McCain's VP Choice

A relative unknown in the national political circle. She is a first term Governor. Only 44 years old. A former runner-up in the Miss Alaska Pageant. She is pro-life, against gay marriage (she did however veto legislation that would bar the state from granting benefits to partners of gay state employees), supports capital punishment, and belongs to Feminists for Life (a pro-life organization).



She has a bachelor's degree in journalism and minor in politics from the University of Idaho.Palin and her husband, Todd, have five children. The older son, Track, is in the Army. Then they have three girls: Bristol, Willow, and Piper. The youngest son, Trig, was born April of 2008 and has Down's Syndrome.



She is not afraid of the "good ol boys". She blew the whistle on former Republican Chairman Randy Ruedrich. Ruedrich was accused of doing party work on public time and supplying a lobbyist with a sensitive e-mail. Palin filed charges against Ruedrich and former Alaska Attorney General Gregg Renkes, both resigned. Ruedrich paid a record fine of $12,000.



Highlights of Governor Palin's tenure include a successful push for an ethics bill, and also shelving pork-barrel projects supported by fellow Republicans. Palin successfully killed the Bridge to Nowhere project that had become a nationwide symbol of wasteful earmark spending.



A poll published by Hays Research on July 28, 2008 showed Palin's approval rating at 80%.

Check out one of my blog brother's posting on this topic as well.....

http://disgruntledtruckdriver.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/08/if-this-is-trueobamas-post-convention-bounce-is-going-to-be-a-massive-thud.html

Olympic Fatigue

Now that the 2008 Olympics have concluded....I can now get some sleep. I don't know what it is about the Summer Olympics. I just have to watch as much as possible live. I guess it is the sports nut and track coach coming out in me. I haven't been to bed before midnight since they started on 8-8-08.

So with that being said I guess I will have to go back to see what has been and is going on in the rest of the world. I think I will need this one day, Monday, to read up on some things and get back to posting/blogging.

Just remember....Mondays are always Fundays.......

Now that is what Sunday is for....

Yesterday was a VERY relaxing day here in the Larsen household.

Dawn and I got up and came downstairs around 8:30am. I ran out to the corner store to grab a newspaper. I grabbed a nice big cup of coffee when I returned and went to the couch. Dawn had picked up some REALLY nice cinammon rolls covered in maple icing while she was in Amish country on Friday/Saturday. Now those were really good!!! After we got done reading the paper we sat on the couch for the remainder of the day and watched movies ALL day. It was nice to have the kids sit and watch some movies with us. Derek's girlfriend, Kit, came over and spent the afternoon with us before she had to leave for work at 5pm.

For dinner I cooked up some ground turkey and mixed that in with some Dirty Rice....nice comfort food. To the couch we went for the remainder of the evening.

It was nice to unwind and spend some "quality" time with the family and just relaxed!!! I recommend it to everyone every now and then......