When Kristen first met Ron Breitweiser while she was in law school, she found him rather obnoxious - loud, he drank too much, talked too much. However, he was persistent and eventually showed his true side: a romantic husband, a proud father and an exceptional all-around mate.  Kristen was still reeling from the death of her mother whose mouth cancer took her life.

She was fighting her own physical demons: lupus, colitis and a tumor in her breast. A quiet suburban housewife, she figured her load was as heavy as it would be and was grateful for her daughter Caroline, who took a lot of her attention away from her own health problems.

The phone rang on September 11, 2001. It was her husband, Ron. "Sweets, I'm OK, I'm OK. Don't worry. It's not my building."  She had no idea what he was talking about and he told her to turn on the television.  Just as she was getting a clue as to what was going on, the second tower was hit. The phone went dead. Kristen stared at the television in horror as she watched the beginning of the end of her life as she knew it. She was launched on a journey that would lead to the creation of the 9/11 Commission.

Kristen's life as a suburban mom and housewife was gone. A former Republican, she became a most visible, outspoken activist and was featured in the New York Times, Oprah, Glamour, Wall Street Journal, Vanity Fair, and Ms.  She contributes regularly to publications such as the Huffington Post and the New York Times. She has been named "Woman of the Year" by Glamour and Ms. and received the 2005 "Truth-telling Award" from Ron Ridenhour. 

When the 9/11 Commission was formally announced at the White House, Ms. Breitweiser refused an invitation to attend, based on her belief that it was just a political photo-op for the administration. She is one strong-willed, focused lady.

I think this is a disturbing book and one that should be read. I believe all sides of any issue should be laid completely open and this book is a good example. Whether you are a solid supporter of the administration or not so trusting of current captains of the ship, you will learn and, hopefully, see things a little more clearly...for better or for worse.

Lorellei

Due to scheduling issues, this is being published later than it should havebeen, but it still bears mention and we thank OregonRose for sending it in. 

What were you doing five years ago come September 11th?

How many of you can remember exactly what we were doing when we heard the terrible news that our Nation was attacked by Terrorist. I was just waking up and turning on the "TODAY" show watching Katie Couric or whoever was hosting that day talk about the coming events, when all of a sudden the  photos of airplanes going into the Trade Centers started flashing on the screen.  The screams, the ash, the help of servicemen on duty and all the Volunteers aided their neighbors, strangers, companions, friends, Americans sticking by each other even to death.

The attack on the Pentagon. Burning and smoldering ashes into the night. Cleanup lasted for days for all sites of this horrific tragedy.  New York city came to a halt as did the other site areas.

Lastly the Pennsylvania flight. Bravo for the passengers who tried to turn around the flight or who tried to take over the flight. Blessings to all who tried and to their families for their loss.
 
We lost many loved ones that day. Memorial, funerals have long since taken place. Each year we remember those we lost and the grief wave rolls in along with other life's tides. 
 
This was A WAKE UP CALL FOR THE UNITED STATES.  Sadly it was at the expense of Americans. This was pure EVIL these acts of terrorism. I was watching the CBS program a few nights ago, "ARE WE SAFE" with Katie Couric. She interviewed the President and a few others. They seem to think we are safe. I think we need to keep a watchful eye open always.  Now going on an airplane we can't even take water bottles. Rather scary situations we face, however security in airports hopefully are getting keener on this situation.

We move forward each year when September 11Th comes around. I have sad memories of September 11, 2001, however I have cherished memories on September 11th, 2003 when my youngest granddaughter was born. Good things do come out of sad remembrances. September 11th, is a day of remembering loved ones in many ways, I get the chance to see my granddaughter grow up and splash through mud puddles, color and finger paint, watch Elmo on Sesame Street, give me a hug or a kiss hello at the beginning or end of the day.
 
Has the United States of America gotten smarter and more aware, we can only hope.
Blessings to you, and to your family always on the remembrance of September 11th.
 
Peace and Harmony,
OregonRose

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Thanks to ItsyDad for these:

Many will recall that on July 8, 1947, witnesses claim an unidentified object, with five aliens aboard crashed on a sheep and cattle ranch just outside Roswell, New Mexico.

