Private property rights probably won’t make the news as a hot presidential election issue, but just wait ‘til the Texas governor’s race heats up.
In 2005, our Supreme Court took a pot shot at redefining eminent domain with the help of Kelo v. the City of New London.
Some folks claim that eminent domain is the friend of progress. Good point. We have roads, sewers, utility right-of-ways, you name it, all because of eminent domain.
Howev er, it is important to keep in mind that eminent domain is also the enemy of private property.
Kelo made it clear that the Supreme Court would tolerate redefining eminent domain to include allowing local governments to force private citizens to sell their land, in order to re-sell it to private businessmen who could develop the property. The idea is that the community will benefit with more tax revenue.
Make no mistake; this is a brand new reason for local governments to use eminent domain.
Given the current push coming out of Austin for a trans-Texas highway, don’t look for our state government to be too eager to limit the use of eminent domain.
If you are not generating enough tax dollars on your private property, folks, you have reason to be shaking in your cowboy boots.
Exactly which Amendment to the US Constitution defines eminent domain?
If you guessed Amendment #5, you are close.
“No person shall… be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.”
But, it turns out that we can thank the Brits, not the Bill of Rights, for eminent domain.
It comes to us out of English common law. It kinda makes sense in the context of English lords taking their opportunity to restrict the power of the English monarch, putting him under rather than above the law, as in the Magna Carta, signed in 1215.
When you add the context of the War of Independence and you read the words of the patriots in Amendment #5, you get the idea that they were looking for ways to restrict, not enable, governments, too.
Their commitment was to have citizen leaders provide guidance for self-government; apparently they intended for leaders, who would face the accountability of elections, to make decisions that reflected the concerns of local folks.
Personally, I like it best when the City Council or the County Commissioners are making these eminent domain decisions, because I can call ‘em up and chew ‘em out if I think they goofed. Me and a few thousand other citizens.
Local leaders have phone numbers in the local phone book. That’s what I call accountability.
Yep, folks, the issue of eminent domain is back to bite us, right here in Texas.
Our state government is currently staking out the right-of-way for a super-highway right across the farms and ranches of unhappy Texans.
And get this; it’s going to be a toll way. Somebody stands to make the big bucks and you can bet it’s not the farmers.
Of course, on this issue and so many others, I always rejoice when I see my friends in the newspaper business, local reporters, doing their job by asking tough questions.
As well as the Fifth Amendment, this might be a good time to reference Alexis de Tocqueville, the French guy who wrote Democracy in America and is famous for the concept of Tyranny of the Majority.
“When I see that the right and means of absolute command are conferred on any power whatever, be it called a people or a king, an aristocracy or a democracy, a monarchy or a republic, I say there is the germ of tyranny….”
Just a thought.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, welcomes comments, particularly different viewpoints, at cathykrafve@gmail.com or http://checklistcharlie.blogspot.com.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Wedding Chair Blues
Okay, I’ll confess; I was so preoccupied that I forgot my one wedding task, to stand up when the bride came down the aisle with her father. My friends tell me they were chortling and trying not to stand up before me.
Actually, I was checking out the hem of her dress which I had painstakingly put in myself one stitch at a time.
Surviving a wedding takes fortitude and it doesn’t hurt to have a sense of humor either.
Good advice is welcome, too, I discovered.
We waved goodbye to the happy couple and I immediately started processing my emotions by way of my keyboard.
As the last rose petal fell over their departure, I turned to DeeDee Turnage for her best advice about weddings to share in this column.
DeeDee encourages bewildered mothers of the bride every weekend at Elwood Gardens, her farm and home which also serves as a destination wedding site right here in East Texas, just south of Frankston.
What, according to DeeDee, makes a wedding special?
Surprisingly, her answer didn’t involve any of the unique, personal touches that are the stuff of her daily life.
“Bringing two families together,” she responded.
So, what does she recommend?
-Choose a venue that is relaxed. It can be traditional, but should not be intimidating.
-Set aside time to get the two families together. Pull out baby pictures. Share memories.
-Incorporate the groom’s family into the planning process. Invite the mother of the groom to go along when choosing the bridal gown or the flowers.
-Remember that dads tend to feel left out of the process. Look for ways to include them. Give them a special job or write them a note.
-Do not let the moms take on too much work, either with the wedding or the rehearsal dinner. Encourage them to delegate.
My thanks to DeeDee for her wisdom, and her friendship.
I think it helps if you look for ways to laugh together. Don’t take the wedding or yourself too seriously.
On that note, I have one more confession; I was so transfixed when my husband did his part, saying in a loud clear voice “her mother and I” that I forgot to do my job.
I forgot to sit back down.
Yes, the crowd stood throughout almost the entire wedding! Too bad we wasted money renting cute little white wedding chairs.
Fortunately, the bride and groom wanted a short service.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives in beautiful East Texas and is in denial about any future weddings for her other children. She can be reached at CaeKrafve2@aol.com or http://checklistcharlie.blogspot.com.
Actually, I was checking out the hem of her dress which I had painstakingly put in myself one stitch at a time.
Surviving a wedding takes fortitude and it doesn’t hurt to have a sense of humor either.
