You go, Newt!  He gave a dynamite speech at the debate and another one tonight.  Without Romney’s big bucks and Super Pac, Newt has a huge challenge.  He certainly has had a checkered past, but I believe in redemption.  While Romney certainly has the leadership and financial expertise, he just cannot seem to connect with the regular hard working or unemployed America.  It was interesting tonight at Newt’s speech that he brought up the Chinese-Canadian proposed pipeline partnership and the Arab-Chinese nuclear plans.  Where have we been?   We need to put American first and stop pussyfooting around with other countries trying not to offend them.  If you have not heard, Mr. Gingrich’s S. Carolina primary victory speech, listen to it.  We certainly cannot tolerate another four years of lack of leadership and too many cabinet Czars!  Romney has sound policies and is still to be considered; he just needs to “Bring It” to the country. 

This has been around before but – remind, remind, remind – we must keep people thinking. 

If any other of our presidents had doubled the national debt in one year, which had taken more than two centuries to accumulate, would you have approved?

If any other of our presidents had then proposed to double the debt again within 10 years,would you have approved?

If any other of our presidents had criticized a state law that he admitted he never even read, would you think that he is just an ignorant hot head?

If any other of our presidents joined the country of Mexico and sued a state in the United States to force that state to continue to allow illegal immigration, would you question his patriotism and wonder who’s side he was on?

If any other of our presidents had pronounced the Marine Corps like Marine Corpse, would you think him an idiot?

If any other of our presidents had put 87,000 workers out of work by arbitrarily placing a moratorium on offshore oil drilling on companies that have one of the best safety records of any industry because one foreign company had an accident, would you have agreed?

If any other of our presidents had used a forged document as the basis of the moratorium that would render 87,000 American workers unemployed would you support him?

If any other of our presidents had been the first President to need a Teleprompter installed to be able to get through a press conference, would you have laughed and said this is more proof of how inept he is on his own and is really controlled by smarter men behind the scenes?

If any other of our presidents had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to take his First Lady to a play in NYC, would you have approved?

If any other of our presidents had reduced your retirement plan holdings of GM stock by 90% and given the unions a majority stake in GM, would you have approved?

If any other of our presidents had made a joke at the expense of the Special Olympics, would you have approved?

If any other of our presidents had given Gordon Brown a set of inexpensive and incorrectly formatted DVD’s, when Gordon Brown had given him a thoughtful and historically significant gift, would you have approved?

If any other of our presidents had given the Queen of England an iPod containing videos of his speeches, would you have thought it a proud moment for America?

If any other of our presidents had bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia would you have approved?

If any other of our presidents had visited Austria and made reference to the nonexistent "Austrian language," would you have brushed it off as a minor slip?

If any other of our presidents had filled his cabinet and circle of advisers with people who cannot seem to keep current in their income taxes, would you have approved?

If any other of our presidents had stated that there were 57 states in the United States , wouldn’t you have had second thoughts about his capabilities?

If any other of our presidents would have flown all the way to Denmark to make a five minute speech about how the Olympics would benefit him walking out his front door in his home town, would you not have thought he was a self-important, conceited, egotistical jerk?

If any other of our presidents had been so Spanish illiterate as to refer to "Cinco de Cuatro" in front of the Mexican ambassador when it was the 5th of May (Cinco de Mayo), and continued to flub it when he tried again, wouldn’t you have winced in embarrassment?

If any other of our presidents had burned 9,000 gallons of jet fuel to go plant a single tree on Earth Day, would you have concluded he’s a hypocrite?

If any other of our presidents’ administrations had OKd Air Force One flying low over millions of people followed by a jet fighter in downtown Manhattan causing widespread panic, would you have wondered whether they actually get what happened on 9-11?

If any other of our presidents had failed to send relief aid to flood victims throughout the Midwest with more people killed or made homeless than in New Orleans , would you want it made into a major ongoing political issue with claims of racism and incompetence?

If any other of our presidents had created the position of 32 Czars who report directly to him, bypassing the House and Senate on much of what is happening in America, would you have ever approved?

If any other of our presidents had ordered the firing of the CEO of a major corporation, even though he had no constitutional authority to do so, would you have approved?

So, tell me again, what is it about Obama that makes him so brilliant and impressive? Can’t think of anything? Don’t worry. He’s done all this in 24 months so you have that much time to come up with an answer.

Every statement and action in this email is factual and directly attributable to Barack Hussein Obama. Everything is a matter of record and completely verifiable.

