Is Gov. Kasich for Real???

I am wondering how Gov. Kasich can justify the particular cuts he is making for in an attempt to balance the budget in Ohio.  Yes, he is not planning on raising taxes which makes a great many people happy, however, the local governments are going to probably have to raise taxes to make up for the difference in the budgets they will be working with.  I am all for cutting back where cutting back needs to take place.  I am sure that Ohio needs to cut back just as I can find small things to tweak in my monthly budget.  Meaning instead of buying Del Monte I buy Food Club.  There has to be ways the government can buy less for more!

I am frustrated by seeing more cuts to places like libraries.  Granted my community library is in a well off area of Columbiana County and we have not seen reduced hours, higher fees, etc...  But I attend Junior League meetings at Newport Library in Youngstown that has posted on its doors "Due to budget cuts we have reduced our hours..."  The people in most need of libraries are the communities such as those served by Newport Library and they do not have money for home Internet, extra library fees, etc...  The Youngstown Vindicator did state that the Youngstown library system is planning on increasing its hours again but how long can that be maintained with budgets being cut?

I am currently 100% unemployed and not qualifying for unemployment (that's a long story unto itself no thanks to a previous employer).  My husband makes "too" much money for us to qualify for anything but WIC and county medical for the children.  Thank God we have WIC and the local Way Station to help with food.  But I see that Gov. Kasich is cutting back on funding for the Department of Job and Family Services, Department of Health, Department of Mental Health, the Department of Aging, and the Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services.  Again, I am sure that cuts can be made such as use brand xyz's paper for copies instead of abc's more expensive brand.  But these are organizations that have a great impact on a population that is in need of help.  Not everyone tries to abuse the system and stay on the welfare programs forever.  Some people do not have a choice and must rely on programs that help those in need. 

Personally I am offended that in this Green age where we are seeing the direct affects of pollution to our world that there are cuts being made to the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Transportation, Department of Agriculture and the Department of Natural Resources!!!  Hello, Gov. Kasich!!!  Once our natural resources are gone we are in trouble.  We are in even more trouble because we keep polluting the land we live on and we are not creating sustainability. Maybe we should make our cuts somewhere else like not permitting the Gov to have his house made into the Gov's mansion with all the fancy security systems that were already in place at the actual Gov's mansion.  Let's cut that waste from the budget because I am quite sure that Gov Kasich will not be giving back all that material used to secure his house once he is out of office.  He will come up with some claim that it costs more than it is worth to take it down.  Therefore his house will have a really nice security system that the taxpayers took care of for him.

Let's install solar panels in government locations, utilize wind power to fuel the needs of the Gov's mansion, etc...  Use the savings from those as our cuts in the budget.  I get it they do cost money up front and must be maintained over the course of their lifespan, but we will save money and resources in the long run.    A few pennies a month here and there add up to dollars.  It's what I am told to do by financial advisers on Oprah, the Today Show, and other television programs.  If it works for the average citizen there must be a way to utilize those same principles for a government. 

I just read a book, "Empty" by Suzanne Weyn, which I did borrow from the library, and it discusses a world that is at war not so far in the future over oil, the lack of it, the high cost of it, and all the things that can go wrong because of relying on a tried and true way of life instead of looking to innovate and find a new and better solution.  I think we are on the verge of making the same mistakes that the characters in the book made. 

Gov. Kasich think outside the box and come up with better solutions to the budget than just cutting programs that the rich do not need!!!  You rely on the middle class to support your ideals and budget proposals through their taxes and back breaking work, don't forget since they make up the majority... they can also vote you out in a very short time.  Make the choices that the people want, actually consult with them for their opinions, and never forget that you are not above the rest of us like a God you are appearing to be acting as.  This country is not a dictatorship, don't run Ohio as if it were. 

America fighting in Libya... WHY?

Why are we in a third "war?"  Okay, it is not as simple as asking why and I get it in the grand scheme of things but America needs to take care of itself right now in my opinion.  We are still struggling with high unemployment, a housing market that is barely out of the crashed state, and raising cost of living with wages not going up but taxes taking us out of the stores and into welfare lines!  We do not need to be fighting in Libya where rebels are fighting Gadhafi in attempts to change the way a government runs.  America is not a weapon that should be used whenever its President feels like it.

