An open letter of gratitude

These days it can be very difficult to be grateful about much of anything. My personal situation was in a recession long before the rest of the country. As I would sink into the depths of despair and sadness I would find myself spending hours lamenting my situation. I was feeling unloved, isolated and unfulfilled by life.

I failed to recognized that despite my circumstances I had been surrounded by this small amazing circle of friends. Since I have not yet put down roots I'd made friends in several places around the country. The bond made was not broken by time or distance or my own despair.

There was a time when the pain, fear, and self doubt spoke louder than their loving voices. When I thought I'd finally hit bottom and just couldn't live with the pain anymore my heart remembered their voices. In that moment I felt so grateful to feel their love embracing me.

These people are special to me because they love me no matter what is going on in my corner of the world. They give me strength when I have none of my own. They dry my tears and give me hugs even if it's by phone. They don't judge me and are an endless source of encouragement when I feel like chucking everything and giving up.

Recognizing that moment helped me to realize that even though my life is far different than what it use to be and not at all what I thought it would be, I have an endless list of things to be grateful for. That list begins with those beautiful people I have been blessed with. To them I say from the bottom of my heart-

Thank you!

Wow... Rush Limbaugh... Really??

It's just around fifty days into the Obama Presidency and the insanity and stupidity is at full tilt. The Republican Party is in a mad scramble to regroup and find leadership and a new direction. They have lost their power base and now the playing field is about to be leveled. And in this power vacuum they have relinquished their voice to a radio talk show host.

Conservative Republicans and other detractors can't find anything real to complain about so they come across like kindergartners-if I can't have my way I just won't play. It quickly dissolves into baseless accusations which only serve to stir up fear and hatred. I believe that's how we wound up in Iraq but I digress.

And yet instead of coming together as a party they are imploding. There are no stand outs. While all this infighting is going on, in rushes Rush. He feels his skewed view of politics, race relations, and women's rights should be the views of entire Republican party. Republican leaders kowtow to him and shake in their shoes when he spews his vile messages.

Unless and until Republicans put Limbaugh in his place the Republican party doesn't stand a chance. He will further divide their ranks and run potential members away Limbaugh appeals to that small group of people who share his unenlightened perspective. They keep making reference to taking control back in 2010 but if they keep letting Rush do all the talking and don't regain some direction, they won't even exist in 2010.

Leave me a voicemail, thanks!