AND NOW– HE ACTUALLY WANTS US TO RE-ELECT HIM. WAKE UP AMERICA 2012 IS UPON US. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO TAKE A CHANCE ON THIS GUY FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS .. . .

"All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."

 

Most of us are familiar with Humane Watch, the group that holds Wayne Pacelle’s feet to the fire. The folks at Humane Watch have outdone themselves this time with this post about Pacelle’s war against HSSP, Humane Society for Shelter Pets, a new group that directs donations to local shelters instead of HSUS. Please, please go to the following  link  to find out how little of the HSUS actually goes to shelters and saving animals and how much goes to the HSUS for its own use which does not benefit shelter animals. Link is:  /http://humanewatch.org/index.php/site/post/hsus_hypocrisy

If you want to donate to help dogs and cats in shelters, please donate to the HSSP, Humane Society for Shelter Pets, to see that  your donation actually goes where it is most needed: the shelters themselves!

Ask me about this fantastic product!

For health, energy and also for kids!

I decided I needed to get away since I have not taken a trip for years that did not center around dogs, shows, judging, or dog people. For the most part, I have traveled the world alone. Al went with me in the beginning to Australia, New Zealand, dog shows in this country, and to England and Europe.  In fact it was on a trip with our kennel club to Windsor dog show in the UK that we discovered Cavaliers in 1989.  The rest is history!  As I said, I am quite used to traveling alone as Al just never wanted to go after his series of different cancers started, but I knew I had to go and with his blessing I did with him knowing that when he needed me home, I would be there.  I have not had a chance to renew myself since Al died and I needed this respite.

I chose a Carnival cruise to the Western Caribbean featuring Mass and the rosary every day said by Msgr. Michael Patrick Aloysius Flanagan.  An Irishman right up my alley!

So many people have acted astonished when I said I was going alone or found out on board that I was alone.  I have become my own best company and I am never am alone as God is with me. I took this cruise as part of my spiritual journey to concentrate on my relationship with God without all the distractions of home. I have the dogs and home base covered and am on a great adventure sitting on my balcony reading or praying, taking excursions which I will describe and for which I will display photos, or hanging out with new friends who will stay friends forever I believe.

These are the pictures leaving Miami.

The Carnival Valor is a wonderful ship; so many amenities and such wonderful service.  I got a balcony room so I could sit out, look at the sea, and pray and meditate which worked well the first couple of days. Food was great, but I kept trotting (oh, alright, walking!) around the ship so I would not roll off the ship disembarking. I am probably one of the few cruisers to lose weight on a cruise;  since I have been gluten free for several months now, I stayed away from all the yummy desserts.  The name of the Valor honors many valiant men and women from every country: Churchill, Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks,  several of our Presidents, authors, scientists and so on.

The staff of the Valor is made up of people from every race and country.  I had several discussions with staff about how all of them get along in such close proximity and for seven to nine month tours.  From what I understand, the staff gets along extremely well with no segregating into different races or cultures.  I was amazed at all the positive interactions that I witnessed between staff members no matter the hierarchy of their jobs.

We left Miami on December 4 with the first stop being Grand Cayman Island on the 6th.

Pix of my stateroom.  I had a wonderful balcony!

The tender boat leaving the Valor for shore adventures

Grand Cayman

Our first port of call was Grand Cayman, a very busy port with several cruise ships disembarking at the same time causing crowded conditions as the cruisers met their excursions or began shopping in the many duty free shops. Jewelry stores were everywhere.  I resisted and went on an excursion to kiss dolphins and stingrays.

Stingray City!!

Kissing a stingray was a new experience.  They seem to congregate around a reef a distance away from the Grand Cayman Island shore.  The the early 1900″’s, the fishermen cleaned their fish on the reef which has only waist high water. Over the years the reef became a stingray feeding ground. They have grown very tame in the ensuing years; it is strange to feel them brush against one’s legs.  I have kissed a lot of frogs in my life, but never a stingray.

My new friends Gary and Judy

A stingray!!!

Now kissing my dolphin friend was a wonderful experience. The best action I had in a year and a half!!! Dancing with a dolphin was one of the happiest experiences I have had in a long time. Dolphins are so very very bright. They have their own language and are so easily trained.  They are thinkers and communicators, easily establishing relationships with humans and other dolphins. While at the Dolphin sanctuary, rehabilitation  and training center, I talked to the staff about my hesitancy to see Dolphins and whales trained for tourist attractions; as demeaning in my book as using the other extremely bright family and social animal, the Elephant, in run down circuses and side shows.  The director explained that by attracting tourists, education about Dolphins and the need for the preservation, protection, rescue, and rehabilitation of  Dolphins could ensure the welfare of Dolphins to oppose the wholesale slaughtering of Dolphins as depicted in the horrendously upsetting movie of a couple of years ago, The Cove. If not for zoos, sanctuaries, and and rescue centers, many of our endangered species would be gone forever due mankind’s greed, selfishness, and shortsightedness.