Good advice is welcome, too, I discovered.
We waved goodbye to the happy couple and I immediately started processing my emotions by way of my keyboard.
As the last rose petal fell over their departure, I turned to DeeDee Turnage for her best advice about weddings to share in this column.
DeeDee encourages bewildered mothers of the bride every weekend at Elwood Gardens, her farm and home which also serves as a destination wedding site right here in East Texas, just south of Frankston.
What, according to DeeDee, makes a wedding special?
Surprisingly, her answer didn’t involve any of the unique, personal touches that are the stuff of her daily life.
“Bringing two families together,” she responded.
So, what does she recommend?
-Choose a venue that is relaxed. It can be traditional, but should not be intimidating.
-Set aside time to get the two families together. Pull out baby pictures. Share memories.
-Incorporate the groom’s family into the planning process. Invite the mother of the groom to go along when choosing the bridal gown or the flowers.
-Remember that dads tend to feel left out of the process. Look for ways to include them. Give them a special job or write them a note.
-Do not let the moms take on too much work, either with the wedding or the rehearsal dinner. Encourage them to delegate.
My thanks to DeeDee for her wisdom, and her friendship.
I think it helps if you look for ways to laugh together. Don’t take the wedding or yourself too seriously.
On that note, I have one more confession; I was so transfixed when my husband did his part, saying in a loud clear voice “her mother and I” that I forgot to do my job.
I forgot to sit back down.
Yes, the crowd stood throughout almost the entire wedding! Too bad we wasted money renting cute little white wedding chairs.
Fortunately, the bride and groom wanted a short service.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives in beautiful East Texas and is in denial about any future weddings for her other children. She can be reached at CaeKrafve2@aol.com or http://checklistcharlie.blogspot.com.
Sacred Hammocks
“No, you can not cut the strings. Those hammocks are sacred!”
Is it my problem that they failed to tie a proper knot while standing on each other’s shoulders?
Those particular hammocks are almost as old as I am and they survived the three Primer children, proving that they are tough indeed.
Now, let me just say that if you had grown up in our neighborhood in the 1960s you would know that the Primer children did not do things in the conventional way. This is particularly true with hammocks. Or anything else that can be hung like a trapeze at a death-defying height in a tree.
For example, as small children we climbed as high as we could, then, standing on our tiptoes, reached further still, hanging dress-up clothes over the limbs, swinging into the rigging like monkeys, with only buttons and button-holes between us and premature death.
Poor mom.
One solution to the problem of having monkeys for children was to buy each of us a hammock.
There is an art to hammock hanging, especially if you are motivated by height. By hanging the first hammock, then standing on it to hang the second hammock we began a process that could give my mom a whole afternoon free at the campsite as long as she managed to suppress any feelings of pure panic.
You can imagine where the third hammock was hung. I’ll give you a hint; we only needed two tall trees to hang all three hammocks.
It is worth noting that if you have a sibling to untie and hand you the first hammock, you can stand on the highest hammock and hang the first one still higher. This last part is the only feature of the plan I purposely failed to share with my own children. I figure part of growing up is figuring out your own mischief.
Any hammocks that survived our childhood deserve special treatment.
So, when my son and his friend wanted to cut those same hammocks out of the trees on our recent campout, naturally I said no.
They struggled with the dilemma until they were willing to ask for my help.
I hung the first hammock on the highest spot I could reach.
The truth is, my monkey-skills have faded like my youth, so the boys took over from there.
One boy balanced like a tight-rope walker until he untied the high ropes, while the other boy spotted him.
The moral of this story is that the boys felt great about their success and the hammocks survived another generation. Oh yeah, and the boys learned to tie a proper knot.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives in Texas with her family and loves exploring the fabulous camping around our great state. Comments and especially lists, are welcome at cathykrafve@gmail.com or http://checklistcharlie.blogspot.com
Is it my problem that they failed to tie a proper knot while standing on each other’s shoulders?
Those particular hammocks are almost as old as I am and they survived the three Primer children, proving that they are tough indeed.
Now, let me just say that if you had grown up in our neighborhood in the 1960s you would know that the Primer children did not do things in the conventional way. This is particularly true with hammocks. Or anything else that can be hung like a trapeze at a death-defying height in a tree.
For example, as small children we climbed as high as we could, then, standing on our tiptoes, reached further still, hanging dress-up clothes over the limbs, swinging into the rigging like monkeys, with only buttons and button-holes between us and premature death.
Poor mom.
One solution to the problem of having monkeys for children was to buy each of us a hammock.
There is an art to hammock hanging, especially if you are motivated by height. By hanging the first hammock, then standing on it to hang the second hammock we began a process that could give my mom a whole afternoon free at the campsite as long as she managed to suppress any feelings of pure panic.
You can imagine where the third hammock was hung. I’ll give you a hint; we only needed two tall trees to hang all three hammocks.
It is worth noting that if you have a sibling to untie and hand you the first hammock, you can stand on the highest hammock and hang the first one still higher. This last part is the only feature of the plan I purposely failed to share with my own children. I figure part of growing up is figuring out your own mischief.
