Dinah Lee Griffey Allyn, Belfair,& LakeLand-Homes & Land

We proctorybably just had the most important vote of this Congress at least as far as the 2010 elections are concerned. The health insurance government takeover bill passed 220-215. One Republican from New Orleans voted for the bill. He represents a district McCain and Bush got 23 and 24% of the vote in respectively. He's obviously voting for political survival. He made a serious mistake. I think the circumstances of his election are such that he is unlikely to survive anyway and it would have been far better if he stayed home and voted on principle. (He beat the $90,000-in-a-freezer congressman in an election delayed due to Hurricane Ike that had very low turnout). It hurts we can't have absolute unanimity--all 7 of the Cap-and-Trade Republicans still in Congress voted right this time.

Far more important though are the 39 Democrats who voted against the takeover bill. They are also voting their political interests. 37 of them represent districts Bush won in 2004. One of the two who does not is Artur Davis from Alabama who is running for Governor and he voted consistently with the wishes of the statewide Alabama electorate--heavy McCain and Bush. The other "no" Democrat from an Obama and Kerry district is Dennis Kucinich who probably voted for it because it is not more radical than it is, i.e., it does not directly impose a single-payer system.

Obama carried 8 of the districts held by "no" vote Democrats, but McCain managed at least 45% in the six that Bush carried. In a more normal political cycle, these districts would be expected to go Republican again. (Two of them already have, one casting over 60% for Republican Governor-elect Bob McDonnell last Tuesday and another New Jersey district going handily for Chris Christie as well).

The 39 Democrats may have helped themselves in 2010, but the vast majority remain in deep trouble. Pelosi probably gave them a license to vote "no", to protect their re-election prospects. She handed out as many licenses as she thought she could and still pass the bill. But they are still are voting for the leadership of the most unpopular politician in America. The charade of voting against her bill will not save a lot of them.

In addition, there are about 55 Democrats who represent McCain or Bush districts or who tookover Republican seats in 2006 or 2008 and who voted for the takeover. These Democrats are more vulnerable now than they were yesterday. In addition there about twenty Democrats representing districts that neither Bush or McCain carried but were close enough that in the environment we have now could be vulnerable. Adding these categories of districts together yields well over 100 vulnerable or potentially vulnerable Democrat seats.

Below are the 40 Members of Congress who crossed partylines and the presidential vote in their districts.

--I thought this was important information to post. It gives me hope that we have not seen the end to our freedoms concerning health care and other major issues in the United States. We still have the hope of the Senate, but even if we fail there we have 2010 and 2012 to get back on track. Yes it is a down day, but I see rays of light piercing through the clouds. We have a voice and we have a nation that is waking up to a new reality and leadership that they are not enamored with any longer. This is going to set the stage for electing leadership that truly represents the Nation not a socialist agenda.

A lesson learned from Old Butch the Rooster John was in the fertilized egg business. He had several hundred young layers (hens), called 'pullets,' and ten roosters to fertilize the eggs. He kept records, and any rooster not performing went into the soup pot and was replaced.

This took a lot of time, so he bought some tiny bells and attached them to his roosters. Each bell had a different tone so he could tell from a distance which rooster was performing. Now, he could sit on the porch and fill out an efficiency report by just listening to the bells.

John's favorite rooster, old Butch, was a very fine specimen, but this morning he noticed old Butch's bell hadn't rung at all! When he went to investigate, he saw the other roosters were busy chasing pullets, bells-a-ringing, but the pullets, hearing the roosters coming, would run for cover. To John's amazement, old Butch had his bell in his beak, so it couldn't ring. He'd sneak up on a pullet, do his job and walk on to the next one.

John was so proud of old Butch, he entered him in the Renfrew County Fair and he became an overnight sensation among the judges.The result was the judges not only awarded old Butch the No Bell Piece Prize but, they also awarded him the Pulletsurprise as well.Clearly old Butch was a politician in the making.

Who else but a politician could figure out how to win two of the most highly coveted awards on our planet by being the best at sneaking up on the populace and screwing them when they weren't paying attention. Vote carefully next time, the bells are not always audible.

I copied this post for your enjoyment. I found it quite funny and very creative!

The deep waters hide her colors and the sky simply melts away.

Whispering shimmering swirls of ancient magical gray.

Unfurling themselves as they wind in and again though black trees

Beneath the surface the fish are in mime of creation's lead.

As the sun's limited hours were only for this day borrowed.

Fall has come to Allyn - cloaking light's breath, unconcerned, & shadowed.

A bright bird calls and through the ghostly vapors land makes it's way

Dark and light meet up with the night and swallow the day away.

Slice 2 pounds of steak about 1/4 of an inch thick. Trim off as much of the fat as you can.Freezing steak partially first will help with slicing.I have also used a roast instead of steak.Place in marinade for about 6 hours. I prefer overnight. Place in food dehydrator for about 12 hours or until no longer soft. The thinner you slice the steak the sooner it will be done. You can also dry in your oven if you set the temp at 200 and bake for about 2 hours.If you dry it in the oven make sure to keep an eye on it- it will get done much faster than you think.

You can adjust the recipe any way you want. I have used Yoshida sauce from Costco. Some people omit the pepper and make it sweeter instead of spicy.You might try mango and pineapple juices. It is hard to get this one wrong.

WARNING- This will not last unless you hide it from others in the house. The aroma is intoxicating. One recipe lasts our family about 24 hours. I have also given it away as a Christmas gift. My brother's favorite! I usually pair it with good beer and roasted salted almonds, peanut brittle,white chocolate dipped pretzels, and a smoked cheese ball. The cheese ball is another great recipe that takes only minutes!

I want to Fly

To drift through the air. The wind choosing my direction as my heart finds my destiny.

Above me the glorious sun and far below me the thoughts of yesterday.

To look beyond my time into the whole of eternity.

Living for a moment my dream of freedom. Untethered to the course of mankind.

To Fall with grace until my feet find the hard earth once again.

Touching the clouds and watching the sun etch the rounded horizon from memory.

This is my day. This is my time and this is my unstolen moment.