A Week Before Christmas...

So a week before Christmas and wow I am almost all finished shopping!! I just have one last gift to get for Jeremiah and I already know what to get. Of course just because I am finished that does not mean that they are ready to be shipped off lol looks like Christmas will arrive in Atlanta after Christmas this year!

This is for you Kelly!

Okay you were right!!I did not add a picture of Jeremiah to my blog anyways so here is a picture of him JUST for you!

The Health Care Plan- Obama Lies and Deceives

For those that care about TRUTH that matters to all Americans except those already on the public dole and don't pay taxes anyway (and if you work and get all your taxes taken out back, you don't pay income taxes either):

Barack Obama and Joe Biden have consistently lied to Americans about John McCain's plan. Their claims have failed every fact check from CBS to the Washington Post. John McCain is not going to raise taxes on middle class families. Barack Obama and Joe Biden are the only ones in this race that plan to raise taxes. Their recent attacks have become increasingly misleading. Read the fact sheet below or click here to learn the truth about the McCain-Palin Health Care Plan.



Sincerely,

Doug Holtz-Eakin
Senior Policy Advisor
McCain-Palin 2008


The Truth about the McCain-Palin Health Care Plan


Barack Obama And Joe Biden Have Consistently Lied To Americans About John McCain's Plan. Their claims have failed every fact-check - from CBS to the Washington Post. John McCain is not going to raise taxes on middle class families. Barack Obama and Joe Biden are the only ones in this race that plan to raise taxes.



OBAMA FICTION
John McCain Will Tax Health Care Benefits For The First Time And Will Be the Largest Middle Class Tax Increase In History.



THE FACTS
This Obama charge is a blatant mischaracterization of the McCain Health Plan. It only focuses on the fact that the value of the employer provided insurance will now show up as additional income for the employees - what he fails to mention - is that John McCain's generous refundable tax credit ($5,000 for families and $2,500 for individuals) will not only shield millions of families from a tax increase but will actually give them MORE dollars to invest in their health care needs.



The McCain Plan DOES NOT tax:

Premiums paid by families and individuals


Employers for providing health care coverage


Medical expenses like the cost of a procedure or medication


Insurance claims

Approach Supported By Obama's Own Advisor: This is an approach supported by Barack Obama's own Senior Economic Advisor Jason Furman who wrote that "we could scrap the current deduction altogether and replace it with progressive tax credits that, together with other changes, would ensure that every American has affordable health insurance.

"

Better Than "Members of Congress": Under the McCain Plan, your employer can provide you with health insurance as good as a "Member of Congress" (approximately $12,000), and you would pay no more in taxes - regardless of your tax bracket. In fact, you would have additional money left over from the McCain tax credit to put in a health savings account.



Where Is The Middle-Class "Tax Increase"? If you or your family is in the 28% bracket, with an income of $180,000, you could receive employer provided health insurance even better than a Member of Congress, with a cost of almost $18,000, with no increase in taxes. Even the liberal leaning Tax Policy Center, agrees that the McCain proposals will result in a "net tax benefit" of more than $1,200 for an average tax payer. A recent Lewin Group study estimated savings of more than $1,400 per American family - almost three times the savings as under the Obama plan.



OBAMA FICTION
The McCain Plan Will Reduce Medicare Spending By Billions By "Cutting Benefits, Eligibility or Both.

"

THE FACTS
John McCain believes that we can achieve savings in Medicare without reducing benefits or eligibility. He has proposed common-sense reforms that will not only put Medicare on a path of financial stability but ensure access to quality care for millions of Americans.

Some of the policies proposed by the McCain plan include:

Promote payment reform that allows us to move away from the current fragmented and volume-based service to a system which rewards coordinated and quality focused care.


Eliminate Medicare fraud and abuse to ensure that nearly $60 billion a year, almost 10 percent of total Medicare spending, that goes to line the pocket of criminals instead of providing quality care for seniors.


Ensure that drug premiums for the wealthiest Americans are not being subsidized by the middle class.


Promote a new generation of treatment models that better manage chronic care conditions while rewarding prevention and wellness.


Greater use of Health IT and medical homes to promote greater co-ordination of care.


Reduce drug costs by allowing greater use of generics (including bio-generics).


The Obama Spin: If some of the proposals above sound familiar to Senator Obama's proposals including - better managing chronic care diseases, greater use of health IT, promoting prevention and greater use of generic drugs - because they are. Only the liberal media and the Obama campaign would characterize similar proposals as "savings" in the their plan and "cutting benefits, eligibility or both" in the McCain plan.



