetime.

May she rest in peace.

Veterans Day

Good wishes and a big hearty thanks for all of the veterans who have served this great nation.

If you haven't read it already, Mustang has an excellent post for today's events.

¡Viva Chile!

Truly a miracle.

May all involved with this rescue live a long and happy life. May they all know they were doing something spectacular and special.... in the midst of a sick and twisted existence many others must endure.

The courage and wisdom of that last man, the one who would not leave until all of his men were out, was highly commendable. A leader always makes sure his people have what they need, before they do things for themselves.

Thanks to Chile for showing the world how precious this journey called life really is and demonstrating how teamwork is the always the best course of action.

Shock And Grief: Week Two

Last week I posted a short tribute to a gentleman we knew, someone who passed away last week. His passing was not totally unexpected, but still, the grief was deeply felt by those who knew and loved him.

Early yesterday morning, I got more bad news. I learned that my best friend from high school, someone I have known for almost 40 years, was killed in an accident. This was completely unexpected and has caused many others great sadness, myself included.

The two families did not know each other, so many will be spared additional sorrow. But in the case of the Sunsett household, it has brought sorrow upon sorrow and calamity upon calamity.

Needless to say, I probably will not be blogging for a couple of days. I may look at your blogs and stay in tune with the world. But I will not write much during this period of time.

As is always the case in the loss of a close friend or a family member, life must go on. But the process to heal must begin with mourning and reflection. That is what I will be doing, with much of my free time (as little as it may be).

I will be fine. I always am. I became well acquainted with grief when I was 21 years old and lost my younger brother, so I have more experience than many. But of you are so inclined, please say a prayer for his family. Some of them are not as familiar with loss. Some of them are still deeply in shock and will need to make important decisions soon.

Thank you all for bearing with me, for what you have done in the past, and for what you will do in the future.

And thank you all for being a part of this thing called PYY.

In Remembrance

Roy Mitchell
1931-2010

I am not posting a funny this week.

Some of you may remember awhile back, I created a funny little post about a mythical Uncle Carmine of mine. In doing so, I used the photo of the gentleman you see above because he looked like an Uncle Carmine and I knew he wouldn't care.

Needless to say this wasn't my uncle. In reality, he was the grandfather of my step-son on his father's side of the family. He passed away earlier this week and we are saddened by it.

Not many parents of a current spouse's ex would be so gracious towards the new spouse of their ex-daughter-in-law. But Roy and his sweet wife were very much so. They treated my son and myself just like anyone else in their family, anytime we were in town. We couldn't have asked to know or be associated with people any nicer than them.

Please pray for all of Roy's loved ones, they are many and they are are mourning his loss.

From Dream To Nightmare

I have the utmost respect for Dr. Martin Luther King and what he stood for.

At a time when his voice was needed, it rang out and resonated. It dispatched a message that was sorely needed at the time, he told us all of a better way. Facing steep odds, he paved the way for justice and equality to be available to all citizens, regardless of race or national origin. He did this at a time when there was very little justice, in this regard. He spoke of the need for equal opportunity for everyone.

It is my opinion this story should be kept alive, but only if it can be told in the context of truth. He deserves an accurate portrayal, without deifying or demonizing him. I feel it would do his legacy the proper justice, because it would show how a mere mortal being with the usual human faults and shortcomings could rise above them. It would show how he projected a true hope and painted a real attainable vision.

Sounds easy, right? Just get Spielberg to produce a major motion picture. Right?

Not so fast, it seems that Rev. King's heirs have differing opinions.

DreamWorks plans the first big-screen portrayal of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life, the studio announced Tuesday, but two of King's children immediately threatened legal action because the film deal was brokered without their blessing.

Either it was without their blessing or they wanted to get a cut out of it.

To some, this might smell like a shakedown. To others, it may look like a greedy brother trying to pull a fast one on the sibs. Who can really say except for them, and their attorneys?

It's not uncommon for these family members to argue and fight, they have been doing it since the death of their mother. It's just another one of those tragic stories where brothers and sisters split and position themselves apart after the parents are gone, usually over the will.

At one time, at one moment, Martin Luther King had a dream, Since then, he has left us a legacy that should be preserved. But I would not imagine part of that dream included his children, his flesh and blood, acting like total fools with each other. If I were all of the parties involved here, I would be utterly ashamed of myself.

I lost my brother when he was but sixteen and I was twenty. What wouldn't I give to have him around to argue with, right now?

I think that if the story is accurately portrayed, there is a definite benefit for all to see. It will show just how those who followed him have altered his message to one of monetary gain, and spent the bulk of their time justifying their own existences. Maybe the only way to stop the kids from fighting is to throw the story of the sibs, after the death of Coretta, into the mix. People sometimes straighten up when under the microscope, certainly it may worth a try. Maybe then, with the prospect of the world seeing how silly they are, they will act like they have some damned sense.

But then again, maybe not.

