Countdown and politics

Maddi and I are taking a little flight to Sac alone on Tuesday to see the fams. Hopefully it won't be hotter than the depths there and the weather is a little cooler than it has been lately. I'll wilt and so will the mini monster. Should be a lovely week of family, horses, shopping, gabbing and relaxing and chitchatting. Ryan is driving up on Friday night after work, so he'll be running the house for 4 whole days without us. I'm sure he's looking forward to the nights where there is plain peace and quiet. We all need it now and then. A little alone time never hurt anyone.

Now, onto the economy. I was reading an article that my dad emailed me today and I was plain outraged. I can't believe Ms. Obama has the nerve to spend over 1.5 million dollars a year on personal staff. Article below:

First Lady's Servant List First Lady Requires More Than Twenty Attendants Recession, Depression, What, Michelle Worry? Dr. Paul L. Williams "In my own life, in my own small way, I have tried to give back to this country that has given me so much," she said. "See, that's why I left a job at a big law firm for a career in public service, " Michelle Obama No, Michele Obama does not get paid to serve as the First Lady and she doesn't perform any official duties. But this hasn't deterred her from hiring an unprecedented number of staffers to cater to her every whim and to satisfy her every request in the midst of the Great Recession. Just think Mary Lincoln was taken to task for purchasing china for the White House during the Civil War. And Mamie Eisenhower had to shell out the salary for her personal secretary. How things have changed! If you're one of the tens of millions of Americans facing certain destitution, earning less than subsistence wages stocking the shelves at Wal-Mart or serving up McDonald cheeseburgers, prepare to scream and then come to realize that the benefit package for these servants of Miz Michelle are the same as members of the national security and defense departments and the bill for these assorted lackeys is paid by John Q. Public:
1. $172,2000 - Sher, Susan (Chief Of Staff)
2. $140,000 - Frye, Jocelyn C. (Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Policy And Projects For The First Lady)
3. $113,000 - Rogers, Desiree G. (Special Assistant to the President and White House Social Secretary)
4. $102,000 - Johnston, Camille Y. (Special Assistant to the President and Director of Communications for the First Lady)
5. $???????? - Winter, Melissa E. (Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)
6. $90,000 - Medina , David S. (Deputy Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)
7. $84,000 - Lelyveld, Catherine M. (Director and Press Secretary to the First Lady)
8. $75,000 - Starkey, Frances M. (Director of Scheduling and Advance for the First Lady)
9. $70,000 - Sanders, Trooper (Deputy Director of Policy and Projects for the First Lady)
10. $65,000 - Burnough, Erinn J. (Deputy Director and Deputy Social Secretary)


11. $??????? - Reinstein, Joseph B. (Deputy Director and Deputy Social Secretary)
12. $62,000 - Goodman, Jennifer R. (Deputy Director of Scheduling and Events Coordinator For The First Lady)
13. $60,000 - Fitts, Alan O. (Deputy Director of Advance and Trip Director for the First Lady)
14. $??????? - Lewis, Dana M. (Special Assistant and Personal Aide to the First Lady)
15. $52,500 - Mustaphi, Semonti M. (Associate Director and Deputy Press Secretary To The First Lady)
16. $50,000 - Jarvis, Kristen E. (Special Assistant for Scheduling and Traveling Aide To The First Lady)
17. $45,000 - Lechtenberg, Tyler A. (Associate Director of Correspondence For The First Lady)
18. $??????? - Tubman, Samantha (Deputy Associate Director, Social Office)
19. $40,000 - Boswell, Joseph J. (Executive Assistant to the Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)
20. $36,000 - Armbruster, Sally M. (Staff Assistant to the Social Secretary)
21. $??????? - Bookey, Natalie (Staff Assistant)
22. $??????? - Jackson, Deilia A. (Deputy Associate Director of Correspondence for the First Lady)
Over $1,500,000 of Tax payers money There has never been anyone in the White House at any time who has created such an army of staffers whose sole duties are the facilitation of the First Lady's social life. One wonders why she needs so much help, at taxpayer expense, when even Hillary, only had three; Jackie Kennedy one; Laura Bush one; and prior to Mamie Eisenhower social help came from the President's own pocket.
Note: This does not include makeup artist Ingrid Grimes-Miles, 49, and "First Hairstylist" Johnny Wright, 31, both of whom travelled aboard Air Force One to Europe . Copyright 2009 Canada Free Press.Com


I'm sorry, but this is plain shameful! This country is in the toilet!!

The Beach

We spent our sunday at the beach in Laguna. Beautiful day, beautiful family...what else could I ask for?! Dolphins...there was a pod about 100 feet out, about 6 of them. They were enjoying the beautiful weather and company as well.

Just another Friday

I began to run out of embellishments and such for Maddisons memory scrapbook so I hit Michaels. I can NEVER get out of there for under $60...and it seems I've spent over $200 in the last 3 weeks buying everything under the sun for different projects I have going. I start to feel guilty and a quick phone call with my hubby puts it all in perspective for me...he is wonderful!

On our way back from Glendale we stopped off at the park in Griffith park (2nd time this week...kind of a record for me) and had a blast running around and playing. The parents there were looking for a mommy who's child couldn't find her. Eeeek...I know this happens, but I make every effort to keep my eyes on my girl at all times. All it takes is a second, and in this day and age you can never be tooooo careful! All turned out well, but it turned a light on for me. It can happen to anyone.

This past week I've been working really hard on the two scrapbooks I started before Maddi was born..feels great! Also took Maddi to see the ponies on Wednesday...boy, she sure can't get enough of them. In other news, my brothers dog had 6 puppies yesterday. Poor Sheila! And I'm signing up for 2 classes with Maddi...an Arts and Crafts Pre-preschool and a open gym in Burbank. They give priority to residents, so hopefully I'll score both of them. Should be a lot of fun to share the experience with her. She needs to be around more infants her age.

And, the diet front is slow! In fact, I made myself a small portion of nachos today...so as you can see I'm in a sort of slump. Need to drag myself out and get it together. I hate being overweight! NEED WILLPOWER!!

16 months old

Maddi is a little over 16 months old now and she's never had her hair trimmed. I think it might be time, and I have mixed emotions about it. The growing pains are all mine.