So What's Up?

What's been happening in Jamie Dawn's world, you ask?
Well, The Reverend led a couples' retreat in gorgeous Lake Tahoe, and he and JD had a wonderful time. They stayed at The Inn at Heavenly, which is owned by some friends of theirs who recently purchased the place and have worked hard to make it a great place to stay. They offer all kinds of all-inclusive services such as use of the spa room (hot tub, steam bath, and sauna), hydrotherapy massage bed (which is divine), bicycles for a mountain ride, all the alcohol you want so you can get snockered by the warmth of the fire, and terrific food. JD highly recommends this place should you be planning a Tahoe vacation. The Reverend and JD stayed in the Kodiak/Pyramid cabin which was gloriously elegant with a private hot tub and superb great room for our couples' meetings. Just look at these pics, and you'll see why this is JD's idea of "roughing it" in the mountains.






JD spent time at her parents' house, then she and her dad drove down to visit her brother, Jason, affectionately called Jasper Donaldson, among other things. On the drive down, signs like this one were on display next to thousands of acres of land that SHOULD be planted with crops, but alas are not, due to some nutty environmental laws concerning the Delta Smelt, a small fish about the size of a minnow.



The almond company my mom works for is in grave jeopardy due to the water being cut off to protect this fish which lives and thrives in the Delta, but which dies when some of them are sucked into the irrigation systems. What's more important, the Delta Smelt or thousands of agricultural jobs as well as the 12% of our nation's produce that is grown there in the valley? But, I digress...

JD, her dad, and her brother ate at Philippe, where the French Dip sandwich was invented. If you're ever in downtown Los Angeles, you MUST eat there!! JD thoroughly enjoyed seeing Jasper Donaldson slather on Philippe's HOT mustard (without tasting it first), then watching him cry his way through his sandwich. Fun times! Inexplicably, it is located in China Town, but you'll have to go next door if you want some chow mein with your French Dip. Be prepared to stand in line; that place was packed.




It's been nearly a month since JD got her new, short hairdo. It is already growing out, and by Christmas she will be sporting dreadlocks.



Have you heard of Hookah? Well, Taylor and his buddies went to a Hookah lounge to hear a band playing there. People sit around and smoke fruit tobacco using steamy, water pipes called Hookah pipes that look very bong-like. They SHARE these pipes, which Taylor refused to try since he was certain they would be breeding grounds for H1N1 and other viral and bacterial yuckies. Good thinking, my boy! The strange thing is that this place does not sell any drinks or snacks of any kind. You go there, pay ten bucks to Hookah for an hour or so, and that's it. If you happen to get thirsty or have a hankering for something to eat, tough luck. JD remarked to Taylor that "They should at least sell some bottled water for crying out loud!" then she added another two cents, saying that "Those wienies could make more money by selling some frakkin' snacks and drinks!" Hookah originated in India, and this particular place had the Jamaican flag painted on the floor. ??? Hey mon, here's a pic of a Hookah pipe:



As JD writes this, it is Halloween night. Courtney is at college and is hanging out with friends while dressed as Annie Hall. Taylor is dressed as a pirate and is hanging out with friends at the local amusement park which is normally called Magic Springs, but for Halloween becomes Magic Screams, with haunted houses guaranteed to scare the doo doo out of people who are eager and willing to pay to have their doo doo scared out of them. The Reverend and JD are enjoying a nice, quiet night at home. JD hopes your neck of the woods is not haunted, and there's plenty of Halloween candy for you to shove down your pie hole.
If you're on Facebook, add me as a friend:
Jamie Dawn Bradley Hood.
Until next time...
Smile. It won't break your face, you know.

Breast Ogling Benefits and Forgive Me!

A recent study shows that men who gaze at women's naked breasts for half an hour per day receive the same health benefits as if they exercised on a treadmill for the same amount of time.
When The Reverend heard this, he informed me that he was ready for his daily exercise.
I'm wondering what women can gaze at that will give us the same health benefits?
Any suggestions?
:-)
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Forgive me!
I'm a woman.
Forgive me!
I'm white.
Forgive me!
I'm a Christian.
Forgive me!
I'm conservative.

Would it help to know I've got a lot of Native American blood running through my veins? My Grandpa Ollie was half Cherokee, so in some circles that makes me more respected, more valuable, more deserving, less hated.
At least I'm not a white man.
That would be unforgivable.
I'm sick of our media and politicians amplifying racial hatred. It is neither a badge of honor nor something to be ashamed of to be born of one race or another. Most of us are of mixed heritage anyway. Our President is a great example of this since he is half black and half white. I think this is wonderful and should be used to promote the value of individuals without any reference of race whatsoever. A small percentage of us are actually racists, and the rest of us don't give a flying fig what color anyone's skin is. We should celebrate whenever any "glass ceilings" are broken whether they are race or gender based, but I look forward to the day when people are celebrated by the content of their character and integrity and not by the color of their skin or any other characteristic over which they had no control.