Now after my great Dolphin experience I have finally seen Dolphin Tale which I thoroughly enjoyed watching. I am in love with Dolphins and their almost human understanding and communication skills. I also enjoyed seeing the many beautiful Island birds.

Don’t even think of biting me!

Cozumel

Cozumel is a rather large and lovely  Mexican port of call.  My friends Linda and Everetto from Chicago and I spent the time together exploring a bit. After doing all our “shopping” we went to Carlos’ n Charlies restaurant with a lot of local color and good authentic Mexican food.  The staff was not very cordial when we first arrived until my “Brooklyn” tone began with my limited Spanish vocabulary. We were then seated in another table by the head waiter, manager, or owner—we did not know which. We were treated royally and had lots of fun with the nicely “crazy” waiters.  The atmosphere of the restaurant was lively to say the least.

Typical Historical Cozumel Indian Dress

Carolos’ n Charlies

Cozumel mode of transportation!

Belize

Belize City was my favorite port of call although the tourist area was much more limited than in Grand Cayman or Cozumel. Belize is fighting its way out of third world status although there is almost no employment. Belize shares its problem with homelessness and unemployment as do many countries even we who should be dealing with unemployment, homelessness, lack of life insurance for so many of our citizens, our massive number of foreclosures, and hunger especially in our children. Belize is a developing country while we our the richest nation in the world with wealth and a high standard of living unattainable by most of our citizens seemingly ending the “American dream.”  (Okay, okay soapbox over.)

At every port of call was a local humane society booth where one could learn about the activities of the humane society and donate to the cause.  Of course, I donated at every one as in developing countries the animals usually fare worse than the people.  In Belize I struck up a conversation with the volunteers. After exploring the very limited stores, we took a buggy ride to see most of Belize City which is comprised of a few businesses , new construction, public and private schools, old colonial houses dating back to its being a British holding, and the mostly ramshackle housing for the locals.  Unemployment is very high; the Belize dollar or currency is eighteen to one American dollar, but eighteen Belize coins won’t buy a chicken! Belize City is a mix of new construction, old colonial style houses, and rather ramshackle houses or even shacks.   Many of the houses are built on stilts due to the floods that hit yearly.

Our buggy driver, a college student, told us quite a bit about the history, government, and problems in Belize.  Belize is developing slowly. It is English speaking. Crime of course is a big problem as where there is great unemployment and poverty, there is crime.  The Crips and the Bloods gangs are very active in Belize and the government is making strides in bringing them together. I, as ever the animal advocate, noticed that most of the horses were in okay condition, but there was one very old horse in horrible condition with every bone showing and looking so fatigued and drained.  I, ever the animal advocate marched up to the humane society booth and expressed my deep concerns as I know horses and can assess their condition immediately. One of the officials of the humane society, an American ex patriot (there are quite a few in Belize and I am tempted to join them). She asked me to immediately put my thoughts on paper to be published in the Belize City newspaper which I did.  She said that the buggy rides and other tourist attractions were controlled by the drug cartels which did not care about animal welfare. Tough sledding there.  If I lived in Belize, I would probably be killed by the drug cartels for my aggressive stand on animal and children welfare.

Belize Boardwalk

Christmas in Belize

Belize Harbor

Linda and Everetto.  Our buggy ride.

The Old and the New—Scenes Around Belize City

Iguanas are Everywhere!

Roatan Isla

Flowers are Everywhere

Scenes from the Port

A Scene from the Museum Depicting the History of Roatan

The display of the history of the Garinagua people of Roatan, Honduras and Belize was fascinating.  I photographed parts of the displays to chronicle the history of the Garinaguas:

Roatan Isla is truly a jewel.  I intend to return and spend more time in this beautiful island.

I loved the cruise and cannot wait to take another which will not be in the near future as my Wendy, Ch. Rattlebridge Dutch Treat ROM, is now fourteen and one half and mourns deeply when I leave her.  She has been my emotional support all her life and every day with her is precious.  It is just to hard for  both of us to be separated.  I may be away a weekend for a dog show now and again, but taking another cruise, the most enjoyable time I have had in years, will just have to wait.