Special Notices

On the surface, it would appear that I have disengaged slightly on the blog this week, and I do apologize for it. I certainly haven't had the time to address the comments adequately and the posts have been a little less in-depth, this much is true. But the reason for this is, we had a death in Mrs. Sunsett's family this week and it has thrown things for a loop, somewhat. It's tough because this was Mrs. Sunsett's favorite uncle, one she was very close to. He was a proud Marine during the Korean Conflict and his son is a career Army Officer, serving in Afghanistan. From my perspective, it was an honor to know him and he will be missed by all.

If this isn't enough for one plate in one calendar week, this has come at a time when I have a trip to Florida planned. It's been on the calendar for a couple of months now.

Basically, I have invited myself to Mustang's grapefruit farm and alligator ranch (named Happy Acres), for some much needed R & R. It is situated directly in the middle of the lap of luxury and the world of retirement. After settling with his attorney on the monetary damages that he claimed he was owed to him, after the ill-fated and now notorious trip to Tijuana some years ago, he has graciously agreed to allow me to see how the other half lives.

So while I am soaking up some sunshine and warm air, I will not be at the computer as much. I will be at the beach, lake, or pool with alcoholic drinks (some may even be accompanied by umbrellas) as agents to facilitate relaxation. But I will have the weekly music post pre-scheduled to appear on Saturday and will leave this post as an open thread for whatever comments you may have, about whatever happens while I am away. (But don't think you can leave expletive laced comments here, just because you can't be in the warm weather, like me.)

While I am at the helm for a few, I would like to take a moment at call your attention to some new blogs you will find on the PYY Blogroll and highly encourage all PYY readers to take a look at them, when you get the chance:

1. Geeeez belongs to PYY regular Z, whom some of you have seen here on occasion. She writes about politics and her faith. LIke yours truly, she has spent time in Europe and still has a deep affection for it.

2. Palace For A Princess is run by PYY regular Jennifer, she also writes about politics and her faith. Like Z, she is building a very loyal following and posts on a variety of topics.

3. Robert at Conservative Commentary has just started coming around here. He and Jennifer have started a blog called Conservative Convictions.

4. Christopher Hamilton has a self-titled blog that I have been lurking around for a couple of weeks. I don't know a lot about him, but I like the way he thinks.

5. Tom at Tom's Place is always worth a look. I may have plugged him earlier, but on the chance I didn't here it is.

Give these a look, will you? I think most of you will like them, but be sure to tell them all you heard it here on Roller Derby.

Anyway, have a great weekend, I will be back at it next week, and as always, thanks for reading PYY.


Addendum: I apologize, but there will be no Another Blast From The Past post. I simply didn't get time to do it.

Some Perspective

Here and in other forums, we talk about some things that we all deem to be pretty important. And the truth be known, they are. But in the grand scheme of things, there are times when these things shrink exponentially in size. It is at that time, they become unimportant.

If you really want to read something important and want to put some real perspective into this thing we call life, take a moment and read this essay by Mike Gallagher.

George Carlin Dies At 71

The world lost a very funny guy, yesterday. George Carlin was a revolutionary in his field, he had the unusual ability to take everyday dull things and make them funny. One thing he did well was capture the mood of many people in this country, when it came to politics.

Here's a little piece that pretty much says it all:

(WARNING: Language alert. Do not get fired over this.)



All I can say is, this is truly a huge loss in the comedy profession. He will definitely be missed.

Happy Father's Day

To all of my readers that are fathers, PYY wishes you a very happy Father's Day.

If your father is still alive, be sure to call or visit him today. Sometimes, just an acknowledgment and a thank you is enough for some dads, like myself. But this year, my son is taking me to lunch. I am not a high maintenance dad. So just the fact that he remembers and is willing to spend some time with me, is far greater than anything he could buy for me.

Have a great day.

Tim Russert, Dead At 58

Tim Russert, host of NBC's Meet The Press, has died of what is being reported as a heart attack.

Politics is a strange animal. It is unlike any other discipline.

Criticisms about ideologies and issues are all able to be thrown aside, when someone as prolific as Russert dies so suddenly and so young. This was a man that I often disagreed with and criticized mercilessly when I thought he was wrong. But hearing this news truly saddens me, because in the end politics is just politics and humanity always takes precedence over the games that are produced in it.

He was a husband, father, and a son. He was a professional, a man that tried to do the best job he could do in the profession in which he was so successful. Meet The Press will never be the same again, without him.

He will be missed, greatly by those who watched him and even more by those that knew and loved him. For this reason, today, my prayers and thoughts are with his family and friends.

PYY Miracle Of The Month

In the midst of all the madness and tragedy we as humans face in the present-day world, I believe in miracles. If fact, one just happened.

At first, rescuers thought it was a doll. Then it moved. In a grassy pasture strewn with toys, splintered lumber and bricks tossed by the tornado's widespread wrath, 11-month old Kyson Stowell was lying face down in the mud, 150 yards from where his home once stood.

"It looked like a baby doll," said David Harmon, a firefighter who had already combed the field once looking for survivors. Then he checked for a pulse. "He was laying there motionless ... and he took a breath of air and started crying."