This is a well known incident that many say has long been covered up by the US Air Force and the federal government.

However, you may well NOT know that in the month of March 1948, exactly nine months after that historic day, Albert Arnold Gore, Jr.; Hillary Rodham; John F. Kerry; William Jefferson Clinton; Howard Dean; Nancy Pelosi; Dianne Feinstein; Charles E. Schumer; and Barbara Boxer were born.

That piece of information has now cleared up a lot of things.

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Two blondes living in Oklahoma were sitting on a bench talking.......
and one blonde says to the other, "Which do you think is farther away...Florida or the moon?"
The other blonde turns and says "Helloooooooooo, can you see Florida...?????"

SPEEDING TICKET
A police officer stops a blonde for speeding and asks her very nicely if he could see her license. She replied in a huff, "I wish you guys would get your act together. Just yesterday you take away my license and then today you expect me to show it to you!" (I love this one!!)

RIVER WALK
There's this blonde out for a walk. She comes to a river and sees another blonde on the opposite bank.
"Yoo-hoo!" she shouts, "How can I get to the other side?"
The second blonde looks up the river then down the river and shouts back,
"You ARE on the other side."

AT THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE
A gorgeous young redhead goes into the doctor's office and said that her body hurt wherever she touched it. "Impossible!" says the doctor.
"Show  me."
The redhead took her finger, pushed on her left breast and screamed, then she pushed her elbow and screamed in even more. She pushed her knee and
screamed; likewise she pushed her ankle and screamed. Everywhere she touched made her scream.
The doctor said, "You're not really a redhead, are you?
"Well, no" she said, "I'm actually a blonde."
"I thought so," the doctor said. "Your finger is broken."

KNITTING
A highway patrolman pulled alongside a speeding car on the freeway. Glancing at the car, he was astounded to see that the blonde behind the wheel was knitting! Realizing that she was oblivious to his flashing lights and siren, the trooper cranked down his window, turned on his bullhorn and yelled, "PULL OVER!"
"NO!" the blonde yelled back, "IT'S A SCARF!"

BLONDE ON THE SUN
A Russian, an American, and a Blonde were talking one day. The Russian said,
"We were the first in space!"
The American said, "We were the first on the moon!"
The Blonde said, "So what? We're going to be the first on the sun!"
The Russian and the American looked at each other and shook their heads.
"You can't land on the sun, you idiot! You'll burn up!" said the Russian.
To which the Blonde replied, "We're not stupid, you know. We're going at night!" (Well, of course!)

IN A VACUUM
A blonde was playing Trivial Pursuit one night. It was her turn. She rolled
the dice and she landed on Science & Nature. Her question was,
"If you are in a vacuum and someone calls your name, can you hear it?"
She thought for a time and then asked, "Is it on or off?"

FINALLY, THE BLONDE JOKE TO END ALL BLONDE  JOKES!
A girl was visiting her blonde friend, who had acquired two new dogs, and asked her what their names were.
The blonde responded by saying that one was named Rolex and one was named Timex.
Her friend said, "Whoever heard of someone naming dogs like that?"
"HELLLOOOOOOO......," answered the blond. "They're watch dogs!"

---

 
In ancient Israel, it came to pass that a trader by the name of Abraham Com did take unto himself a young wife by the name of Dot. And Dot Com was a comely woman, broad of shoulder and long of leg. Indeed, she had been called Amazon Dot Com.
 
She said unto Abraham, her husband, "Why doth thou travel far from town to town with thy goods when thou can trade without ever leaving thy tent?"

And Abraham did look at her as though she were several saddle bags short of a camel load, but simply said, "How, dear?"
 
And Dot replied, "I will place drums in all the towns and drums in between to send messages saying what you have for sale and they will reply telling you which hath the best price. And the sale can be made on the drums and delivery made by Uriah's Pony Stable (UPS)."
 
Abraham thought long and decided he would let Dot have her way with the drums. The drums rang out and were an immediate success. Abraham sold all the goods he had at the top price, without ever moving from his tent.
 