OBAMA FICTION
John McCain Will Tax Health Care Benefits For The First Time And Send The Money Straight To The Insurance Companies.



THE FACTS
Another desperate attack by the Obama campaign. Here is what they purposefully fail to mention - the credit goes to the insurance company that the American family chooses to get coverage from, anywhere in the nation. The power of choice lies with the family - not government bureaucrats or insurance companies.



Putting Families In Charge: Under the McCain Plan American families will not only decide where the tax credit should be directed for their coverage needs but any additional money left over after purchasing coverage will be controlled by the family in a portable health savings account. Ridiculing this line of strange attack, The Associated Press stated, "Of course it would, because it's meant to pay for insurance. That's like saying money for a car loan will go straight to the car dealer.

"

Obama Criticizing His Own Approach: Most importantly, Senator Obama is criticizing an approach that is used by his own HOPE credits - where tax payer money simply goes from the federal government to colleges.



OBAMA FICTION
Americans With Pre-Existing Condition Under The McCain Plan Will Not Find Coverage.


THE FACTS
John McCain believes that no American should be denied access to quality and affordable coverage simply because of a pre-existing condition. As President, John McCain will work with governors to develop a best practice model that states can follow - a Guaranteed Access Plan or GAP - that would reflect the best experience of the states to ensure these patients have access to health coverage. There would be reasonable limits on premiums, and assistance would be available for Americans below a certain income level.



OBAMA FICTION
The McCain Health Plan Will Damage Employer Provided Insurance For Millions of Americans.



THE FACTS
The McCain health plan builds on the employer-based system. Employers will have the same incentive to provide health insurance as they do today since they will continue to deduct the cost of health insurance they provide to employees.



Millions With Employer Coverage Will Do Better Under The McCain Plan: Millions of American families with employer sponsored coverage in all tax brackets with the same coverage as a "Members of Congress" will now come out ahead with additional funds going into a portable health savings account. Importantly, younger and healthier employees with the McCain health care tax credit will have a bigger incentive to stay with the employers. For example, a 25-year-old employee in the 25 percent tax bracket with a $2,500 tax credit could either purchase a policy in the individual market for the same amount or stay with his employer plan and receive a $5,000 policy with an additional $1,250 to invest in a portable health savings account.

Why would people choose fewer benefits for more money?
So Why Is Barack Obama Hiding Details About His Plan?

Barack Obama's Plan Will Harm Employer Coverage
The Obama plan includes a $179 billion a year employer mandate. The mandate requires employers to either provide "meaningful" coverage or pay a tax towards the government plan. Faced with tough economic conditions and rising health costs this creates a clear incentive for employers to drop coverage and move families into the new government plan. A Lewin Group study which examined a similar employer mandate combined with a national plan, like the Obama plan, concluded that almost 52 million individuals would lose their private employer coverage. To maintain their competitive edge, others employers will follow - spelling the demise of the employer coverage system.



Barack Obama's Plan Continues The Push Toward Government-Run Healthcare
The Obama plan will create a brand new government-run health plan at the cost of $243 billion a year - a financial burden of more than $3,000 a year on American families.



Barack Obama's Plan Will Damage Private Coverage
The government-run plan will have a clear advantage over private insurance since it will be subsidized by American taxpayers. A recent analysis of both plans by the nonpartisan CATO Institute concluded that the Obama government-run plan will be able to "keep its premiums artificially low...since it can turn to the U.S. Treasury to cover any shortfalls" resulting in "undercutting the private market." According to Wall Street Journal, the goal of the Obama plan "...like HillaryCare in the 1990s, is to displace current private coverage and switch people to the default government option.

"

Kelly I was Bored!!

Kelly I was really bored tonight so I took your cute pictures of the Halloween Party of Lilah and changed them into pencil sketches with my new program! I hope you like them!!





Ok so they aren't all from the party but I thought they were cute!!

Current Difference between Democrats & Republicans

I don't know what political party all of you align yourselves with, but everyone should really think long and hard about the "redistribution of wealth" issue.

Father-daughter talk....
A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so many others her age, she considered herself to be a very liberal Democrat, and among other liberal ideals, was very much in favor of higher taxes to support more government programs, in other words redistribution of wealth.


She was deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch Republican, a feeling she openly expressed. Based on the lectures that she had participated in, and the occasional chat with a professor, she felt that her father had for years harbored an evil, selfish desire to keep what he thought should be his.


One day she was challenging her father on his opposition to higher taxes on the rich and the need for more government programs. The self-professed objectivity proclaimed by her professors had to be the truth and she indicated so to her father.


