The Baby: It is better to be loved for the true you, than to be loved for who people think you are….

We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a
high chair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting and talking.
Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, ‘Hi.’ He pounded his fat
baby hands on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter
and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled
with merriment.This one is a keeper. ‘It is better to be liked for the true you, than
to be loved for who people think you are…. 

I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man whose
pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of
would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and
unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose
was so varicose it looked like a road map. We were too far from him to
smell, but I was sure he smelled. His hands waved and flapped on loose
wrists.

‘Hi there, baby; hi there, big boy. I see ya, buster,’ the man said to
Erik. My husband and I exchanged looks, ‘What do we do?’ Erik continued
to laugh and answer, ‘Hi.’ Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked
at us and then at the man. The old geezer was creating a nuisance with
my beautiful baby.

Our meal came and the man began shouting from across the room, ‘Do ya
patty cake? Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek- a-boo.’
Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk. My husband
and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for Erik, who was
running through his repertoire for the admiring skid-row bum, who in
turn, reciprocated with his cute comments.

We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. My husband went
to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot. The old man
sat poised between me and the door. ‘Lord, just let me out of here
before he speaks to me or Erik,’ I prayed. As I drew closer to the man,
I turned my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might be
breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in
a baby’s ‘pick-me-up’ position. Before I could stop him, Erik had
propelled himself from my arms to the man. Suddenly a very old smelly
man and a very young baby consummated their love and kinship. Erik in an
act of total trust, love, and submission laid his tiny head upon the
man’s ragged shoulder.

The man’s eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His
aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard labor, cradled my baby’s bottom
and stroked his back. No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so
short a time. I stood awestruck. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in
his arms and his eyes opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm
commanding voice, ‘You take care of this baby.’ Somehow I managed, ‘I
will,’ from a throat that contained a stone. He pried Erik from his
chest, lovingly and longingly, as though he were in pain.. I received my
baby, and the man said, ‘God bless you, ma’am, you’ve given me my
Christmas gift.’

I said nothing more than a muttered thanks. With Erik in my arms, I ran
for the car. My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik
so tightly, and why I was saying, ‘My God, my God, forgive me.’ I had
just witnessed Christ’s love shown through the innocence of a tiny child
who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child who saw a soul, and a
mother who saw a suit of clothes.

I was a Christian who was blind, holding a child who was not. I felt it
was God asking, ‘Are you willing to share your son for a moment?’ when
He shared His for all eternity. The ragged old man, unwittingly, had
reminded me, ‘To enter the Kingdom of God , we must become as little
children.’ If this has blessed you, please bless others by sending it
on. Sometimes, it takes a child to remind us of what is really
important. We must always remember who we are, where we came from and,
most importantly, how we feel about others. The clothes on your back or
the car that you drive or the house that you live in does not define you
at all; it is how you treat your fellow man that identifies who you are.

Barack Obama: What daily life will be like for new US President

***Life is certainly going to change for Obama–I don’t know if I could stand living like he’ll have to! Bobbi

If Michelle Obama thought the past 22 months on the election trail were tough, she ain’t seen nothing yet… On January 20 when husband Barack gets the keys to The White House, life for America’s new First Family will change forever.

Today we explain exactly how…

SECURITY
Barack Obama – Secret Service codename Renegade – is now the most guarded man on the planet.

Even when he goes to the loo, bodyguards stand outside it.

And when he travels by motorcade there are a dozen identical cars – so potential assassins won’t know which one he is in.

The President-elect will also have to get used to handing his glass to a Secret Service agent every time he has a drink outside the White House. The agent carries a small bag in which to pop the glass and later he destroys it.

The idea is to ensure that no unauthorised person has access to the Presidential DNA, but it is not clear how an enemy would use it.

Obama will be given a set of panic buttons: One for his pocket, one on his desk and one beside his bed. They are credit card-shaped and simply have to be squeezed to summon a posse of agents.

At one time, the President and Vice-President were given three-inch-high models of the Washington Monument to put beside their beds. They had simply to knock them over to summon the guards.

But the models were abandoned after Vice-President Dan Quayle – noted for being clumsy – knocked his over late one night while making love to his wife.

In seconds, the door burst open, the lights went on and Mrs Quayle was thrown out of bed to the floor as bodyguards flocked around her husband to ensure his safety.

MOVING HOME
Michelle Obama once called her husband and asked him to pick up some ant traps on his way back from work to tackle an infestation in their Chicago home.

No such domestic trivia will ever bother her again. She is soon to become the mistress of the sixstorey, 132-room White House.

Michelle will have more than 100 domestic staff including her own florist – to change the flowers daily – chefs, drivers and dressers.

Nancy Reagan said that, a month after moving in to the White House, she was surprised when the usher sent up a bill for their food.

She added: “No one told us the President and his wife are charged for every meal, as well as for dry cleaning, toothpaste and toiletries. Five minutes after Ronnie came home and hung up his suit, it would disappear from the closet to be pressed, cleaned or brushed.”

President Reagan said it was like living in an eight-star hotel but Harry Truman complained the place was a “glamorous prison”.

DECORATION
Michelle will be given a budget of £150,000 to redecorate and make the First Family feel at home.

