Murder a Bush

I did, and it felt sooooo good. The heavy equipment got rolled out this week at threadingwater homebase. Check out the action. The front of the house is looking a tad naked without her green flank skirts, but it was definitely time for a fashion update. And did I mention how good it feels to watch a bush get whacked?

Too Hot to Bother

I don't know about you, but here in the North American midwest, we're frying this summer. We have had day after day in the high 80's and 90's (31-33 celsius for the rest of the universe) with wickedly high humidity. blechhh! My brain's gone tropical and is dragging my body with it into the land of torpor. Last year at this time, GHIW whisked me away to Paris for my 50th birthday. There, to my delight, my son and DIL were waiting to surprise me. I had packed a bag of sexy summer frocks in anticipation of languid walks along the Seine, interspersed with champagne-sipping interludes in outdoor cafes. Big mistake. It was so cold and rainy that our first outing was to purchase leggings and scarves and sweaters to layer over and under those adorable dresses. Still, it was Paris, and a cold day in Paris is still better than a hot day in Milwaukee. Proof: I'm not dissing my hometown. After all, I never found any hot beignets on the streets of Paris like the lovey one I devoured yesterday. Here at blog de la resistance, we love France, we love revolution and we love beignets. Happy (belated) Bastille Day to the Fillon family of Grenoble and all like minded revolutionaries wherever you may be. Vive la resistance!

It's a Tool Belt, Not a Choice

Abandonment, abuse, neglect - an all too familiar story when condominiums fail. Please, make every tool belt a wanted tool belt. Hammer responsibly. Be cool with that tool. And don't forget to vote for in threadingwater's "Best in Show" tool belt competition.

"Scotty! Over Here!"

Those of you who know me, know that my interests often turn to obsessions. My latest obsession is White House Press Secretary, Scott McClellan. Scotty, as his fans lovingly call him, is an amazing piece of construction - cool, tetchy and well-scripted. In short, everything the Bush White House could want in an official spokesman, including the twisted-sycophant-bowel-syndrome he must surely suffer from. But why take it from me? You can follow along yourself with the transcripts of his press briefings and engage in your own "Scotty Watch" survey like the one I gathered from yesterday's briefing. Number of times Scotty invoked "ongoing investigation" as reason to deflect 1.) questions about W's statements that he would fire anyone involved in the Valerie Plame/CIA leak and 2.) his own statements that Karl Rove was not involved in the leak? 32 times!

Freedom, With a Side of Orange

Following today's terrorist attacks in London, the Department of Homeland Security raised the terror threat level to Orange, once again raising the question, "What on earth are U.S. citizens supposed to do with this color-coded non-information?" Avoid public transportation and walk to and from work? Flood 911 call centers with reports of suspicious individuals? As in, "Hey, 911! I'm following a Muslim-looking cabbie with a 'Kerry-Edwards' bumper sticker. " The irony is too rich when we're told we are being attacked by terrorists because "they hate our freedoms," by the same people who have brought us the Patriot Act, restricted womens' reproductive rights, and outlawed gay marriage. But I forget. It's all about 'context' isn't it? White House spokesman Scott McClellan is big on 'context,' especially when it comes to explaining one bonehead comment after another by members of the Bush administration. On the other hand, the Bush White House thinks it's extremely important for Federal Judges and Supreme Court Justices to eliminate 'context' from their interpretation of the U.S. Constitution. The London bombers have committed a heinous crime in taking the lives of innocent people. They must be apprehended and punished. So, too, those politicians who lead any nation or group of people into unjustifiable war. Are they any less guilty of shedding innocent blood? Tell me, what context or lack of context explains the difference between them?

Blue State Rambles

From a week of travel in Wisconsin and Illinois, my vote for best billboard: Picture of giant red heart with heartbeat monitor lines and the following text - "War stops a thousand beating hearts" - spotted in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin and best bumper sticker: "Mission Accomplished" with "Mission" crossed out and replaced with "Nothing" - spotted on an Illinois vehicle on our way home from St. Louis, MO.