Not Before Coffee

Combat operations in Iraq have come to an end. We were told the war in Iraq was key to fighting the war on terror. Now that it’s over I have to be honest, I do NOT feel any safer! In fact, I believe the world, for the most part, views Americans as bullies – cramming democracy down the throats of those believed to be less democratic.

The United States is not the Global Police.

It seems to me that attempts and threats of attack have only increased. Maybe that’s do to news spreading quicker thanks to social media. Who knows?

I believe our troops should stay on domestic soil and protect our borders. I believe the immigration issue needs to be addressed and hit hard!  When the perforations within our own boarders are sealed and secured – I might feel safer.

Our soldiers gave their best – they fought the good fight and were very noble for serving their country in the name of safety and freedom – however, I still believe with ever fiber of my being that our invasion of Iraq was nothing more than an overdue score settled by Bush.

The focus should have been on Afghanistan and strengthening our intelligence. Bush and Cheney acted irrationally and bullishly and because of that, they secured a much bigger target on the backs of the American people. Obama inherited an unjust war and our country has only seen a increase in enemies because of the former administration. What was he supposed to do?

Billions of dollars and thousands of lives have been sacrificed and now we are so extremely economically feeble, with all the allies we have lost – we are at a much greater risk then ever.

So NO, I don’t feel safe – not by any stretch!

First of all, before everyone goes getting their panties in a wad, the newest changes to the Oval Office were paid for BY the White House Historical Association, which received a donation FROM Obama’s Presidential Inaugural Committee.

Great pains were taken to ensure that new additions were American made — including New York wallpaper and a Michigan-made rug.

That wheat, cream and blue colored oval-shaped rug has the presidential seal in the center, and is encircled by five quotes chosen by the president. Four of the quotes are from former presidents — Kennedy, Lincoln and both Roosevelts — with the fifth quote from Martin Luther King.

This rug replaces the rug designed by former First Lady Laura Bush and her husband.

Some of the changes include:

* New and reupholstered furniture, new paint and wallpaper.

* New rug produced and donated by a Michigan-based business and paid for by the non-profit White House Historical Association through a contribution from the Presidential Inaugural Committee. (This fund is being used to pay for the design costs of numerous rooms at the White House including the Oval Office, Yellow Oval Room, Center Hall and West Sitting Hall.)

* Oval Office walls were covered with handmade striped wallpaper produced in Amagansett, N.Y. The trim around the Office was re-painted with American-made Benjamin Moore paint custom-mixed by Donald Kaufman Color.

* The new wheat, cream and blue colored oval-shaped rug is made of 25 percent recycled wool. The rug has the Presidential seal in the center and historical quotes of meaning to President Obama around the border. The rug was made and donated by the Scott Group, an American carpet manufacturer headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich. The Scott Group previously made the Oval Office rug designed for former President Bill Clinton as well as rugs for the White House State Dining Room.

* President Obama selected the following five historical quotes for the rug:

"The Only Thing We Have to Fear is Fear Itself" — President Franklin D. Roosevelt
"The Arc of the Moral Universe is Long, But it Bends Towards Justice" — Martin Luther King, Jr.
"Government of the People, By the People, For the People" — President Abraham Lincoln
"No Problem of Human Destiny is Beyond Human Beings" – President John F. Kennedy
"The Welfare of Each of Us is Dependent Fundamentally Upon the Welfare of All of Us" — President Theodore Roosevelt

* Armchairs: The two mahogany arm-chairs in front of the fireplace, previously used by President George W. Bush, were reupholstered with a caramel-colored leather.

* Desk Chair: The President’s brown leather desk chair was produced in New York.

* Coffee Table: The coffee table is made out of American walnut and mica by a New York company.

* Couches: The couches in the Oval Office were custom-made in New York. The fabric, a custom-made light brown cotton with red, white and blue threads running through it, was woven in Pennsylvania.

* Lamps: The two new table lamps have blue ceramic bases and were produced in New York.

Personally I think the NEW Oval Office is MUCH warmer then the previous design. The previous design reminded me of a library or funeral home.

What do you think?

OLD OVAL OFFICE

NEW OVAL OFFICE

My brother got married Saturday. It was a happy day! For the first time in umm ever, my whole family was dressed up.

I was so proud to show them off.

When we were leaving the house, we noticed a seemingly ‘normal’ looking pair of guys looking at a car we have sitting near the road with a “For Sale” sign in the window.

We paused in the drive and told them if they had questions to call the number on the sign and proceeded to leave so we’d not be late for the ceremony.

Yesterday the items sitting near the road needed to be moved for the weekly mowing.

That’s when we noticed the car sounded exceptionally LOUD.

Upon further inspection – it was discovered that someone had taken a SAW and cut the catalytic converter OFF the freakin’ car!

We simply shrugged it off, not about to let a couple of needy thugs get us down.

Of course my being as social as I am on Facebook, I posted about our experience. It was at that point I was made aware of a growing trend in the theft of catalytic converters.

Apparently, the experienced thugs can extract a converter in a minute or less.

The catalytic converter is located under the vehicle and filters out toxins from most engines. Converters contain rhodium, palladium and platinum, all valuable metals.

In an article I read, it’s suggested that strengthening car sales have also strengthened the market for palladium.

Other reports indicate that gold may trade for lower-than-average prices this year, making metals like palladium and platinum more valuable.

Catalytic converters are valuable, easily-accessible car parts, and the theft of these parts are on the rise! These parts can cost up to $1,000 to replace.

Converters yield a profit from $35 to $155 each, depending on what type of vehicle they were manufactured for.

So what vehicles are susceptible to catalytic converter theft?

Pickup trucks and SUVs, as well as some other late model cars that sit higher from the ground are typically the most common targets – but that doesn’t mean everyone is safe.

In fact, the car we had targeted was an 89 Buick that sits relatively close to the ground.

In hindsight I only wish we’d have gotten a better look at the two guys – that I’d have snapped a photo with my cell phone for reference or that we’d have stayed around until they were gone – perhaps even getting a license plate from the car they were driving.

It’s mindboggling to me that we live in a world where everyone is suspect.