Happy Thanksgiving to all Americans! Let us give thanks for the things that we do have, and let us get out and rebuild our country so that we can regain what we have lost.

I'm driving to work the day after Veterans' Day. I drive out of the desert to the main paved road. One block and there is a four-way stop. I arrive at the stop at the same time as two other cars. So, I'm being nice, and I let the guy on my right go first and then motion for the car on my left to go ahead and go. Meantime, a police car pulls up to the stop sign on my right. Well, when the car on my left finished turning, I start through the intersection. This idiot policeman on my right starts barreling through the stop sign, laying on his horn, and I'm thinking what the hell----. I stop in the middle of the intersection and this policeman turns in front of me and pulls up to my driver's door, rolls down his window; and I roll down my window. He yells at me, "Lady, you need to be aware of what is going on around you." I yell, "I am aware of what is going on around me, and, you don't have the right of way." This New Mexico policeman, glares at me and says, "If I pull you over and give you a ticket, we'll see who had the right of way." Now, I'm sitting there looking at this policeman, with a look on his face like he'd like to let me have it for his mistake. Isn't that ROAD RAGE? And, all I could think of to say was, "Try me." With that this policeman took off down the road, like a bat out of hell (sorry Meatloaf). And, no he didn't have his lights or siren on. Then I get to work, and they have posted a news item stating that people in New Mexico are afraid of their policemen. I wonder why!!! Can anyone out there tell me what New Mexico police department drives silver Crown Victorias with a gold sheriff's badge on the front doors and K-9 Patrol across the trunk, wears a dark brown uniform like the Sandoval County sheriff with gold trimmings? I've been to all the law enforcement departments in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho and can't find one. When I do find this idiot, and eventually I'll see another car like his, and I'll know where he works. Or, if by some miracle you, the idiot policeman, happens to read this blog (I doubt if he can read), IT'S NOT GOOD TO THREATEN THE PUBLIC.

I received an e-mail from the Obama transition team asking for my opinion, they said they wanted public input, and I answered them honestly. So far I haven't seen any real changes in the new Washington Obama team. If I wanted Clinton, I'd have voted for Hillary. Who, let's face it, is going to be the next Secretary of State. The American people who voted for Obama really believed they were going to get change; but, those of us who have spent time in Washington DC know that the only faces you see in DC are the same ones that can kiss ass long enough to stay there. At least with McCain/Palin I knew I'd be getting more of the same without all the celebrity bullshit. And, I really got a good laugh out of the transition team holding out announcing Mrs. Clinton as Secretary of State because they wanted President Clinton to promise to be good while she's in office. Come on, he's never behaved himself throughout his career, why would he behave throughout hers? Let's face it, the world economy is going down the crapper fast and we have only a re-run to watch for the next 4 years.

Last Thursday and Friday the big news was that President-elect Obama had offered the position of Secretary of State to Hillary Clinton. It was on the radio, TV, and the internet. Hillary Clinton was meeting with Obama in Chicago and he was offering her the Secretary of State position. Today, it's on the radio, TV, and the internet that our so-called Governor Richardson was meeting Obama in Chicago and he was offered the Secretary of State position. I don't think that these reporters have any idea what positions are being offered to whom, so they need to keep their mouths shut. I suppose that next they'll be saying that McCain and the Governor of California are vying for Intelligence positions under Obama and we'll be invading the state of Georgia.

Now the Detroit car manufacturers want to be bailed out. Where is this going to end? Is the U.S. Government going to bail out every large corporation and every city, state, or local organization that can no longer pay their way? The U.S. Government is borrowing the money to bail everyone out and who is going to bail out our government when they can't pay back their loans? What foreign country is going to foreclose on the U.S. Government? What is going to happen next? Taxpayers--we have to draw the line somewhere. The large mortgage companies and banks that the U.S. Government has given parts of the $700 billion bailout to are throwing it away on vacations and executive bonuses; and yelling for more money. I'm sorry but if the automobile manufacturers can't pay their bills, let them go under--AND WE'LL ALL BUY JAPANESE HYBRIDS.