If the citizens of Libya want a new government it is their responsibility to fight for it.  Only the citizens of Libya can set up a new government in the exact manner they want and to their exact liking.  By having the US and other countries interfere we are creating an environment where the citizens of Libya feel like they have to utilize our systems and feel like they cannot say no to us!!!  We see this in Afghanistan and Iraq and we are still stuck in both of those countries despite years of "exit strategies" being put in place and then reworked.  We don't have an exit strategy for Libya yet and we should have had that in place before we decided to take that first flight into their airspace to protect it.

America stayed out of Egypt as we should have.  We stay out of Mexico and how they attempt to fight the drug lord mess down there.  We stay out of North Korea despite their repeated direct threats.  Aside from how anyone may feel about Japan itself we have more of a need to support them and their country during the recovery from a natural disaster than we have a need for fighting a civil war for Libyan citizens.

How much did our country spend in three days in artillery and a crashed jet alone?  We are not even counting the costs of rescues, movement of military personnel, etc...  We could be spending that money on our own country and ensuring that all Americans have food, shelter, quality health care, economic means of transportation, do I need to list everything?

I love how we start something new yet we are still struggling to find ways to fix Guantanamo Bay.  How about this, ask ordinary citizens what they think.  Maybe a solution such as taking a closed down military base turning it into a prison site, and transferring the detainees from GB to that site?  Other countries don't want these people, we can at least partially fix a problem this way.  I can ramble on about GB but my point is, once again no exit strategy and look at the problem it has caused America!!!!

I feel blindsided by hearing about Libya one day and then all of the sudden finding out we are shelling the supporters of Gadhafi.  The Libyan citizens are not even fighting that hard to keep the land they won.  They are letting the Americans do all the work!  Hello, this is just adding up to a big mess and one I really don't want to have to deal with, let alone my daughter or her future children.  I know one thing, I am glad I did not vote for Obama, and I know that I will not vote for him in a re-election.  I may not be able to accomplish much in my lifetime outside of blogs that no one reads, letters to the editor here and there, and voting, but you can bet I will be doing that!!!

Two Weeks to Go!!!

I only have two weeks to go now with my pregnancy!  It has been a fun nine months and I am enjoying the last days of it.  I feel the nesting aspect of things right now.  Didn't recognize it so much with my first preg, but this time around I just want to create lists and lists and lists of to do things and then plunge into them 100%!  I love crossing things off and completing a task!  Especially right now.  It's an agenda and I love agendas! 

I know I should be relaxing more but the other day I was outside raking up leaves and branches that fell all winter and littered my yard with debris.  I probably raked for a good hour while my husband followed behind picking up the piles.  I love the physical exercise and pushed on until I was exhausted despite my husband telling me to take breaks.  I just feel it in my bones that baby is coming soon and I can't get myself to relax!!

As to be expected, I am always hungry still and trying to get a wide variety of foods into me.  Balanced as much as possible but full of different tastes.  I've read that baby can taste foods during the last trimester and to try and introduce a variety of things then to help.  I believe it does because I ate tons of fruits and veggies the first time and my daughter eats every one put in front of her.  That includes the usual ones kids hate like asparagus, brussel sprouts, lima beans, peas, cabbage, spinach...  I ate tons of shrimp the first time I was preg too and my daughter loves it as much as I do still!  So we shall see!!!

Doctor appointment later today... the joy of weekly appointments!  From there I will see how things are progressing from a medical standpoint.  I'll try to update within a week, and if not about being preg... about the newest member of the family!

Chobani Yogurt, Yummy!!!

So I am a huge Yoplait Yogurt fan because of the variety of flavors and the texture.  Recently though I have been going through all the new Greek Yogurts that have become available locally.  I have not been impressed with any, mostly finding them all too grainy, bland, etc...  A few days ago I tried the Chobani Greek Yogurt in Peach flavor.  Not realizing that it is a fruit on the bottom yogurt I purchased it at Giant Eagle.  I hate the fruit on the bottom yogurts, but this one was surprisingly good!  Actually it was so good I immediately went to their website www.chobani.com and printed out a coupon to go and make my next purchase!!!  Chobani's yogurt was not grainy, did not have a funny after taste, used all-natural ingredients, and was not funky at the bottom where the fruit was located. 

I spent seven months in Iraq while in the Army and fell in love with the yogurts that they served us during deployment.  Because of the religions in the Middle Eastern countries they do not process their food the way we do in America.  Their yogurts left all American ones with something to be desired and I have been unsatisfied with what I have found on the shelves here since.  At last I think I have found something comparable that I will become a consistent fan of!!!

Anyone else have recommendations of other flavors to try?