Any hammocks that survived our childhood deserve special treatment.
So, when my son and his friend wanted to cut those same hammocks out of the trees on our recent campout, naturally I said no.
They struggled with the dilemma until they were willing to ask for my help.
I hung the first hammock on the highest spot I could reach.
The truth is, my monkey-skills have faded like my youth, so the boys took over from there.
One boy balanced like a tight-rope walker until he untied the high ropes, while the other boy spotted him.
The moral of this story is that the boys felt great about their success and the hammocks survived another generation. Oh yeah, and the boys learned to tie a proper knot.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives in Texas with her family and loves exploring the fabulous camping around our great state. Comments and especially lists, are welcome at cathykrafve@gmail.com or http://checklistcharlie.blogspot.com
Momentary Flashes of Brilliance
It is tough being surrounded by brilliance.
How would you like to be the child that could be counted on to forget your purse at the restaurant?
Or the wife whose motto is, “Nice people always find my stuff.”
Occasionally, I get a glimpse of what it would be like to have a memory.
I had one of those momentarily brilliant flashes recently.
“Is there anything I can bring home for you?” I asked my married daughter over the phone as I was leaving her old apartment where her sister still lives.
“Ooh. Could you take my bike to your house?”
Please understand, the bike had been there so long that there were vines growing over the tires until it is in danger of becoming a bicycle-shaped topiary. Very artistic.
Usually it is me with the artistic habit of forgetting things indefinitely.
My real friends volunteer helpful information all the time. Important information, like today is the day your son needs to turn in his science project. Or tomorrow is the deadline for your article.
I smiled as I loaded the rusty bike into the back end of my SUV. I felt gratified.
You know the feeling?
It must be the same as making the hoop from midcourt in the final seconds of the game. Whoosh!
Or being the first in the class to shout out the right answer to a math problem. Any math problem. Even if you are an adult visiting your child’s 5th grade math class, not that I am admitting that I have ever done that.
There are advantages to being forgetful, for instance, my children have really low expectations.
Some of my greatest moments in their young lives are the days when we arrived at school and realized that they were all wearing shoes at the same time on each and every foot. Not only that, but they all had socks on each foot, too. And mom was wearing shoes, too.
I always gave myself bonus points if I just got there with each child.
“Where are you mom?” asked an irritated voice calling from the school at 3:15 the other day.
“Isn’t this the day you have a private music lesson with your teacher?” I responded sweetly.
“Oh, yeah. I better go. Bye.”
And mom scores!
I consider it my ministry to make other people feel good about themselves.
So, for instance, if you feel like a failure when it comes to keeping your house clean, you are invited to my house. I have all kinds of original housekeeping solutions.
I would write them down in a list for you, but that would require me to remember what they are. Or even what we were talking about.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives and educates her children in Texas. Comments are welcome at cathykrafve@gmail.com.
How would you like to be the child that could be counted on to forget your purse at the restaurant?
Or the wife whose motto is, “Nice people always find my stuff.”
Occasionally, I get a glimpse of what it would be like to have a memory.
I had one of those momentarily brilliant flashes recently.
“Is there anything I can bring home for you?” I asked my married daughter over the phone as I was leaving her old apartment where her sister still lives.
“Ooh. Could you take my bike to your house?”
Please understand, the bike had been there so long that there were vines growing over the tires until it is in danger of becoming a bicycle-shaped topiary. Very artistic.
Usually it is me with the artistic habit of forgetting things indefinitely.
My real friends volunteer helpful information all the time. Important information, like today is the day your son needs to turn in his science project. Or tomorrow is the deadline for your article.
I smiled as I loaded the rusty bike into the back end of my SUV. I felt gratified.
You know the feeling?
It must be the same as making the hoop from midcourt in the final seconds of the game. Whoosh!
Or being the first in the class to shout out the right answer to a math problem. Any math problem. Even if you are an adult visiting your child’s 5th grade math class, not that I am admitting that I have ever done that.
There are advantages to being forgetful, for instance, my children have really low expectations.
Some of my greatest moments in their young lives are the days when we arrived at school and realized that they were all wearing shoes at the same time on each and every foot. Not only that, but they all had socks on each foot, too. And mom was wearing shoes, too.
I always gave myself bonus points if I just got there with each child.
“Where are you mom?” asked an irritated voice calling from the school at 3:15 the other day.
“Isn’t this the day you have a private music lesson with your teacher?” I responded sweetly.
“Oh, yeah. I better go. Bye.”
And mom scores!
I consider it my ministry to make other people feel good about themselves.
So, for instance, if you feel like a failure when it comes to keeping your house clean, you are invited to my house. I have all kinds of original housekeeping solutions.
I would write them down in a list for you, but that would require me to remember what they are. Or even what we were talking about.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives and educates her children in Texas. Comments are welcome at cathykrafve@gmail.com.
A Miracle Every Time
Our daughter occupied our garage last summer with a very big painting. Parents will make any sacrifice for their kids, right? So my car spent six dirty weeks out under the oak trees around our house. I tried to be nice about it.
The painting is a whopping 8 feet by 28 feet. We never saw the whole painting at once because she couldn’t unroll it all in our garage at one time. She had to paint it in sections.