Forgive me!
I believe in our Constitution and the founding principles of our nation.
Forgive me!
I believe in freedom of speech for us all, even if I don't like what you have to say.
Forgive me!
I love America.
Forgive me!
I'm proud of America.
Forgive me!
I'm sick of politicians who care only about their party and their personal re-election.
Forgive me!
I want everyday, average people in Congress. They don't have to come from money or have attended the finest schools. I want people who've owned a small business or raised five kids or been an electrician or an EMT or a bank teller to represent me for a couple of terms, then go back to their profession.
Forgive me!
I would rejoice if EVERY member of the House and Senate would be kicked to the curb. Neither party is a shining example of good. There's been a steady flow of bull crap coming from DC for years and years, so I'd like to see every, single one of them replaced with new people who care more about being Americans than party members.
Forgive me!
Yes, I mean EVERY ONE in Congress. Even those few whom you or I might think of as "the good ones." Get out! Yep, I'm ready to toss the babies out with the bath water. I honestly would prefer to have a random selection of public servants kind of like we select people for jury duty from our peers, than the people we've had "representing" us in Congress. Regular people would be more interested in what's good for America than what's good for a certain party or for their own political ambitions. Take me, for instance. If I was in Congress and a fellow Congressman of my party promoted a crappy bill that was also fully supported by the President who happened to also be a member of my party, I would say, "This is a crappy piece of legislation," and I would NOT vote for it. Most people would do the same, but most politicians would not.
Forgive me!
I want term limits. What??? You've been in Congress for how many DECADES??!! Get out of DC and get back into the real world. When was the last time you went to the grocery store, did your own laundry, stood in line at the post office, or vacuumed the living room?
Forgive me!
I don't trust career politicians... Republicans, Democrats, any of them... Smooth talking liars who are always angling for a better position that will insure their re-election instead of holding fast to a set of core principles. I respect those with whom I disagree who are honest about what they believe and are not afraid to express those core principles. I do not respect those who hide their true beliefs or change them according to whichever way the political winds are blowing at the time. Politicians of ALL parties do this, and they should be ashamed for not boldly standing for the principles in which they truly believe.
Forgive me!
I'm sick of their elite bullshite that wants one thing for themselves and another for the rest of us. If you want us to live greener lifestyles, then you lead the way and quit flying on private jets, and lighting and heating your three homes and vacation condos, and eating steak that comes from farting cows, and being driven around in stretch limos, and buying high end furniture made from rare wood, and wasting so much paper on those thousand-page bills you never take time to read.
Put your own kids and grandkids in public school for a change. Do your own taxes, and try and figure out why the heck it can't be easier than this. Give up your fabulous healthcare and all the other perks that we are paying for that for some reason you think you deserve. Go to the funerals of soldiers who've given their lives in service for this country. Mow your own lawn. Listen to your constituents. Quit printing money like crazy and spending money like crazy and borrowing money like crazy and taking OUR money like crazy! We don't want government to take care of us from birth to the grave; we want government to keep our homeland safe, take care of those who cannot take care of themselves, get the heck out of our way, and let us take care of ourselves.

Older, Possibly Wiser & Definitely More Agile

Thanks to all of you who wished me a Happy B-day either through email or on Facebook. Yes, I am one year older, and possibly a little wiser, although that is debatable. I am most certainly more agile, but more about that later. I crossed over the 45 hump and slid into my 46th year without any weeping or gnashing of teeth, so I'm on the downhill slope towards 50 with a smile on my face and a few, unwanted wrinkles.
As for the wiser part, my crossword skills are sharper than ever. As for the more agile part, my ability to avoid hitting various forms of wildlife on the roadway has improved exponentially. The Reverend and I took Courtney to college and drove to Savannah, Georgia and back again (with me driving more than half the way), and I successfully and safely swerved, thus saving the lives of several of God's little critters. I cannot vouch for the agility abilities of the Interstate drivers that followed me, so I cannot say if nature's creatures survived their treks across the roadway or not. As for my part in these events, my hands and tires are clean. This is notable because in the past, I have not been very adept at swerving and missing roadway critters. My family has mocked me mercilessly for trying and usually failing to avoid hitting turtles, squirrels and other forest dwellers, but now I have been redeemed. I am at Optimum Critter Swerving Level, and I hope to stay sharp in this area for years to come. I know the animals are rooting for me!
Courtney did not win the photo scholarship contest, and we assume she did not win the tea commercial contest either because the winner was to be notified by September 1. They still have not posted the winning video, so who knows what's up there? Regarding the winning photo, I sent her an email simply saying YOU WERE ROBBED!!! which was all I needed to do to feel better about that. It's no skin off her nose; the kid is back to college and too busy to let the loss bother her. Thanks again to all who clicked and cast votes for her. I'd be happy to return a click & vote any time on your behalf or for your kids or grandkids... just ask and ye shall receive a Jamie Dawn vote!
One more thing...
I broke down and purchased some Halloween candy yesterday. Yep. There's no way it'll survive until October 31.