100 days

(whew! makes me tired just thinking about it)

The countdown is over. The 100 day mark is passed. President Obama has been busy, to say the least.

I won't go into all the details. Let's just hit some highlights:

• Implementing a huge stimulus package
• Signing the Lilly Ledbetter Act
• Changing stem cell research policy
• Opening the dialogue on health care
  
• Redefining our national image
• And, of course, choosing a puppy named Bo

I have also been busy during the past 100 days. Let's see ... I trimmed our shrubs. I vacuumed a couple of times. And I opened the dialogue with my husband about who should wash the dishes when the other person went to all the trouble of making dinner even though that person really hates to cook and besides she was exhausted from trimming the shrubs.

Obama was criticized during the campaign for having more style than substance. "Sure, he's a good speaker," some said. "But what has he actually done?"

That argument, me thinks, is now kaput.

In fact, Obama proves day after day that our words are as important as our actions. Our words affect what we do, who we are, and how we see the world.

If we call waterboarding "torture," we can admit that we went too far.

If we call salary discrimination "illegal," we increase the value of women in our society.

If we call ourselvers "listeners" at the G-20 Summit, we acknowledge that other people might have worthwhile things to say.

And if the only word you can come up with is "no," as seems to be the case with some Republicans lately, then I'm sorry but you just might be left behind. There's a new puppy in town, and the Obama girls are not the only ones who are smiling.

~~~

Seeing the light

What an interesting week.

The Swine Flu broke out, making the Republicans look just a little foolish for poo-poo-ing the idea of funding pandemic flu prevention through the stimulus bill even though, as Michael Steele pointed out, pandemics do tend to arrive without prior notice. (Hence the need for prevention. duh.)

Arlen Specter became a Democrat, explaining that the Republican voting base is shifting so far to the right, it is in danger of falling over which may not be altogether a bad thing.

And scientists cloned four puppies that glow in the dark.

Gosh, where to begin? In my admittedly biased viewpoint, the Republicans are looking more and more like they are in the dark. So maybe scientists need to work on cloning common sense, cooperation, and working for the best interest of one's constituents.

Or maybe they could come up with brain cells that glow in the dark, so we can see who is thinking and who is just following along.

Or at the very least, they could make bugs that glow in the dark, so those of us in Texas could put our slippers on at night without turning them upside-down and shaking them. Prevention is a good thing.

~~~

I'm a Texan - but only because I live here

(I'm hoping those aren't the only choices.)

I moved to Texas a couple of years ago. It really wasn't my idea. My grandbaby was born here, and I had lost all feeling in my feet from the sub-arctic temperatures in Michigan. So here I am.

Unfortunately, I may not be a Texas resident much longer. Why? Because Texas may not be a state much longer! We are on the verge of becoming our very own country. Imagine that!

In case you haven't heard, Governor Perry has indicated recently that he thinks maybe Texas should secede from the Union. The federal government, according to Perry, "has become oppressive in its size and its interference with the states."

So there ya have it. We're outta here.

I wonder what kind of country Texas will be? ... Let's see ... We currently have:

• The highest utility rates in the country (thanks to deregulation in 2002)
  
• The highest percentage of people with no health insurance
• The most uninsured drivers
• The highest rate of teen pregnancy
• The highest obesity rate in kids

I could go on and on. Clearly Texas has many top rankings. Governor Perry should be proud. I hope that, as President of Texas, he continues the fine work. No oppressive government here. No socialism. No awkward moments like when you rail against "unnecessary spending" and then have to explain the tent city that just cropped up in your state capital. Also no health insurance. But plenty of burritos with extra cheese!

Texas: Too small for a country, too big for an insane asylum.