Her father responded by asking how she was doing in school.


Taken aback, she answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA, and let him know that it was tough to maintain, insisting that she was taking a very difficult course load and was constantly studying, which left her no time to go out and party like other people she knew. She didn't even have time for a boyfriend, and didn't really have many college friends because she spent all her time studying.


Her father listened and then asked, 'How is your friend Audrey doing?'

She replied, 'Audrey is barely getting by. All she takes are easy classes, she never studies, and she barely has a 2.0 GPA. She is so popular on campus; college for her is a blast. She's always invited to all the parties and lots of times she doesn't even show up for classes because she's too hung over.
'

Her wise father asked his daughter, 'Why don't you go to the Dean's office and ask him to deduct 1.0 off your GPA and give it to your friend who only has a 2.0. That way you will both have a 3.0 GPA and certainly that would be a fair and equal distribution of GPA.
'

The daughter, visibly shocked by her father's suggestion, angrily fired back, 'That's a crazy idea, how would that be fair! I've worked really hard for my grades! I've invested a lot of time, and a lot of hard work! Audrey has done next to nothing toward her degree.
She played while I worked my tail off!'

The father slowly smiled, winked and said gently, 'Welcome to the Republican party.
'

Thankful

With the economy the way it is right now. I find myself very thankful to have my employment. Friday at work they let 3 people go. As happy as I was to see 1 of them go I found myself feeling sad for them as they now have to look for employment elsewhere. I wish them well. But as I said earlier I am very thankful that I have my position and to know that I am appreciated there. The owner took 3 of us into the conference room after the 3 others had been let go and said basically we are there because of the job we do! Now that made me feel really warm and fuzzy! Anyways I am done my blabbering I just hope things will improve after the election!

Vegas!!

What a week it has been!! On Tuesday I went to Las Vegas to see the "strip" I had never been there before and being so close I really wanted to take the drive down!! WOW is all I can say!! Anyways here are some pictures!!



This is Lady Liberty at New York New York Vegas Style!



The Lions inside the MGM Grand!



M & M World



M & M World



M & M World




The lake outside the Belagio! There are fountains but we waited for ages for them to come on and they never did *sigh*



Me outside the Belagio!



Paris Vegas Style!!!

Cedar City!!

So I am on vacation this week!! YAY!! I am down in Cedar City visiting with my very best friend and her kids!! Yesterday we went up the canyon to see the fall colors only we didn't just see the fall colors we got treated to about 6 inches of freshly fallen snow!! Yes you have read that right snow at the beginning of October!! Anyways here are some pictures I thought I would share!



Ok so that is Cedar Break. It is absolutly breath taking!



IT was very windy there but that is me!! HAHAHA



That is the view from the look out point at Cedar Breaking looking into the Valley!



And yes I did find some fall colors! If you look very very close you can see Zion's National Park off in the distance!

I have more to post but I am getting ready to get my hair done and then tomorrow I am off to see the Vegas Strip!!

Thoughts on Freedom From Founding Fathers

Ok Im like on a roll this week and ok so today as well lets make this post number two!! Kelly don't faint ok!! Anyways with the Fourth of July just around the corner I thought it would be great to post this, and yes of course I got it from my boss who is very very political and very very religious but dang I have learned SO much from him!!

George Washington,

Prayer "I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would have you and the State over which you preside, in his holy protection, that he would incline the hearts of the Citizens to cultivate a spireit of subordubatuib and obedience to Goverment, to entertain a brotherly affetion and love for one another, for their fellow Citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the Field, and finally, that he would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all, to do Justice, to love mercy, and to deamean (i.e. comport) ourselves with that Charity, humility and pacific temper of mind, which were Charactersistics of the Divine Author of our bless Religion, and without an humble imitaion of whose expample in these things, we can never hope to be a happy Nation."

People "No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand, which conducts the affairs of men more then the People of the United States. Every step, by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation, seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency."

Patiotisim "Citizens by birth or choice, of a common country, that country has a right to concentrate your affections, The name AMERICAN, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pide of Patiotisim, more then any appellation derived from local discrimination."

Immigrants "The bossom of America is open to receive not only the Opulent and respectable Stranger, but the oppressed and the persecuted of all Nations and Religions; whom we shall welcome to a participation of all our rights and privileges, if by decency and propriety of conduct they appear to merit the enjoyment."

Freedom of Speech "For is Men are to be precluded from offering their sentiments on a matter of which may involve the most serious and alarming consequences, that can invinte the consideration of Mankind, reason is of no use to us; the freedom of speech may be taken away, and dumb and silent, we may be led like sheep to the slaughter."

