Look At This Beautiful Fish

Since finishing a refinance that allowed us to purchase a fishing cabin; we go there every chance we get up at Point Comfort. 

Look at this lovely black drum hubby pulled in and of course he let this lovely fish  go back in the water for our next trip.

I will post more updates when I find time.  I would like to wish all who pass here a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Going Fishing For REAL.......

Look At My Handsome Boys (Men)

This passed quarter has been quite busy with both our both moving back into our home.  Junio (top) has found work in the oil and gas industry working for Lufkin.  Sid sporting really sharp pink shirt in support of breast cancer awareness is working for Arrowhead.  They are both clocking around 50 to 60 hours a week which is nice for a paycheck -- them being gainly employed leaves us missing them at home. If I hear one more person say that Texas is a great place to work; I think I will scream.

Yes, Texas has jobs for those whom wish to work in dangerous industries.  Texas has a plethora of low wage jobs that do not offer full time hours and of course no health benefits.  Both boys took minimum wages jobs until they were picked up in their new positions.  I am so proud of Sid and Junior for stepping up and learning new trades.  We just have to keep praying for their safety.

Can you believe it is only one more week until the national elections? I am so tired of the hype on the airwaves these last 6 (yes, I said SIX) years.  Personally I have a hard time believing anything thing put out by the media about how close the race is between Obama and Romney.  How in the hell does the GOP get people to vote against their own best interest?  Would someone try to explain it to me without getting nasty or rude.

I hope all of ya'll are safe and happy!
Stoking the homefires and lighting jack o'lanterns.

The 47% Who Are Really The 96%

We have all benefitted from government basically except for some children who's parents have not gotten them into the system yet.  Why is this a bad thing -- or perceived as a bad thing by the uber conservatives. 

Personally, I do not believe it is a bad thing to have Pell Grants to educate our masses. Those educated join the work force in a myriad of jobs to include the social net of helping others.  Tax credits to help parents ease the financial burden of raising children does just that: help parents to keep children in a safe secure environment in which they too will eventually join the work force. There are millions of veterans (myself included) who have taken advantage of veterans programs especially college tuition/grants. All these forms of 'government' hand ups just keep the economy moving and people working.  These 'hand outs' are not a form of social welfare Republicans are touting as a killer to our economy but, an investment in America's future.

What was/is killing our economy was living above our collective means as nation was running up credit card and buying into weak mortgage markets just to have the American dream.  Our economy is going to have to pay for the ridiculously high cost of health care and higher education.  Also sending our manufacturing jobs overseas to push corporate profits higher just because we wanted cheaper goods. (think Wal-Mart, steel jobs, car makers etc)

Finally, banker barons or wall street executives driving profits in the name 'stacked' investments and then payrolling the whole scheme through multiple layers of ponzi schemes.  Basically they were robbing Peter to pay Paul.    

Really the whole economic picture is a lot brighter or dimmer than one thinks.  It all is just a matter of prospective.  I am happy to leave you with this:

This is Sid, working his hind parts off in Eagle Pass (3 hours from home) building a casino hotel.  He is part of the 96% who is striving for a better life working 60 hours a week plus continuing his education at the same time. 

And,

I am proud of him!

////signed Momma Hen////

Voting for Romney,

ONLY KIDDING

Yesterday, I listened to Romney's speech at a fund raising event held by Mark Leder.  I just wanted to slap the taste of arrogance right out of his self-serving mouth. Here is the link to the full transcript:

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/09/full-transcript-mitt-romney-secret-video

First, let me tell you being Mexican is no joke in America.  My husband has to work harder (actual labor) to support his family than I did serving my country. Our adult sons labor at jobs well below their intellect since, here in Texas we only have menial hand-to-mouth jobs to offer in our area or jobs out in the dangerous oil and gas field industry.  Our sons took jobs making $9 an hour when unemployment would have paid them more.  We are all living together under a single roof because $9 an hour does not support a single person let alone a family needing food, transportation, housing, and child care.  While this is a blessing to be together it also adds to sterotypical multi-generational close knit hispanic homes.

Hubby and I are going on 17 years of raising children in a society who feels it is okay to disparge immigrants because it makes the situation of racial bias comical.  Hell,,,,,, even my own mother has uttered horrible racists comments about the myth of 'lazy mexican' to me.  This 'only kidding' comment of his is maddening because he is basically saying President Obama was elected by minority voters because he is a black man.  What a load of bullshit. I am sure there were voters who did vote for him to CHANGE the tide of HOPELESSNESS for those living in the fringes of the 'eeking by' in this economy.

For another thing Romney the jackass does not acknowledge is even the poor pays taxes and usually up front in the form of: sales tax, federal withholding for social security & disability, gas tax, plus others forms of taxation I may have forgotten.  Hell even those paying rent are paying for school tax just it goes in a lump sum to property owners who in turn pay property tax.  No one but the wealthy can afford to ask for an extension to 'jury rig' our federal taxes or defer payment until another year. 

