Susanna’s Blog

This morning we found a dead bird in the yard.  After we buried it, Juliana said some prayers for the bird.

Emma loves Lusy!  Juliana says that when the Baiers come back from vacation, they can take Jack home instead of Lusy.

It’d be cute if she weren’t so loud.  Notice that Emma is singing in the background, and Juliana gets loud trying to overpower her.

April 17, 2009
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington ,  DC   20500

Mr. Obama:

I have had it with you and your administration, sir.  Your conduct on your recent trip overseas has convinced me that you are not an adequate representative of the  United States of America collectively or of me personally.

You are so obsessed with appeasing the Europeans and the Muslim world that you have abdicated the responsibilities of the President of the United States of America .  You are responsible to the citizens of the United States .  You are not responsible to the people of any other country on earth.

I personally resent that you go around the world apologizing for the United States telling Europeans that we are arrogant and do not care about their status in the world.  Sir, what do you think the First World War and the Second World War were all about, if not the consideration of the people of  Europe ?  Are you brain dead?  What do you think the Marshall Plan was all about?  Do you not understand or know the history of the 20th century?

Where do you get off telling a Muslim country that the  United States does not consider itself a Christian country?  Have you not read the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution of the  United States ?  This country was founded on Judeo-Christian ethics, at least until you came along, and the principles governing this country come directly from this heritage.  Do you not understand this?

Your bowing to the king of Saudi Arabia is an affront to all Americans.  Our President does not bow down to anyone, let alone the king of  Saudi Arabia .  You didn’t show Great Britain , our best and one of our oldest allies, the respect they deserve, yet you bow down to the king of Saudi Arabia .  How dare you, sir!  How dare you!

You can’t find the time to visit the graves of our greatest generation because you dont want to offend the Germans, but make time to visit a mosque in Turkey .  You offended our dead and every veteran when you gave the Germans more respect than the people who saved the German people from themselves.  Whats the matter with you?

I am convinced that you and the members of your administration have the historical and intellectual depth of a mud puddle and should be ashamed of yourselves, all of you.

You are so self-righteously offended by the big bankers and the American automobile manufacturers, yet do nothing about the real thieves in this situation, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Frank, Franklin Raines, Jamie Gorelic, the Fannie Mae bonuses, and the Freddie Mac bonuses.  What do you intend to do about them?  Anything?  I seriously doubt it.
Executives at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be receiving $210 million in bonuses over an eighteen-month period, that’s $45 million more than the AIG bonuses.  In fact, Fannie and Freddie executives have already been awarded $51 million not a bad take.    Who authorized that and why haven’t you expressed your outrage at this group who are largely responsible for the economic mess we have right now?

What about the U.S. House members passing out $9.1 million in bonuses to their staff members on top of the $2.5 million in automatic pay raises that lawmakers gave themselves?  I understand the average House aide got a 17% bonus.  I took a 5% cut in my pay to save jobs with my employer.  You haven’t said anything about that.  Who authorized that?  I surely didn’t!

I resent that you take me and my fellow citizens as brain-dead and not caring about what you idiots do.  We are watching what you are doing and we are getting increasingly fed up with all of you.

I also want you to know that I personally find just about everything you do and say to be offensive to every one of my sensibilities.  I promise you that I will work tirelessly to see that you do not get a chance to spend two terms destroying my beautiful country..
Sincerely,

Ms. Kathleen Lyday
Fourth Grade Teacher
Grandview Elementary School
11470 Hwy. C
Hillsboro , MO 63050
(636) 944-3291 Phone
(636) 944-3870 Fax

Emma in her birthday suit, looking at birthday cards!

Birthday icecream cones, since I didn’t feel like making two cakes.  I think Emma prefers icecream anyway.

In case you wonder why she’s naked, she’s been using the potty!  Underwear feels like a diaper, so she pees in it, but when she’s naked she is more likely to run to the bathroom, although she rarely makes it on time.

Juliana loves when I read her stories, particularly folktales, and no pictures.  We have a book of Russian Fairytales, Japanese stories and a parenting book that has a folktale in every chapter (this is from that book, called Once Upon a Family).  Often times, these old folktales are awfully scary, but not this one.  And the moral of this story is a good one.