I’m one of those stage moms who can’t wait to tell you about their kids’ latest accomplishment. I know lots of dads who have the same problem.
Let’s just chalk it up to hormones; after all, I carried the child around in my womb for nine months and I really never got over the fact. I don’t know what excuse the dads have.
My friend gave birth last week and it was a miracle. A new baby, adopted or home-grown, is a miracle every single time.
Every mom knows that it is the lifetime of small daily miracles that add up.
I walked in on one such miracle last Monday night.
After years of painting, Anna got to have her first one-man exhibit. The gallery walls were filled with her paintings in every hue of the rainbow.
Even though our home is wall-papered with realistic paintings she has created over the years of recognizable humans and animals, this recent body of work, as they say in art circles, was contemporary and non-representational which is an academic way of saying it looks like any four-year-old could do it.
Of course, since we watched the process take place in our garage all summer, I know that it actually takes skill to pull together the correct complementary colors, establish depth and tone, then, delineate the whole canvas using illustrative techniques.
This is a good place to mention how thankful our family is to the teachers at TJC and UNT who have poured their efforts into getting her to this point.
The painting from our garage filled up a huge wall in the gallery. Gigantic.
And astonishing. I can’t even describe it.
Anyway, that was not the miracle; even though I do think it reflects well on the Creator that He can make people who can then turn around and create such amazing art.
Nor is it the miracle that someone I gave birth to turned out to be so talented, although that is kind of surprising when you think about it.
Or even that she has the discipline, dedication, and vision to focus so much creative energy.
Nope, those are the everyday miracles I’ve lived with so long as a mom that I’ve adjusted to the brilliance they cast over our little world.
At our house we say “Every human is Handcrafted.”
Anna purposely used the exhibit to intertwine her relationships together. She got so much joy out of bringing together the people she loves and introducing them to each other.
The Handcrafted quality of life was the miracle that jumped off the walls and communicated itself to me again as I stood there surrounded by her beautiful paintings and her even more precious friends, meeting many of them, both the paintings and the humans, for the first time.
For me the real miracle is learning from each of my children one at a time that each and every person is fearfully and wonderfully made by an Artist who is pleased with His work. That includes being pleased with the way He made me, and somehow I find myself surprised by that fact most of all.
That’s the small daily miracle of last Monday night. That and the fact that the collection of all his creatures together, like a beautiful exhibit of His Handiwork, gives us insight into His creativity and greatness.
Oh yeah, and by the way, if you know anyone with a really big, empty wall, I sure would like to keep my car in the garage next summer.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives in Texas where the scenery and the people give her plenty of opportunity to admire God’s handiwork.
The painting is a whopping 8 feet by 28 feet. We never saw the whole painting at once because she couldn’t unroll it all in our garage at one time. She had to paint it in sections.
I’m one of those stage moms who can’t wait to tell you about their kids’ latest accomplishment. I know lots of dads who have the same problem.
Let’s just chalk it up to hormones; after all, I carried the child around in my womb for nine months and I really never got over the fact. I don’t know what excuse the dads have.
My friend gave birth last week and it was a miracle. A new baby, adopted or home-grown, is a miracle every single time.
Every mom knows that it is the lifetime of small daily miracles that add up.
I walked in on one such miracle last Monday night.
After years of painting, Anna got to have her first one-man exhibit. The gallery walls were filled with her paintings in every hue of the rainbow.
Even though our home is wall-papered with realistic paintings she has created over the years of recognizable humans and animals, this recent body of work, as they say in art circles, was contemporary and non-representational which is an academic way of saying it looks like any four-year-old could do it.
Of course, since we watched the process take place in our garage all summer, I know that it actually takes skill to pull together the correct complementary colors, establish depth and tone, then, delineate the whole canvas using illustrative techniques.
This is a good place to mention how thankful our family is to the teachers at TJC and UNT who have poured their efforts into getting her to this point.
The painting from our garage filled up a huge wall in the gallery. Gigantic.
And astonishing. I can’t even describe it.
Anyway, that was not the miracle; even though I do think it reflects well on the Creator that He can make people who can then turn around and create such amazing art.
Nor is it the miracle that someone I gave birth to turned out to be so talented, although that is kind of surprising when you think about it.
Or even that she has the discipline, dedication, and vision to focus so much creative energy.
Nope, those are the everyday miracles I’ve lived with so long as a mom that I’ve adjusted to the brilliance they cast over our little world.
At our house we say “Every human is Handcrafted.”
Anna purposely used the exhibit to intertwine her relationships together. She got so much joy out of bringing together the people she loves and introducing them to each other.
The Handcrafted quality of life was the miracle that jumped off the walls and communicated itself to me again as I stood there surrounded by her beautiful paintings and her even more precious friends, meeting many of them, both the paintings and the humans, for the first time.
For me the real miracle is learning from each of my children one at a time that each and every person is fearfully and wonderfully made by an Artist who is pleased with His work. That includes being pleased with the way He made me, and somehow I find myself surprised by that fact most of all.