How is Mr. Romney any different by taking 'Capital Gains' as income than say the elderly who paid into the systems for 50 years and is living on less than 14K a year?  Seniors still pay taxes just like everyone else.  Those who are on disability usually have a pretty damned good reasons for getting the stipend to help meet their financial needs. For example, our 21 year old daughter who had a stroke on her 13th birthday and has had medical issues since.  Trust me, that $400 a month helps but does not meet all her needs under her mothers roof.

AM I TOO A VICTIM dependant on government 'handouts?'  Because I take a retirement check after serving my country for twenty years.  That is a bunch of bullshit to me as well.  While I am a staunch 'work for what you want and need' advocate.  I in good faith could never vote for the GOP this go around.

Voting for Romney
ONLY KIDDING
///signed///
pissed off Independent used to be Republican

Just Some Silly Pictures

Mrs. Lily visited us this week.  We love her visits because it gives us an opportunity to sit and talk.  When she left she gave us some tickets to the Al Amin Shriner's circus in Beeville.  YEAH! We took Sarah and Zephyr who had never been to a circus and this is what we did in the bleachers before the start of the show.

Thank you Mrs. Lily!

New Traditions, Closer Family

It is a blessing to have our sons back in our home.  Each night after having a family dinner we sit out back and watch the sun set for those who are not working a shift.  Nothing better than building tighter bonds and memories.  What is happening in the coop:

Each son has found work though temporary in the service industry, Diary Queen in Three Rivers for Junio and HEB for Sid in Beeville.  Sid is trying to find work as a 2 year plumber's apprentice but was picked up HEB as a cashier in the mean time.  Junio is a cook until the next real estate course begins.  Junio is a natural salesman.  Can't wait to see where their futures lay.

We have been in the middle of a refinance.  Let me tell you, jumping through hoops is not easily but, well worth knocking ten years of mortgage payments for hubby and I on our current home.  He is only three years from retirement from civil service; with this economy there are no guarantees his job will be here that long.  I fear after elections no matter who is elected this economy will tank again with a focus on military related jobs and civilian cut backs.  All signs are pointing to a massive round of BRAC (base realignment and closures). 

With all that nonsense nipping at our heels; we are cutting back and learning how to play instruments.  Sid and Junior will be teaching the kiddos how to play guitar.  I found a beginner's violin and guitars on eBay and will start using Youtube for lessons.  I am currently looking into curriculum on how to read music.  On the nights we don't sit out back due to bugs or scorpions; we sit and play or listen to each other.  Like I said; we are blessed to be a family.

Our other pass time is taking the kids fishing at state parks since we invested in a year's pass.  Nothing like being in the outdoors for a change of pace.  What is happening in your coops?  Anything interesting......

Take care,
Mal and extended family

New School Year and Other Jetsam

 We celebrated the start of our third year of home schooling by going to the movies to see Para Norman.  The kids loved the idea we go to movies as a field trip.  Here Sarah & Zephyr (3rd graders) are poised before another advertisement at the theater.  Don't you think Zeph is adorable in his 3D glasses?

(image gotten from Amazon website)

Our family has been investing in electronics this year to ease our dependence on cable television.  I am happy to report we are streaming our television through the net using the AppleTV.  Netflix is awesome as well as HULU.  No more cable bills or commercials; we are definitely getting off the tether of modern television.  One of the best investments we have made.

(image gotten from Amazon website)

The next item I chose was this 10" Coby Kyros tablet.  Let me tell you, I am enamored.  Now I can check my emails where ever I happened to be since, we have WIFI setup in our home.  So far, I have gotten Saenz a similiar version just smaller.  Next, Sarah and Zephyr will have their own to use for school and appointments out of the house.  These are definitely worth the price.  I would not suggest the smaller 7 inch version for those with poor eyesight.  There are keyboard covers that actually make typing a breeze.  Also, Amazon and other sites have free apps (games, music, ebooks, etc....) that are easy to load basically making the laptop & desktop obsolete.  These tablet devices are the certain 'Killer App' of the future.

Now on to so personal thoughts and musings.  We now have welcomed both grown sons back into our home.  The economy is tough; they looked for work for six months in San Antonio while on unemployment.  Even fast food jobs that were available did not afford them the ability to live on their own.  Rents and housing has doubled the last year or so due to the oil & gas boom.  It is nice though after dinner to sit out back and watch the sunset as a family.  Both boys are employed and are contributing to our household.  So while our home is now quite busy and noisey; we don't mind.

What are ya'lls thoughts on the economy? I still say this is no longer a recession but an actual fiscal depression begining with the down turn in 2007.