Vision for Veterans 5k

The fourth annual Vision for Veterans 5k is going to be here before we know it!  May 20, 2011 is the big day at Firestone Park in Columbiana, Ohio.  The event is making a donation of funds to Fisher House at Wright Patterson Air Force Base an organization we have donated to two previous years.  Also this year funds are being raised to help local veterans with projects around their home that they cannot afford to take care of on their own.  This year's event has all of its operating expenses covered but we (my husband Josh and I) are still in need of the funding to help the local veterans.  Our first project is going to be helping a homeowner that is in need of a wheelchair ramp!  Estimates are $2,500 for a ramp!!!  If we can move beyond that we have a family that needs a new roof!

Thank you to our current list of sponsors:  Barborak for Change, Butech Bliss, B & J Electric, Jim Henderson, RoadID, JR Entertainment, Abundant Life, Dick's Sporting Goods, Firestone Park, Udder Cream, Amvets Post #45, George Siembida Construction, DPS Penn, Mark Stahl Photography, Cleveland Browns, and Lisbon Ruritan.  Without each of these sponsors our event would not have grown and continued to be a success!!!  If you would like to be added to the list of sponsors at whatever level please get in touch with us!!!  Check out our website www.visionforveterans.org being that it is a newer website we still have a lot of work to go and if you cannot find something you are looking for please contact us!!!

We are also ahead of the game for event day registries so far this year.  We have a 5k walk, 5k run, a toddler trot, and a kid's run.  Plus we will have activities for the kid's to participate in this year during the whole event.  A few games, probably some crafts, etc...  Junior League of Youngstown is planning on helping with the children.

Coupons and Target, A Great Combination

For anyone that is not a coupon fan you should be!  I saved $50 at Target the other day just in coupons!!!  Yes, those Sunday ads that most people toss out of the newspaper immediately... I go to those first.  Buy one get one free on Swiffer refills saved me $8.49 alone!!!  I bought Olay facial wash and got free body wash.  My husband needed deodorant used a coupon for that too and got free body wash for him.  Target will honor manufacturer coupons and then you can double up by using their coupons.  For example, I had a $1.00 off coupon for Quaker instant oatmeal.  Target's computer system had printed out for me a few weeks ago a buy one get one free on the same product!  Combined both and saved $3.75 total!!!  I have not come across a coupon Target hasn't accepted.  It also helps to have their check card that takes money out of your checking account and you save an additional 5% on each purchase.  It may not seem like a lot during each stop but if you add it up after a year think of how much that 5% really is!!!  I've also discovered that if you are planning a trip to Target go to their website and check their coupons, most of them are what you find at coupon.com etc but they only show the items they carry in their stores.  Saves time, and we all know saved time is money saved too!!!  Love to hear how you each utilize coupons, where you get them from, and what stores are the most generous. 

One Month to Go!

I'm pregnant with one month to go!!!  It has been an interesting eight months so far.  Completely different then the first time I was pregnant, but still enjoyable.  While I have been complaining of upset stomach for the first trimester, heartburn since the second, and backaches all of the third...  I still find each month to be beautiful.  Yet this time around I am ready to have the baby.  I was a powerhouse the whole first preg and even went past my due date and nothing slowed me down.  This go round, perhaps it is having a four year old, maybe it is being close to five years older, maybe it is being stuck inside all winter and not being able to go out running or at least walking because of all the snow, ice, and yes, that damn bitter cold, but I am ready for my due date to arrive. 

I chose to not find out what we are having and love not really knowing.  The surprise on baby's birthday will be indescribable.  I didn't know the first time and wanted it to remain the same for baby two.  My husband of course is begging me to find out and with my last ultrasound schedule coming Monday he has been questioning me again.  Since he won't be there due to work, I'll still have my way! 

Baby's room is ready to go with the crib set up, the toys all cleaned up and unpacked from the basement, diapers and wipes for at least two weeks sorted according to size, and little gender neutral clothes washed and folded into their own individual drawers.  I love being organized, I love planning ahead, and everything has its place.  Granted a toddler throws that off quite a bit but at least the baby room is in order for the time being.

The shower is schedule for approximately two months after the baby arrives.  It will be at a local library and my mother-in-law will be the hostess.  I know a few things to expect but she wants most of it to be a surprise.  She threw a really nice baby shower for her daughter so I expect to be pleased. 

In the months to come, I plan on updating on life with baby two, and of course other things like politics, green gardening, my search for employment, etc...  In the meantime... it really is only One Month to Go!