She’s pledged to give the decor an African-American twist with vibrant colours and fabrics – and Barack wants to remove the plasma TV from the famous Lincoln bedroom. Instead, he wants guests to read.

Barack will have to decide which desk he will use in the Oval Office.

Friends say it will be the same desk picked by John F Kennedy – the “Resolute Desk” presented by Queen Victoria in 1880.

Another of Michelle’s tasks will be to pick out the state china. But she’s been warned not to go over the top – Nancy Reagan was slated for splashing out Û1m on china.

COOKING
One great perk will be having 25 chefs at the Obamas’ disposal.

Michelle will be asked to email the head chef a list of the President’s favourite dishes and new desserts will be created in his honour.

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Former pastry chef Roland Mesnier, who served for 25 years, once made a 2ft gingerbread version of the White House for Laura Bush, said in 2007: “Every First Lady will be demanding when they come to the White House. They want things done their own way.”

SPORT
To help him keep in shape, Barack will build an indoor basketball court – to replace the bowling alley that Richard Nixon installed.

And President Obama will invite professional basketball stars to join him “shooting hoops”.

Franklin D Roosevelt built a pool in the White House, Dwight D Eisenhower a putting green and Bill Clinton had a running track on the edge of the south lawn.

So the new president is only following tradition. But the Secret Service bodyguards have already warned him not to think of cycling around Washington, as he did as a senator – it would be too risky.

But he will make full use of the White House gym to lift weights most mornings and the billiards room to relax some nights.

SCHOOLS
Daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, seven, are expected to go to one of the many private schools in Washington.

Favourite is Sidwell Friends school attended by Bill Clinton’s daughter Chelsea.

The risk of the girls being kidnapped is very real, so rather than their usual “sleep-over parties” with pals at the Chicago home of grandma Marian Robinson, the girls will have visitors over.

“We may see sleep-overs at the White House,” said Verna Williams, a student pal of Michelle.

It is thought Michelle’s mum Mrs Robinson will also move in to stay near the children.

CHURCH
One of the toughest problems the family will face is picking a church. They have a deep Protestant faith and will want to attend church every Sunday.

They may even decide to go to several different churches in Washington, including the Anglican one just across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House.

PETS
White House pets – especially dogs – are popular with voters.

In his acceptance speech, Obama promised his girls a new puppy to take with them to their new home.

Mr Obama later said he wanted a dog from a rescue home, saying “shelter dogs are mutts – like me”.

Former Presidential pets have included Bill Clinton’s chocolate labrador Buddy and his cat Socks.

George W Bush has two Scottish Terriers – Miss Beazley and Barney, who became an internet star when a videocam was attached to his collar and his adventures were posted on the White House website.

Ronald Reagan’s dog Lucky loved chasing reporters and was dispatched to the family ranch owing to his behaviour. More unusually, John F Kennedy kept parakeets.

HOLIDAYS
To get away from it all, the Obamas will have access to the Sequoia – a 150-ton yacht built in 1925.

John F. Kennedy celebrated his final birthday onboard and Richard Nixon famously played God Bless America on the ship’s piano after deciding to resign.

Even though ex-President Jimmy Carter had the boat sold in a public auction, the yacht is still available for use by the White House.

But trips to their old family home in Chicago will have to be vetted by security officials. A fence will be put up round the home with a live-in guard on duty 24/7.

The secluded Camp David residence will be available for some down-time where the family will be able to ski and relax – but with a team of bodyguards in proximity.

Vice-President Dan Quayle set off panic alarm while making love to his wife..security rushed in and threw her out of bed

The Queen leads the nation in Remembrance Sunday ceremony

Hello, gentle blog reader,

Those Brits all do ceremonies right:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/theroyalfamily/3411221/The-Queen-leads-the-nation-in-Remembrance-Sunday-ceremony.html

Last Updated: 9:35PM GMT 09 Nov 2008

Video of the Queen laying a wreath:

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1488655367/bctid1909210362

The monarch joined senior royals, Prime Minister Gordon Brown and other political leaders in laying wreaths at the Cenotaph Memorial in Whitehall, central London. The solemn gesture took place in front of thousands of veterans who also gathered to pay their respects at this year’s event, which marks the 90th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

For the first time, the Territorial Army – which is celebrating its 100th anniversary – was granted the privilege of also laying a wreath at the monument.

The Queen stood solemnly at 11 o’clock as the nation marked a two-minute silence in memory of those who have perished defending the country.

After a cannon marked the end of the silence, the monarch approached the Cenotaph, laying a wreath and pausing for a moment’s reflection before joining family members.

The Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and Prince William – an officer in the Blues and Royals – followed in making the gesture, each saluting as they did so. Gordon Brown, the Conservative leader David Cameron and the Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, each then laid their wreaths.

Baroness Thatcher, 83, was accompanied by former Prime Minister John Major throughout the service.

The rain held off for the ceremony, but wintry conditions appeared to take its toll as many among the crowd appeared to shiver in the cold.

Lining the streets they looked on as war veterans, many elderly and frail, marched close to the Cenotaph, proudly wearing their medals and regimental berets.