That’s the small daily miracle of last Monday night. That and the fact that the collection of all his creatures together, like a beautiful exhibit of His Handiwork, gives us insight into His creativity and greatness.
Oh yeah, and by the way, if you know anyone with a really big, empty wall, I sure would like to keep my car in the garage next summer.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives in Texas where the scenery and the people give her plenty of opportunity to admire God’s handiwork.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Favorite Moments from the 2008 Texas Republican Convention
Drama! Laughter! Heartbreak! Hurrahs!
The Texas Republican Convention 2008 had something for everyone.
We all take our freedom pretty seriously in this state, but it can’t hurt to laugh along the way as we are getting worked into a lather with the Presidential elections drawing near.
As tribute to the hard-working men and women who put on the event with the intention of doing their part in the self-governing process, here’s my list of favorite moments at the convention.
-Favorite Missing In Action Candidate: John McCain who didn’t show up.
-Favorite Gag: The cardboard stand-up of McCain positioned in the aisle in front of the video crew and beamed to the big screens with delegates pretending to pose with the absentee candidate.
-Favorite Honor: Local guy and US Congressman, Louie Gohmert, received the Texas Eagle Forum’s Patriot of the Year award.
-Jazziest slogan: I have no idea what it means but my favorite stickers were the ones that labeled delegates “Red Hot.” Everybody was handing out stickers; some delegates reminded me of those VW vans that travel the world covered in stickers. This one actually said “Keep Texas…” in small font and was sponsored by the Growth, Opportunity and Prosperity PAC whoever they are.
-Favorite New faces on the East Texas Political Scene: William Hughey of Marshall in Harrison County who is running for District Judge, and his wife, Willie. His impromptu comments in the Congressional District 3 Caucus meeting received a long and enthusiastic standing ovation.
-Favorite political ad: The “Big Bad John” video put together by US Senator John Cornyn’s staff; it was the most entertaining of the lot. You can check it out at their website, but bet we won’t see the full version on TV. It’s funny, even if you’re not a Republican.
-Favorite Fashion Statement: People wearing Styrofoam elephants on their heads.
-Favorite New Face at the State Level: Dr. Robin Armstrong, Vice Chairman of the Republican Party. Okay, die-hard Republicans probably know this guy, but he was new to me. He is conservative, articulate, and took the time to listen to folks.
-Favorite Houston Restaurant near the Convention Center: The Grove, less pricey than most with a view of the sculpture garden that doubles as a park.
-Favorite fauxpas: When one of the national delegate nominees said he loved his wife and what she did to him…oops…for him.
Attending a party convention for the first time is an amazing and often bewildering experience. Sometimes it felt like a carnival, sometimes like a country western concert, and sometimes, for instance during the prayer breakfast, it felt like a call to worship.
There is something compelling about the process that has developed out of the foundation our forefathers designed.
No matter whose candidate wins in November, we really do live in a land where liberty is a celebration and a call to thanksgiving.
Cathy Primer Krafve lives and votes in Texas. Comments are invited at CaeKrafve2@aol.com of http://checklistcharlie.blogspot.com.
The Texas Republican Convention 2008 had something for everyone.
We all take our freedom pretty seriously in this state, but it can’t hurt to laugh along the way as we are getting worked into a lather with the Presidential elections drawing near.
As tribute to the hard-working men and women who put on the event with the intention of doing their part in the self-governing process, here’s my list of favorite moments at the convention.
-Favorite Missing In Action Candidate: John McCain who didn’t show up.
-Favorite Gag: The cardboard stand-up of McCain positioned in the aisle in front of the video crew and beamed to the big screens with delegates pretending to pose with the absentee candidate.
-Favorite Honor: Local guy and US Congressman, Louie Gohmert, received the Texas Eagle Forum’s Patriot of the Year award.
-Jazziest slogan: I have no idea what it means but my favorite stickers were the ones that labeled delegates “Red Hot.” Everybody was handing out stickers; some delegates reminded me of those VW vans that travel the world covered in stickers. This one actually said “Keep Texas…” in small font and was sponsored by the Growth, Opportunity and Prosperity PAC whoever they are.
-Favorite New faces on the East Texas Political Scene: William Hughey of Marshall in Harrison County who is running for District Judge, and his wife, Willie. His impromptu comments in the Congressional District 3 Caucus meeting received a long and enthusiastic standing ovation.
-Favorite political ad: The “Big Bad John” video put together by US Senator John Cornyn’s staff; it was the most entertaining of the lot. You can check it out at their website, but bet we won’t see the full version on TV. It’s funny, even if you’re not a Republican.
-Favorite Fashion Statement: People wearing Styrofoam elephants on their heads.
-Favorite New Face at the State Level: Dr. Robin Armstrong, Vice Chairman of the Republican Party. Okay, die-hard Republicans probably know this guy, but he was new to me. He is conservative, articulate, and took the time to listen to folks.
-Favorite Houston Restaurant near the Convention Center: The Grove, less pricey than most with a view of the sculpture garden that doubles as a park.
-Favorite fauxpas: When one of the national delegate nominees said he loved his wife and what she did to him…oops…for him.
