Tag Archives: 2012

27 January 2012

Mr. Gingrich

By Nicki

What makes Newt Gingrich electable? While Mr. Gingrich is known, and has proven that he still is, as a great debater, being able to deflect rhetoric and talk in a controlled environment does not indicate someone who is able to govern a country. Gingrich would respond with the fact that he did govern when he was in Congress. I will not deny that but also know that one of the most charismatic presidents in recent history was in the White House at the same time, meaning that governing was not all on the House.

In South Carolina, only one state I know, Mr. Gingrich took an overwhelming victory in the GOP primary. Surprisingly, he won over almost all different categories of voters, including evangelicals. These would be Christians. Yet, Gingrich has been married three times and divorced twice. He has admitted to having an extra-marital affair with Mrs. Gingrich Number 3 while still being married to Mrs. Gingrich Number 2. This is adultery and not something most Christians believe in or tolerate. I do believe Mr. Gingrich when he says he has sought forgiveness on the wrongs he has done. I do believe in second chances. I do believe in private matters – politician or not. I also believe that some private matters shed light on character.

My guess is that a lot of voters believe that a debate will decide who wins the White House in November. Since no one party holds a majority of the voters or voters do not always vote along party lines, both President Obama and the GOP nominee – whomever that may be – need to be able to appeal to the independents and to the other party. I am a Christian, though not an evangelical. I am a woman. I have followed politics since I was 12. I am registered in a political party – meaning I am not an independent – though I have only twice, since I have been able to vote for president, voted for a nominee of one of the two major parties.

What do all of these statements mean? One, both Obama and the Republican nominee had best hope that a viable third party candidate does not appear. Two, whoever wins will have to have more than a good debate. Three, the ability to appeal to both independents and those who are not in “your” party will play the most decisive part in who will win come November.

Do you follow politics? Do you only follow once it is a general election? Do you vote on party lines?

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , | posted in Just my Thoughts, Politics

20 January 2012

Get Lighter!

By Nicki

Get lighter!! This is the motto for 2012…lighter, lighter, lighter. We can all do it. And, it will apply to all different parts of our lives. See my goals for this new year.

Body/Fitness/Health


Lose 25 pounds.

My son is getting married in August so ultimately, I would love to have this goal achieved by the end of August but taking all 12 months is probably best. As I have written about many times, I have lost approximately 60 pounds to date. In October of 2010, I came within 8 pounds of my goal weight but I have put a little back on so if I lose 25 pounds, I will be at approximately the middle of “healthy” weight for my height and body/frame size.

Run at least one race a month February through December.


Truly, the possibility exists that I will run a race a month including January but I am not totally into the January race potential. I do believe, whether I include January or not, I will run 15 races in 2012. The tentative race list is coming any day now.

Home/Living Arrangements


New Living Room Furniture


I cannot tell you the last time I had new living room furniture. I will not be buying brand new this year. I will, though, get slip covers for the love seat and the oversized chair. It is possible I may add one new piece to the seating furniture. I may also add a new television but that is far off and may be an addition at the end of the year as I first need to get a few other things off the list.

Bedroom


Declutter all surfaces and the floor of my bedroom. Get rid of things that are not being used. See if it is possible to keep all the Clean Eating magazines in the bookcase as they are truly cookbooks. Try to giveaway the stamping magazines that are not wanted to keep.

Garage


Declutter the garage. Keep only those things that are usable now. Get rid of all baby clothing except those few outfits with sentimental meaning. Get rid of childhood toys. Sell toy box on Craig’s List.

Bedroom Closet


As part of the lovely farmhouse, my closet is one of the only ones in the house. I have clothing in there that belonged to my ex and need to get rid of those. I also have clothing in there that will never be worn again – hopefully – as it is too big for me. I want to clean it all out and giveaway what I can. If there is something that can be sold, I will do that also.

If you want to get lighter in 2012, please join me by posting how in the comments.

6 comments   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Just my Thoughts

17 January 2012

2012 GOP Primary

By Nicki

I have been watching the GOP presidential primaries and caucuses with interest. I am not a registered Republican. I do find the primary/caucus/nomination process amazing, though. I am particularly interested in this year’s GOP as there is an incumbent president of the opposing party who is running for reelection.

I realize that as a country we encourage anyone to run for elected office. Each state has its own threshold for getting a name on the ballot for the primary or caucus that is held in that state. While some of these hoops that need to be jumped through are high, most are reachable with a small organization.

What amazes me – particularly with the GOP the last two election cycles – is the massive number of initial candidates! Is it really necessary to have 8 to 12 choices? Can there possibly be that many varying views within the party. On top of that, can it possibly be good for the general election to have your candidates dragged through the mud by their own peers prior to that time?

I realize this process is not solely the property of the GOP. This particular election cycle, though, it is and it seems worse than in previous years. While there are not 12 GOP members trying to run the gamut of primaries and caucuses, the negativity started with Iowa – which started earlier than previous years due to wanting to be first. To the only slightly trained political eye that is mine, it seemed that the GOP had decided who was going to win the primaries and caucuses to become the party’s nominee before the actual voting began. Due to this unspoken nominee, the negativity came out first thing. Rather than waiting and letting the opposing party vet the negativity on the nominee, the other, non-ordained GOP candidates seem to be doing the Democrats’ jobs of picking apart each of the possibilities, including those who have little chance of being the party’s nominee.

Does the primary/caucus process seem more negative this year, already? Do you even pay attention prior to the general election cycle?

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , | posted in Just my Thoughts, Politics

9 January 2012

Resolutions

By Nicki

Do you make New Year’s resolutions? What is so special, other than the term new year would indicate a fresh slate, about January 1st?

I realize that having a new calendar makes my life seem like I am getting a fresh start. I also realize that tradition dictates that I make resolutions. Yet, as is the case in many areas where I just cannot bring myself to conform, I try to not do the resolution making.

I want to spend the end of December and the beginning of January looking over how the past year went. I want to evaluate and analyze where I could have done things better. I want to see if the goals I set for myself are ones that were achieved.

Here in lies the problem with the typical New Year’s resolutions. People make them. Some may even put them in writing – a definitively good move if you want to actually attempt to keep some of these. Most do not ever think about these resolutions again through the new year.

Do you currently belong to a gym or fitness center? If so, do you avoid it the first couple of weeks of the year so as to avoid the crowd? People go all gung ho and then realize that the resolution they have made is not sustainable.

Another problem is people make New Year’s resolutions that are vague. How many times have you made the resolution to lose weight? Well, drink nothing but water for a day and weigh yourself. Chances are you have lost weight. Resolution achieved. Unfortunately, this type of instant weight loss that will come back once you start eating normally again is most likely not what you meant by a resolution to lose weight. The resolution was not specific enough. Most people do not want to make a resolution like this very specific because then they can face defeat when they do not achieve the resolution.

So, as you put your new 2012 calendar on the wall – unfortunately, mine is already getting quite a mark up for January – think about your resolutions as goals. Make them specific. Make them achievable. Make them small and make many. Write your resolutions down. Break them into achievable chunks and do each part as a step on the way to achieving the bigger resolution.

Have a great 2012!

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , | posted in Just my Thoughts

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 1,870 other followers