I'm finally recovering from my surgery enough to return to work and I want to blog about it. I had reconstructive plastic surgery to fix my abdomen. Why? Well, years ago a military surgeon messed it up. This military surgeon, I won't blog his name, was upset about having to perform emergency surgery on a military dependent on Saturday, his day off. So, he did the surgery and left a technician to close up. The scar ran from my belly button to my privates and it wasn't a straight line--it meandered from let to right and back again. I swear that the technician was drunk or high when he did the sewing. And, over the years I tried to get the military to fix the mess; but, they kept refusing on the grounds that I just wanted cosmetic surgery. Then, this year, I started having a lot of pain and intestinal problems. Finally I told my military physician that I wanted it fixed or I planned on taking them to court over it. TriCare (military health insurance) sent me to a surgeon in downtown Albuquerque who looked at the X-rays and the scar and told me that the scar had grown into the muscle, causing the stomach to protrude through the muscle wall and there was about 5 pounds of scar tissue that had to be removed. He refused to do it. He stated that I needed a plastic surgeon to make all the repairs; so, TriCare sent me to a plastic surgeon and after 3 weeks of arguing TriCare stated that they would pay to fix their mess. So, I went into the local civilian hospital and had the mess fixed. Now TriCare sends me statements that they are not going to pay the approximate $15,000 worth of bills. We have a TriCare supplement which is suppose to pay whatever TriCare does not pay. Today I received a letter from them stating that they would pay the $25 co-pay; however, TriCare would pay the rest. TriCare refuses. Since I signed the paperwork at the hospital, TriCare and the hospital comes to me to pay. I'm going to court! Military members, retired military members, and military dependents out there who use TriCare; watch out for your letters of authorization from TriCare. We have to pay the premiums and most of us have to use TriCare for health benefits; but, they decide what they will pay. They send you authorization for your health care; but, they get away with not paying for this approved care. Be sure you are covered for the full amount before you take the steps to get the care. The military doctors can not be sued, but the U.S. Government can be.

I keep hearing that our founding fathers would be very proud to see that America has come to the point of electing an African-American to be president. And, I'd like to point out the facts. This is historical fact--I AM NOT SAYING THAT I AM AGAINST PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA. Our founding fathers based their Democracy on the basis that the only Americans eligible to vote were Male, White, Landowners. They did not want the poor, female, or Americans of any color besides white to even have a say in our government or to be able to run for public office. Now, perhaps since they died, they have changed their point of view; but, I seriously doubt it. I just want to set the record straight.

I've made out my application to work in the Obama Administration. If you want to work for change in our country, go to http://www.change.gov and make out your application.

I'd like to salute all of our veterans, active and retired, who have given so much so that we can be free. Without you, we would be communist today. I thank you!!!

I'm really glad that the election is over--for a lot of reasons. I'm happy to see all those political ads off the air and the computerized phone calls coming to a stop. Course, I could do without the commercials for Viagra and sanitary napkins that have taken the place of politics; however, I'm really sick and tired of the crap about Sarah Palin's clothes shopping. It's evident to me, and probably a lot of other folks, that the Republican campaign committee didn't approve of Ms. Palin's clothes. So, they took her out shopping for more suitable outfits. Having lived in Alaska for over 5 years, I know how hard it is to purchase NICE outfits up there. Lots of times I resorted to catalog ordering and when you do that your shooting craps as to wether they will fit or not. Now they take Ms. Palin to high-class, expensive stores and I guess they expected to spend Wal-Mart prices cause now they are having a fit over the tabs. And, Ms. Palin has said they can have them back--to auction off for political gain. I understand that a lot of money was spent and maybe it wasn't suppose to be spent on anything non-political; but, maybe the Republicans should have accepted her for the Alaskan she is and not tried to make her high-class like them. Or, maybe they shouldn't have selected Ms. Palin as the Vice President nominee if she wasn't good enough for the job. In my opinion--PUT UP OR SHUT UP. Next election get someone who is just like you and you won't have to make them over.

My husband and I went to vote early yesterday. Back when we had primaries in New Mexico it was a fiasco. We stood in line for 4 or 5 hours, they ran out of ballots and people were voting on scrap paper, and praying the the poll didn't catch on fire because we were packed like sardines. Yesterday we had to stand in line for about 1 hour and 40 minutes, they had to send out for a new ballot box because the one was full, and there were only 2 women using a computer to check people in to vote. But, we did vote!!! The instructions on the door were for using machines to vote and we had to use the old No.2 pencil and fill in the oval. That is what took sooooo long. I'd like to make a suggestion, Bill, that you take some of the money you give to the illegals and buy voting machines and hire some more people to check voter's registration. Congratulations on making people prove who they were this year with a picture ID. You're coming around slowly.

Well, thanks to Jean Schmanek, local plastic reconstructive surgeon, the government finally agreed to fix the mess they made on my abdomen in 1968 and 1984. Unfortunately, military dependents use to be at the mercy of military surgeons when a medical condition happened that required surgery. Not now a days. Now the scars I had are gone; however, for the moment replaced by an incision from one hip to the other. But, Dr. Schmanek assures me that this to will pass and I'll be wearing a two-piece swimsuit next summer. And, she removed the 5 pounds of scar tissue that had grown up under my belly button which makes me a size and a half smaller. However, I can't seem to find a size 11 pair of slacks to wear---so, I'll be wearing a 12 until I loose enough weight for a 10.

I'd like to thank my daughter for coming to stay with me last week while my husband attended a class in Washington DC. We had a good time. She was my chauffeur as I was not allowed to drive after my surgery. For more information on our visit; visit my daughter's blog at ITCatholicMom.com.