Attending a party convention for the first time is an amazing and often bewildering experience. Sometimes it felt like a carnival, sometimes like a country western concert, and sometimes, for instance during the prayer breakfast, it felt like a call to worship.
There is something compelling about the process that has developed out of the foundation our forefathers designed.
No matter whose candidate wins in November, we really do live in a land where liberty is a celebration and a call to thanksgiving.
Cathy Primer Krafve lives and votes in Texas. Comments are invited at CaeKrafve2@aol.com of http://checklistcharlie.blogspot.com.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Valentine Fantasies for Men
Today’s column is for gals only. Just in case you haven’t already figured out how guys think.
Essentially, God created Eve by cloning Adam who contributed his DNA from a rib bone while under general anesthesia.
Supernatural, but not too complicated when you think about it.
If only He had stopped there.
For some delightful and usually entertaining reason, God decided to go one step further and change a chromosome.
One little Y to X. One small step backwards in the alphabet.
Thus, we are doomed to spend our whole life trying to figure out the opposite sex.
When he woke up and saw the outcome of God’s imaginative creation, Adam’s immediate response was the equivalent of “Yee-hah!!!” If Adam had been from Texas, you understand.
Probably because Adam thought he was still dreaming.
Later on his life got a little bit more complicated. Face it gals, we tend to have that affect in our guy’s life.
Take, for instance the difference between the fantasies women have and the ones their male counterparts have.
“Sex and body parts,” was what one guy told me when I asked what men fantasize about for Valentines Day. Simple enough.
I verified that he meant still-attached body parts. Then, I changed the subject. Quickly.
One gentleman told me his fantasies were “not appropriate for publication.” His wife was standing next to him, grinning. I’m guessing that he’s going to have a Happy Valentines Day.
So, gals, if you need a little help thinking creatively, here’s my almost entirely uncensored research.
-Garters are good.
-Anything that combines sex and golf, not necessarily at the same time and not if you beat him on the golf course.
-Horses, especially stallions. Don’t ask me, I can’t explain it.
-Motorcycles, with or without sex. Guys just like motorcycles.
Apparently, men are not complicated. This came as a shock to me because I have all sorts of trouble figuring them out. But they tell me that they are pretty straight forward.
“Shallow, men are shallow,” says one male friend.
I am starting to believe him, although, for a shallow person, that guy is a credit to his gender.
It turns out that men pretty much fantasize about sex a lot and that has nothing to do with Valentines Day.
Unless they are on the golf course, in which case they fantasize about hole-in-ones.
Hmm….Never mind, I can’t go there.
To all the golfers out there, notice how I try to work your favorite game into every column.
To all those who shared their fantasies and trusted me when I promised not to include their names, thanks.
To all those who are without a sweetheart this year, ahhh, the perfection of simplicity.
To all the gals out there, trying to plan something exciting for Valentines Day, look at it this way. Your job is easy.
On the other hand, he is probably struggling to find the right Valentine for you. Or he will be on Wednesday the 13th at 5:00 in the afternoon.
Make that February the 14th at 5:00pm when he remembers he is having dinner with you for Valentine’s Day.
It is just that he honestly can’t figure you out because you are a gal and he is not.
For Valentines Day, my research indicates we gals should give our guys a break and keep it simple. Just this once.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives in beautiful East Texas with her true love and their offspring. Comments are invited at CaeKrafve2@aol.co or http://checklistcharlie.blogspot.com.
Essentially, God created Eve by cloning Adam who contributed his DNA from a rib bone while under general anesthesia.
Supernatural, but not too complicated when you think about it.
If only He had stopped there.
For some delightful and usually entertaining reason, God decided to go one step further and change a chromosome.
One little Y to X. One small step backwards in the alphabet.
Thus, we are doomed to spend our whole life trying to figure out the opposite sex.
When he woke up and saw the outcome of God’s imaginative creation, Adam’s immediate response was the equivalent of “Yee-hah!!!” If Adam had been from Texas, you understand.
Probably because Adam thought he was still dreaming.
Later on his life got a little bit more complicated. Face it gals, we tend to have that affect in our guy’s life.
Take, for instance the difference between the fantasies women have and the ones their male counterparts have.
“Sex and body parts,” was what one guy told me when I asked what men fantasize about for Valentines Day. Simple enough.
I verified that he meant still-attached body parts. Then, I changed the subject. Quickly.
One gentleman told me his fantasies were “not appropriate for publication.” His wife was standing next to him, grinning. I’m guessing that he’s going to have a Happy Valentines Day.
So, gals, if you need a little help thinking creatively, here’s my almost entirely uncensored research.
-Garters are good.
-Anything that combines sex and golf, not necessarily at the same time and not if you beat him on the golf course.
-Horses, especially stallions. Don’t ask me, I can’t explain it.
-Motorcycles, with or without sex. Guys just like motorcycles.
Apparently, men are not complicated. This came as a shock to me because I have all sorts of trouble figuring them out. But they tell me that they are pretty straight forward.
“Shallow, men are shallow,” says one male friend.
I am starting to believe him, although, for a shallow person, that guy is a credit to his gender.
It turns out that men pretty much fantasize about sex a lot and that has nothing to do with Valentines Day.