But this success did arouse envy. A man named Mac Enron did secret himself inside Abraham's drum and was accused of insider trading. And the young men did take to Dot Com's trading as doth the greedy horsefly take to camel dung. They were called Nomadic Ecclesiastical Rich Dominican Siderites, or NERDS for short.
 
And lo, the land was so feverish with joy at the new riches and the deafening sound of drums that no one noticed that the real riches were going to the drum maker, one Brother William of Gates, who bought up every drum company in the land. And indeed did insist on making drums that would work only with Brother Gates' drumheads and drumsticks.
 
And Dot did say, "Oh, Abraham, what we have started is being taken over by others."
 
And as Abraham looked out over the Bay of Ezekiel, or as it came to be known "eBay" he said, "We need a name that reflects what we are," and Dot replied,
"Young Ambitious Hebrew Owner-Operators. YAHOO," said Abraham.
 
And that is how it all began.

---

Thanks to Scotty for this one:

Long ago and far away, In a land that time forgot, Before the days of Dylan Or the dawn of Camelot. There lived a race of innocents, And they were you and me, Long ago and far away In the Land of Sandra Dee. Oh, there was truth and goodness In that land where we were born, Where navels were for oranges, And Peyton Place was porn. For Ike was in the White House, And Hoss was on TV, And God was in his heaven In the Land of Sandra Dee. We learned to gut a muffler, We washed our hair at dawn, We spread our crinolines to dry In circles on the lawn. And they could hear us coming All the way to Tennessee, All starched and sprayed and rumbling in the Land of Sandra Dee. We longed for love and romance, And waited for the prince, And Eddie Fisher married Liz, And no one's seen him since. We danced to "Little Darlin'", And Sang to "Stagger Lee" And cried for Buddy Holly In the Land of Sandra Lee. Only girls wore earrings then, And three was one to many, And only boys wore flat-top cuts, Except for Jean McKinney. And only in our wildest dreams Did we expect to see A boy named George with Lipstick In the Land of Sandra Dee. We fell for Frankie Avalon, Annette was oh, so nice, And when they made a movie, They never made it twice.

We didn't have a Star Trek Five, Or Psycho Two and Three, Or Rockey-Rambo Twenty In the Land of Sandra Dee.  Miss Kitty had a heart of gold, And Chester had a limp, And Reagan was a Democrat Whose co-star was a chimp. We had a Mr Wizard, But not a Mr T, And Oprah couldn't talk yet In the Land of Sandra Dee. We had our share of heroes, We never thought they'd go, At least not Bobby Darin, Or Marilyn Monroe. For youth was still eternal, And life was yet to be, And Elvis was forever, In the Land of Sandra Dee. We'd never seen the rock band That was Grateful to be Dead, And Airplanes weren't named Jefferson, And Zeppelins weren't Led. And Beatles lived in gardens then, And Monkees in a tree, Madonna was a virgin In the Land of Sandra Dee. We'd never heard of Microwaves, Or telephones in cars, And babies might be bottle-fed, But they weren't grown in jars. And pumping iron got wrinkles out, And  "gay" meant fancy-free, And dorms were never coed In the Land of Sandra Dee. We hadn't seen enough of jets To talk about the lag, And microchips were what was left at The bottom of the bag. And Hardware was a box of nails, And bytes came from a flea, And rocket ships were fiction In the Land of Sandra Dee.

Buicks came with portholes, And side show came with freaks, And bathing suits came big enough To cover both your cheeks. And Coke came just in bottles, And skirts came to the knee, And Castro came to power In the Land of Sandra Dee. We had no Crest with Fluoride, We had no Hill Street Blues, We all wore superstructure bras Designed by Howard Hughes. We had no patterned pantyhose Or Lipton herbal tea Or prime-time ads for condoms In the Land of Sandra Dee. There were no golden arches, No Perriers to chill, And fish were not called Wanda, And cats were not called Bill. And middle-aged was thirty-five And old was forty-three, And ancient was our parents In the Land of Sandra Dee. But all things have a season, Or so we've heard them say, And now instead of Maybelline We swear by Retin-A. And they send us invitations To join AARP, We've come a long way, baby, From the Land of Sandra Dee. So now we face a brave new world In slightly larger jeans, And wonder why they're using Smaller print in magazines. And we tell our children's children of the way it used to be, Long ago and far away In the Land of Sandra Dee.