Stuart Gendall, spokesman for the Royal British Legion, said: “It is the 90th anniversary of the end of World War One, supposedly the war to end all wars, and yet here we are today and conflicts are still ongoing.

“One-hundred-and-twenty-one young men and women have lost their lives in Afghanistan.”

He added that it was important for the nation to come together and remember all those that laid down their lives fighting for their country.

China announces $586 billion stimulus plan

Hello, gentle blog reader,

Things must be really, really bad for China to do this–

Bobbi

http://www.santafenewmexican.com/World%20News/China-announces–586-billion-stimulus-plan

SCOTT McDONALD | The Associated Press

11/9/2008 –

BEIJING — China announced a $586 billion stimulus package Sunday in its biggest move to stop the global financial crisis from hitting the world’s fourth-largest economy.

A statement on the government’s Web site said China’s Cabinet had approved a plan to invest the amount in infrastructure and social welfare by the end of 2010.

Some of the money will come from the private sector. The statement did not say how much of the spending is on new projects and how much is for ventures already in the pipeline that will be speeded up.

China’s export-driven economy is starting to feel the impact of the economic slowdown in the United States and Europe, and the government has already cut key interest rates three times in less than two months in a bid to spur economic expansion.

Economic growth slowed to 9 percent in the third quarter, the lowest level in five years and a sharp decline from last year’s 11.9 percent. That is considered dangerously slow for a government that needs to create jobs for millions of new workers who enter the economy every year and to satisfy a public that has come to expect steadily rising incomes.

Exports have been growing at an annual rate of more than 20 percent but analysts expect that may fall as low as zero in coming months as global demand weakens.

The statement said the Cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Premier Wen Jiabao, had “decided to adopt active fiscal policy and moderately easy monetary policies.” It did not give details.

The statement said the spending would focus on 10 areas. They included picking up the pace of spending on low-cost housing — an urgent need in many parts of the country — as well as increased spending on rural infrastructure.

Money will also be poured into new railways, roads and airports. Spending on health and education will be increased, as well as on environmental protection and high technology.

Spending on rebuilding disaster areas, such as Sichuan province where 70,000 people were killed and millions left homeless by a massive earthquake in May, will also be sped up. That includes $2.93 billion planned for next year that will be moved up to the fourth quarter of this year.

The statement, without giving details, said rural and urban incomes would be increased.

Credit limits for commercial banks will also be removed to channel more lending to priority projects and rural development, it said.

As well, reform of the value-added tax system will cut taxes by $17.5 billion for enterprises, the statement said.

The plan was announced before President Hu Jintao goes to Washington to push Western leaders to give poorer countries a bigger role in global financial institutions at a Nov. 15 summit of the Group of 20 major economies on the financial crisis.

Quote of the Day: “Genius” versus “Stupidity”

Genius may have its limitations, but stupidity is not thus handicapped.

Elbert Hubbard (1856 – 1915)

Ted Kennedy Kills Hillary’s Dream of Overhauling US Healthcare

Good morning, gentle reader,

Cancer-ridden Ted Kennedy has squashed Hillary Clinton’s longtime dream of overhauling the US healthcare system.  Is it me, or do the Kennedys (Caroline and Ted) seem to hate Hillary? First, they didn’t back her bid for the presidency, now this. 

What do you make of all this?  Are the Kennedys anti-Clinton? And, do you think Obama should appoint Clinton to his cabinet or the Supreme Court?

Bobbi

http://www.nypost.com/seven/11092008/news/politics/kennedy_kills_hills_hope_to_be_top_heale_137860.htm

Hillary Rodham Clinton’s dream of overhauling the country’s health-care system as the steward of a new Senate subcommittee has reportedly flatlined.

The New York senator had made health-care reform the centerpiece of her presidential campaign. After bowing out of the race, Clinton pushed fellow Democratic Sen. Ted Kennedy, the chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, to create a special health subcommittee for her to head.

But the Massachusetts senator, who’s battling brain cancer, has shot down that idea – all but dashing any hope Clinton had of pinning her legacy to universal coverage.

Michael Myers, Kennedy’s staff director on the committee, ended any speculation by telling the trade publication Inside Health Policy that Clinton would not chair a subcommittee. Kennedy will instead hold health-care proceedings at the full committee level, Myers said.

“In the end, it’s President Obama who’s going to lead the effort for us,” Myers told Inside Health Policy.

According to The Washington Post, Clinton had sought the subcommittee to grab the health-care policy reins away from Kennedy, a champion of reform.

Clinton senior adviser Philippe Reines told The Post the senator would assist however she could.

Clinton told Kennedy and Majority Leader Harry Reid “that she stands ready to help President-elect Obama in any and every way she can to enact comprehensive health-care reform, which she has sought for nearly two decades,” Reines said.

Clinton discussed her future endeavors in a Time magazine interview this week, quashing speculation that she wanted a Cabinet-level job in the Obama administration or a Supreme Court seat.

“I’m interested in standing on the South Lawn of the White House and seeing President Obama signing into law quality, affordable health care for everybody and voting in a big majority for clean, renewable energy and smarter economic policies,” Clinton told Time.