This is one instance where we can all see why, in the midst of any crisis, there's always a glimmer of hope. No matter how dark it gets, always remember one thing: It's always darkest just before the dawn.

Recommended Reading

The NY Times has a good article on Michael Yon, the online blogger that has logged more hours in a combat zone than any other journalist. (However, according to the article, his background is not in journalism.) His narratives are up close and personal, unlike the hotel room journalists that pay for stories from biased sources that purposely skew the real stories, into some propaganda pieces that advance their antiwar agenda.

Give it a read, if you are so inclined and when you get the time.

Dan Fogelberg Dies At 56

Here is the story.

He had been battling cancer for quite awhile. But down the stretch, the "leader of the band" was not able to fight it anymore. He was one of the defining artists of the soft-rock genre and he will be sorely missed by everyone that knew him, as well as those that loved his music.







May he rest in peace.

Minimizing Losses

If they paid attention to the lectures and read the material, anyone that has taken a microeconomics course knows the concept of minimizing loss, as a common practice in business. When profit cannot be realized, this must become the focus if the business is to remain solvent and prosperous.

Shift this thinking toward the recent shooting at New Life Church, the Colorado congregation that was attacked by (yet another) deranged gunman, armed to the hilt for a little personal war, with people that likely had nothing to do with the cause of the gunman's unhappiness. Then, contrast what might have happened vs. what did, in fact, happen. It is there you will see the value of what having a gun for protection, really means in this day and age.

Meet Jeanne Assam, the lady that in all likelihood saved hundreds of lives in that church Sunday.

Many that are predisposed to being adverse to the licensing and carrying of firearms as well as those that have a tendency to be critical of the Christian faith, will likely be villifying this woman as the days wear on. But, when you do the math and count the heads, be sure you consider the caskets that may have been used in the next few days, in the Greater Denver area.

If this woman had not had that weapon, if she had not been trained to use it, and if she had not been willing to use it, the death toll could/would have been much higher and grief would have been more abundant. As it stands now, only a few were shot before she could neutralize the threat.

This is something every anti-gun advocate cannot deny, if they have any critical thinking skills.

The Pot Calling The Kettle Black

Today, the media is going out of its way to report that Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich is openly questioning President Bush's mental health, after his comments about Iran's nuclear program possibly being a precursor to WWIII. This begs the question: Is this the same Dennis Kucinich that socializes with Shirley MacLaine, and saw a UFO while on her property?

Understandably, no Presidential candidate would want to be painted as a nut and being known as one who claims to have seen a flying saucer would certainly qualify. So, I can understand why he hasn't openly admitted this. By the same token, if it's not true, he wouldn't want to offend what little support he does have, namely Ms. MacLaine and six or seven other loons that know her well. So, it does not surprise me that he has yet to comment on this story.

Be that as it may, I find it extremely ironic that he would have the audacity to take the debate in this particular direction. But when we all consider the source here, it may not be so ironic, after all.

Rally Behind Gore?

Don't laugh. Because as silly as Gore's arguments are, they may have some merit based on one very important angle.

Mustang has a way of making me think and in his latest post, he does just that. Whether he meant to or not, he jarred something in my brain that hadn't been stirred up previously. And this thought involves Gore and his quest to revolutionize the energy industry, for the wrong reasons.

Mustang's post has to do with a broad topic, but one of the points deals with the homage our government pays to the Saudis. Here was my comment:

You know, if Al Gore was as smart as he thinks he is, he'd forget about this "carbon footprint" and "man causing global warming" crap. If he really wanted to push for hybrids and alternatives to carbon based fuels, he'd present the secondary gains as the primary.

He should sell it under the, "shed the nation's dependency on Middle East oil" banner. Because that's the only way we will ever be able to stop sucking up to the Saudis.

What a day that would be, when we could tell the entire Middle East where they can stuff their oil. Then all of the threat of the Euro replacing the Dollar as the oil currency can become a reality. With that, the U.S. can pull out of the ME and let China , Russia, India, and even Europe fight over it.

If this were to happen, it'd weaken everyone while we could re-tool with our newly discovered energy source that everyone would want to buy. In turn, this would strengthen us.

Think about it. It could cure (ahem) global warming and stop the war, all in one play. Nothing like killing two liberal agendas with one stone, right?

I am sure that I can file this under fantination, which is best defined as, a cross between a fantasy and a a hallucination. This falls somewhere in the area of what I would do if I won this $56 million Hoosier Lottery prize. But it's to fun to think about it.

Marketing is everything and so is outcome. Who cares if he wins or or not, as long as the outcome is favorable for us, right?

Gore gets his agendas ( withdraw from the war and elimination of carbon based fuels in this country) and we get ours (elimination of dependency on foreign oil). We all can then say with one loud proud voice: Eat your oil, Mr. Saudi. Take your oil and refine it into salad oil if you wish, we do not need it.

I know it's all a delusion. But it's my delusion, and I like it.

Recommended Reading

The Logic Lifeline on the Turkey situation.

Fore Left on Yousef's supposed Christian conversion.

Social Sense on the topic of nobility.