Unless they are on the golf course, in which case they fantasize about hole-in-ones.
Hmm….Never mind, I can’t go there.
To all the golfers out there, notice how I try to work your favorite game into every column.
To all those who shared their fantasies and trusted me when I promised not to include their names, thanks.
To all those who are without a sweetheart this year, ahhh, the perfection of simplicity.
To all the gals out there, trying to plan something exciting for Valentines Day, look at it this way. Your job is easy.
On the other hand, he is probably struggling to find the right Valentine for you. Or he will be on Wednesday the 13th at 5:00 in the afternoon.
Make that February the 14th at 5:00pm when he remembers he is having dinner with you for Valentine’s Day.
It is just that he honestly can’t figure you out because you are a gal and he is not.
For Valentines Day, my research indicates we gals should give our guys a break and keep it simple. Just this once.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives in beautiful East Texas with her true love and their offspring. Comments are invited at CaeKrafve2@aol.co or http://checklistcharlie.blogspot.com.
Valentines Fantasies for Female
Heads up, guys, Valentine’s Day is next week.
Today’s column is for guys only. If you are female, do NOT read any further.
Unless, of course, you want to clip it and stick it under his nose for some not-so- subtle hinting.
“This is how the day would start,” began one lady in a conspiratorial undertone when I approached a table of women about their fantasies.
Already her friends were laughing.
“A whole day; she has a whole day planned!” She is single, but her friends are married women which probably explains a lot. She ignored their teasing and continued with a dreamy look on her face.
“Flowers would arrive in the morning. Then, he would call and tell me to show up at a certain time at a hotel. When I arrive, there would be candles, soft music, and a bath drawn,” she continued.
At this point her friends were hysterically joking about hand cuffs.
“Bubbles. Us in the bathtub together. He would wash my hair because I think that’s really sexy.”
We put our heads in closer over the table as she whispered the rest because we were starting to draw stares from around the restaurant.
“Chocolate-covered strawberries.”
“What about jewelry,” asks one of her practical married friends.
“Oh yeah, jewelry would be good.”
She called the next part of her fantasy “Wild Thing.” It involved cowboy boots, ropes, and spurs.
I was afraid to ask who would wear the spurs.
There are themes in female fantasies that usually include seemingly opposite components; spontaneity AND forethought. In fact, forethought and foreplay might be synonyms, guys. If that seems contradictory, it is because we are women and, well, we don’t think like men. Sorry.
Here are some other thoughts that might make female fantasies more clear. No, on second thought, probably not, but maybe it will inspire you guys.
-Wow! Finish our kitchen!
-Just the fact that he remembered is romantic.
-Bring it home, no eating out, with flowers, candy, and a gleam in his eye.
-Picnics with friends.
-Poetry or letters telling her how much you value her.
-Time together.
-A surprise romantic get away to a bed and breakfast.
-A new wedding ring; a huge one.
-Dinner that he prepares.
-Time without the children.
-Shoes are a great gift because they are easy to fit and girls always like them.
-Jewelry, jewelry, and more jewelry.
So, here’s the big hint guys: Give some thought to an attentive surprise for your sweetheart and your fantasies will probably come true too.
I am thinking the cowboy boots might come in handy.
Next week’s column is about what guys want for Valentines Day and it’s a doozy. Stay tuned.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives in beautiful East Texas with her sweetheart and their kiddoes. Comments are invited at CaeKrafve2@aol.com or http://checklistcharlie.blogspot.com.
Today’s column is for guys only. If you are female, do NOT read any further.
Unless, of course, you want to clip it and stick it under his nose for some not-so- subtle hinting.
“This is how the day would start,” began one lady in a conspiratorial undertone when I approached a table of women about their fantasies.
Already her friends were laughing.
“A whole day; she has a whole day planned!” She is single, but her friends are married women which probably explains a lot. She ignored their teasing and continued with a dreamy look on her face.
“Flowers would arrive in the morning. Then, he would call and tell me to show up at a certain time at a hotel. When I arrive, there would be candles, soft music, and a bath drawn,” she continued.
At this point her friends were hysterically joking about hand cuffs.
“Bubbles. Us in the bathtub together. He would wash my hair because I think that’s really sexy.”
We put our heads in closer over the table as she whispered the rest because we were starting to draw stares from around the restaurant.
“Chocolate-covered strawberries.”
“What about jewelry,” asks one of her practical married friends.
“Oh yeah, jewelry would be good.”
She called the next part of her fantasy “Wild Thing.” It involved cowboy boots, ropes, and spurs.
I was afraid to ask who would wear the spurs.
There are themes in female fantasies that usually include seemingly opposite components; spontaneity AND forethought. In fact, forethought and foreplay might be synonyms, guys. If that seems contradictory, it is because we are women and, well, we don’t think like men. Sorry.
Here are some other thoughts that might make female fantasies more clear. No, on second thought, probably not, but maybe it will inspire you guys.
-Wow! Finish our kitchen!
-Just the fact that he remembered is romantic.
-Bring it home, no eating out, with flowers, candy, and a gleam in his eye.
-Picnics with friends.
-Poetry or letters telling her how much you value her.