---

Thanks to Revenant1 for these:
Here is the Washington Post's Mensa Invitational which once again asked readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition.

Winners are:
    1. Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period of time.
    2. Ignoranus: A person who's both stupid and an a**h*le.
    3 Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.
    4. Reintarnation: Coming back to life as a hillbilly.
    5. Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.
    6. Foreploy: Any misrepresentation about yourself for the purpose of getting laid.
    7. Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very high
    8. Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.
    9. Inoculatte: To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.
    10. Hipatitis: Terminal coolness.
    11. Osteopornosis: A degenerate disease. (This one got extra credit.)
    12. Karmageddon: It's when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, and the Earth explodes and it's a serious bummer.
    13. Decafalon (n.): The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you
    14. Glibido: All talk and no action.
    15. Dopeler effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.
    16. Arachnoleptic fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.
    17. Beelzebug (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito, that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.
    18. Caterpallor (n.): The color you turn after finding half a worm in the fruit you're eating.

The Washington Post has also published the winning submissions to its yearly contest, in which readers are asked to supply alternate meanings for common words. And the winners are:
    1. coffee, n. the person upon whom one coughs.
    2. flabbergasted, adj. appalled by discovering how much weight one has gained.
    3. abdicate, v. to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.
    4. esplanade, v. to attempt an explanation while drunk.
    5. willy-nilly, adj. impotent.
    6. negligent, adj. absentmindedly answering the door when wearing only a nightgown.
    7. lymph, v. to walk with a lisp.
    8. gargoyle, n. olive-flavored mouthwash.
    9. flatulence, n. emergency vehicle that picks up someone who has been run over by a steamroller
    10. balderdash, n. a rapidly receding hairline.
    11. testicle, n. a humorous question on an exam.
    12. rectitude, n. the formal, dignified bearing adopted by proctologists.
    13. pokemon, n. a Rastafarian proctologist.
    14. oyster, n. a person who sprinkles his conversation with Yiddishisms.
    15. Frisbeetarianism, n. the belief that, after death, the soul flies up onto the roof and gets stuck there.
    16. circumvent, n. an opening in the front of boxer shorts worn by Jewish men.

---

Thanks to Makk for this sound advice:

When it appears that you have killed the monster, never check to see if it's really dead.

If your companions suddenly begin to exhibit uncharacteristic behavior such as hissing, fascination for blood, glowing eyes, increasing hairiness, and so on, get away from them as fast as possible.

Do not search the basement, especially if the power has just gone out.

Beware of strangers bearing tools such as chainsaws, staple guns, hedge trimmers, electric carving knives, combines, lawnmowers, butane torches, soldering irons, band saws, or any device made from deceased companions.

If appliances start operating by themselves, move out.

Stay away from certain geographical locations, some of which are listed here: Amityville, Elm Street, Transylvania, Nilbog (you're in trouble if you recognize this one), the Bermuda Triangle, or any small town in Maine.

If your children speak to you in Latin or any other language which they should not know or if they speak to you using a voice which is other than their own, run away as fast as you can!

If you're running from the monster, expect to trip or fall down at least twice, more if you are of the female persuasion. Also note that, despite the fact that you are running and the monster is merely shambling along, it's still moving fast enough to catch up with you.

When you have the benefit of numbers, never pair off and go it alone.

Do not take anything from the dead.

As a general rule, don't solve puzzles that open portals to Hell.

Don't fool with recombinant DNA technology unless you're sure you know what you are doing.

Never stand in, on, above, below, beside, or anywhere near a grave, tomb, crypt, mausoleum, or other house of the dead.

Never read a book of demon summoning aloud, even as a joke.

If your car runs out of gas at night, do not go to the nearby deserted-looking house to phone for help.

If you're searching for something which caused a noise and find out that it's just the cat, leave the room immediately if you value your life.

If you find a town which looks deserted, it's probably for a reason. Take the hint and stay away!

FROM LAST ISSUE

Secret Admirer
I bet you a cuddle, I bet you a kiss
I bet you'll never guess who sent you this.