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“The Happy Man’s Shirt” – and Italian Folktale

Once there was a king named Giphad. He ruled over a very peaceful yet powerful kingdom. His people all loved and adored him. All was perfect in his kingdom.
Except for his son, Jonash. The king’s son was very unhappy for no known reason.
He would always sit in his room staring blankly out the window over the lands, frowning.
The king addressed his son: “What on earth has upset you, Jonash? What is it that you lack? What is making you so distraught?”
The young prince only shrugged.
“Could there be a girl, a certain women that has caught your eye? Tell me her name and I’ll move mountains to have you two married at once!”
“No, it’s not a girl. I don’t know why. I’m just so unhappy.”
The king nodded and walked off. If this state of affairs continued the king feared his son would die of melancholy.
Deciding he needed more help, the king issued a decree to have all the top physicians, astrologers, and wise men of the kingdom come to him. When they arrived the king showed them to his son. After three days the astrologers had finally come up with a solution.
“Your Majesty,” Janklo, the head astrologer, spoke. “We have given the matter close thought. In order to help your son you must find a happy man. A man that is happy through and through.”
The king raised an eyebrow at this. “I must find a happy man?!?”
“Yes, and when you find the happy man you must trade his shirt for your son’s shirt, then all will be well.”

The king agreed and dismissed them. He called in his ambassador to the throne room, and told them to go out and find for him a truly happy man. He had notices placed all over the kingdom offering a handsome reward to anyone who could find a truly happy man.

The first person to be shown before the king was a priest.
“Are you happy?” The king’s question was simple and to the point.
“Yes, milord, I am very happy.”
“Well then, how would you like to be my bishop?” at this, the priest perked up. “Oh yes, your majesty, nothing would bring me greater joy!”
“Get thee hence from my palace before I have you enprisoned!” Yelled the now furious king. “You are no happy man so much as a liar, and only looking to better himself. Out of my castle!

The search continued. Not a week went by but there was news of a neighboring king who was described as a real happy man. He had a lovely wife and many children. He has no enemies and he too has a peaceful but powerful kingdom. Thinking this was his solution, the king sent his ambassador to inquire after him.
“It is true that I have all I could ever want, but I fear that I will die soon and lose it all. Every night I lie in bed thinking of what I will lose.”
With this answer the ambassador thought it wise not to take the kings shirt. When he was told the news, King Giphad was furious. He had no clue what to do next. His son was going to die sad and depressed. In desperate need of fresh air the king went off on a hunting trip.
In the fields, the king shot out at a hare a few meters away. The arrow only grazed the hare, and it escaped into the woods. Following quickly, the king moved far away from the rest of his party. After a few minutes he gave up looking for the hare and made to head back but suddenly stopped. There was a noise coming from his left. As he drew closer the king realized that it was someone whistling a small tune. Reaching the noise he saw
a dashingly handsome blond youth lying in the reeds. The lad was on his back gazing up at the many clouds in the sky.
“You there! Boy! Tell me…how would you like to be appointed to the highest position in the land as the king’s personal advisor?”
“Advisor eh?” the youth sat up and scratched his chin. “Such a troublesome position. Sorry I’ll have to pass. I’m fine enough as I am.”
The king beamed at this answer.
“You’re the one! Quickly! On your feet, boy!” He grabbed the youth and ran back to the men and his camp. “My son is saved! My son is saved!”
He turned to the young man and gestured warmly: “You, boy, may have from me whatever it is you wish. But i need…i need…”
The youth looked at the king strangely. “You need what?”
“My son the prince is dying and only you can save him. Come closer.”
The king grabbed the youth, smiling his brightest smile and quickly began to unbutton the youth’s jacket, then suddenly stopped.
His arms drooped to his sides.

The happy man wore no shirt.

11 Reasons to eat butter:

1. 1. Butter is rich in the most easily absorbable form of Vitamin A necessary for thyroid and adrenal health.
   2. Contains lauric acid, important in treating fungal infections and candida.
   3. Contains lecithin, essential for cholesterol metabolism.
   4. Contains anti-oxidants that protect against free radical damage.
   5. Has anti-oxidants that protect against weakening arteries.
   6. Is a great source of Vitamins E and K.
   7. Is a very rich source of the vital mineral selenium.
   8. Saturated fats in butter have strong anti-tumor and anti-cancer properties.
   9. Butter contains conjugated linoleic acid, which is a potent anti-cancer agent, muscle builder, and immunity booster
   10. Vitamin D found in butter is essential to absorption of calcium.

And the most important reason to eat butter is because it is DELICIOUS!

It’s raining here today, suitable for American Independence Day.  Although there isn’t much American independence left, I’m celebrating today to remember the great things the founding fathers did for America on July 4th, 1776.

We went to a parade in Montgomery this morning, and the girls got tons of candy.  Juliana and I made this cake, it’s lemony and delicious!  John and the girls are playing with poppers and smoke things (in the garage since it’s raining).  If it stops raining, we plan to see the Blue Ash fireworks tonight.

A few before and after pictures.

Our dining room table will stay here.

The ugly brown sliding door is gone!