-Time together.
-A surprise romantic get away to a bed and breakfast.
-A new wedding ring; a huge one.
-Dinner that he prepares.
-Time without the children.
-Shoes are a great gift because they are easy to fit and girls always like them.
-Jewelry, jewelry, and more jewelry.
So, here’s the big hint guys: Give some thought to an attentive surprise for your sweetheart and your fantasies will probably come true too.
I am thinking the cowboy boots might come in handy.
Next week’s column is about what guys want for Valentines Day and it’s a doozy. Stay tuned.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives in beautiful East Texas with her sweetheart and their kiddoes. Comments are invited at CaeKrafve2@aol.com or http://checklistcharlie.blogspot.com.
Father's Day: The Muddy Holiday
I asked around to get the scoop on Father’s Day.
“Father’s Day? When is it?”
You have to give them credit; they are unbiased forgetters. It is not only Mother’s Day that they forget.
When guys think of good times with their kids, it usually involves water or mud or both, have you noticed?
I don’t know, maybe the little boy in their heart still wants to come out and play. Or maybe God invented fathers so the kids could get away with tracking mud through the kitchen at least one day a year. Don’t ask me.
I can assure you, mud and water are not synonymous with yard work. Although, mowing the grass and watering the lawn would seem to qualify from a female point of view.
Gals are already making plans for Father’s Day, so here are some ideas that your guy might like, as best as I can figure.
-Hire someone else to do the lawn for Father’s Day. If you hire a neighborhood teenager, be sure and mention that the money could be used to do something nice for his dad. His mother will thank you and us moms need to stick together.
-Take him bowling. Or set up empty 2 liter bottles on the back porch and bowl ‘em down with a Nerf ball.
-Take dad to a water park. This will preserve the pristine floor in your kitchen.
-Drag out the Slip and Slide. Forget about the kitchen floor.
-Challenge another family to a whiffle ball tournament, followed by a picnic.
-Schedule a surprise tee time.
-Take him to play putt-putt. Or better yet, give the kids 18 tin cans and set them to work building a putt-putt course in your back yard. Dad can supervise so he doesn’t mow over stray tin cans later. That is, if the lawn-mowing teenager doesn’t work out.
-Set up a BB gun firing range in the back yard.
-Put a target on an old box and shoot arrows.
-Have water balloon wars.
-Pamper him with a kid-delivered foot rub or a whole collection of coupons for his kids to do his chores.
“Children that can’t wait to hear my next word of godly instruction,” answered one dad with a chuckle, when we asked him what he wanted for Father’s Day.
Now that I think of it, why not do everything on the list?
Celebrate all week end. Those men in our life that fill the role of dad deserve credit.
Or, if you are overwhelmed at the thought of so much mud coming through the house, you could just buy him a boat, a convertible, or a motorcycle.
Just kidding. Sort of.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives and plays in beautiful East Texas. Comments are invited at CaeKrafve2@aol.com or http://checklistcharlie.blogspot.com.
“Father’s Day? When is it?”
You have to give them credit; they are unbiased forgetters. It is not only Mother’s Day that they forget.
When guys think of good times with their kids, it usually involves water or mud or both, have you noticed?
I don’t know, maybe the little boy in their heart still wants to come out and play. Or maybe God invented fathers so the kids could get away with tracking mud through the kitchen at least one day a year. Don’t ask me.
I can assure you, mud and water are not synonymous with yard work. Although, mowing the grass and watering the lawn would seem to qualify from a female point of view.
Gals are already making plans for Father’s Day, so here are some ideas that your guy might like, as best as I can figure.
-Hire someone else to do the lawn for Father’s Day. If you hire a neighborhood teenager, be sure and mention that the money could be used to do something nice for his dad. His mother will thank you and us moms need to stick together.
-Take him bowling. Or set up empty 2 liter bottles on the back porch and bowl ‘em down with a Nerf ball.
-Take dad to a water park. This will preserve the pristine floor in your kitchen.
-Drag out the Slip and Slide. Forget about the kitchen floor.
-Challenge another family to a whiffle ball tournament, followed by a picnic.
-Schedule a surprise tee time.
-Take him to play putt-putt. Or better yet, give the kids 18 tin cans and set them to work building a putt-putt course in your back yard. Dad can supervise so he doesn’t mow over stray tin cans later. That is, if the lawn-mowing teenager doesn’t work out.
-Set up a BB gun firing range in the back yard.
-Put a target on an old box and shoot arrows.
-Have water balloon wars.
-Pamper him with a kid-delivered foot rub or a whole collection of coupons for his kids to do his chores.
“Children that can’t wait to hear my next word of godly instruction,” answered one dad with a chuckle, when we asked him what he wanted for Father’s Day.
Now that I think of it, why not do everything on the list?
Celebrate all week end. Those men in our life that fill the role of dad deserve credit.
Or, if you are overwhelmed at the thought of so much mud coming through the house, you could just buy him a boat, a convertible, or a motorcycle.
Just kidding. Sort of.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives and plays in beautiful East Texas. Comments are invited at CaeKrafve2@aol.com or http://checklistcharlie.blogspot.com.
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