Freedom of Defense "For happily the goverment of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who line under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.. May the childrent of the Stock of Abraham, who dwell in this land, continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other inhabitants, while everyone shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig-tree, and there shall be none to make him affraid."

Ok more from Thomas Jefferson tomorrow I think I have typed way to much for tonight!!!

Some Food For Thought!!

My boss always has these interesting things that we stuff in our out going mail. Anyways this is one of them I thought it was pretty interesting!!! Hope you enjoy it!

The Man Who Sold Hot Dogs

There was a man who lived by the side of the road and sold hot dogs. He was hard of hearing so he had no radio. He had trouble with his eyes so he read no newspapers…but he sold good hot dogs. He put up his signs on the highway telling how good they were. He stood by the side of the road and cried, “Buy a hot dog, Mister?” and the people bought. He increased his meat and bun orders. He bought a bigger stove to take care of his trade. He finally got his son home from college to help him out, but then something happened. His son said, “Father haven’t you been listening to the radio? Haven’t you been reading the newspapers? There is a big depression. The Mid East situation is terrible; the domestic situation is worse.” Where-upon the father thought, “Well, my son has been to college, he reads the papers, he listens to the radio, and he ought to know.” So the father cut down on his meat orders, took down his advertising signs, and he no longer bothered to stand out on the highway to sell his hot dogs. His hot dog sales fell almost overnight. “You’re right son, ‘ the father said to the boy. “We certainly are in the middle of a great depression.”

Gas Prices.....

Ok so they just contuinue to rise here and it's fustrating I don't get why fuel has to be so dang much now adays!! Currently here by my house it$4.02 a gallon yes I about fainted when I saw that. Ive cut down on so much how much more will I need to cut back on. Ive got a wonderful vacation planned later this summer but of course I haven't purchased my airline ticket yet and of course those keep going up, and to be honest I'm even scared to get it so soon, especially after talking to a co-worker today who knows someone who purchased their tickets well in advance got a great deal on them and now the airline is demanding more money, I was like what the heck!! They said on the news today that gas could be as much as $6.00 a gallon come the end of summer and before I would be like ya right whatever but if they keep jumping a dime every 3 days I really do believe. When does the goverment step in and help, im so scared that everything is going to fall apart. With my line of work not only do we have to worry about the cost of diesel fuel for our delivery trucks which currently in Lehi, Utah is sitting at $4.71 a gallon we have to worry about the almost daily increases in steel, and then the fuel increases to have some company haul it to us. I think for the 1st time in a very long time I am scared about the future of our economy and my job, even tho we are still busy busy I keep that at the back of my mind that one day it could all change. Anyways there that is my vent and yes Kelly my 3rd blog in 3 days!!!

Call me Crazy....I don't care!!

So back in the 90's when I was in highschool I was a MAJOR and I do mean major New Kids on the block fan!! Anyways they have reunited and they are going to be in SLC in November for a concert so my really good friend and I just got tickets and we are going!! I am SO very excited it reminds me of those days back in highschool when my friend Krysten and I went to their concerts oh sometimes it's fun to live your highschool years all over again!!

Ramblings

Ok so my sister in law said I needed to update my blog!! I must say I do agree with her since I am horrible at keeping this thing updated.....Sometimes I really wonder why I even have a blog!! So this past week at work we had a very early in the morning meeting. My boss had wanted everyone at work to watch this video he purchased while on vacation. It was entitled "Celebrate What's Right with the World" narriated by Dwitt Jones who his world famous photo journalist for the National Geographic. I went in watching this with such a bad attitude I am not a morning person and all I wanted to do was still be sleeping or something, well after it was over I was so glad that we had to watch this. I really puts things into a better perspective. I really reccomend watching this to anyone who wants to see things in a different light. Don't get me wrong I am not one of those people who are into those self help books I personally can't stand them but this isn't like it at all. Anyways here is a link to see the video it's 22 mins long and very well worth it I have watched it twice since our meeting on Thursday http://www.celebratetraining.com/.
I have taken sometime recently to enjoy the beautiful scenery that Utah has to offer, sometimes people ask me why I moved here and when I look around at all the beauty there is, the answer is so simple just look out your window and see what there is!!
Here are some pictures from up in American Fork Canyon that I took recently!! I love my backyard!! I also tossed in a couple from my 2nd favorite place in Utah...Archs National Park, what a fun place to go for a couple of days, you can't see it all and totally enjoy it in just 1 day that is for sure!!!