Flakes Around the World

When I get discouraged with my mother situation, all I have to do is get on the blog and see my darling grandchildren and my spirits are lifted. Grandma is here with us until her room opens up at the care center. Then she can be made at them for not letting her go home instead of me. It is a great opportunity for me to say goodbye to her though. Today Caleb, Lile, Merlin and Robyn came to see her. You would think she would feel loved. Thank you all for your love and concern. Anyone who wants to call her to talk to her, feel free. It won't be that easy when she is gone from this house. She leaves Thurs. or Friday. Love Mom

http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/01/28/5942012-did-spam-text-kill-a-russian-suicide-bomber

January 24, 2011

Marriott board helps fellow Mormon Romney -- gives up porn

By Bryan Fischer

First, Mitt Romney resigned from the board of Marriott, after serving for many years while the hotel chain made millions and millions of dollars from in-room porn. There is no evidence that Romney complained about the practice when he was in a position to do something about it, despite the fact that pornography is contrary to the values of the Mormon church.

Romney, who has been desperately and unpersuasively trying to pass himself off as a champion of conservative moral values after supporting abortion for most of his political career and single-handedly legalizing homosexual marriage in Massachusetts, had been rightly criticized for looking the other way while the fellow Mormons who dominate the Marriott board made a killing preying on the moral weakness of its guests.

Now the board, in what appears to be a transparent attempt to boost Mitt's chances in 2012, has decided to drop porn from its new properties, and intends to phase out porn in existing hotels starting in 2013. That's a convenient date — if Romney fails in his White House bid, the board can phase it right back in.

Romney is polling well right now, but is avoiding the Tea Party like the bubonic plague. He doesn't want to get anywhere near them, and he doesn't want them to get anywhere near him. His conversion to social conservatism smacks of convenience rather than conviction. Mitt's problem is not that he's a Mormon; it's that he's not Mormon enough. Bottom line: Romney has no credibility on social issues. Are Republican voters paying attention?

Incredible picture, Amber. Looks like you and Siobhan had a wonderful time and lucked out with good weather. Jaron is studying about the explorers right now, and we are going to have him take in a few pictures to tell his class about his Aunts visiting the place they took off from.

Lucinda

Huge, elaborate nativity scene at the Se Cathedral, the Se cloisters, elaborately handpainted tile room at the Sintra palace, and my wonderful, couldn't have been better, travel companion, Siobhan! Aside from my disastrous return trip, it was the perfect getaway.

For anyone who doesn't know, I sat on the runway in Lisbon, in a fully loaded plane for more than 4 hours while we waited for the fog in Madrid to clear. That caused me to miss my flight back to Dallas. So I when I got to Madrid, I looked for the American counters among at least 500 check in counters... and to my shock and horror, there were NONE. Apparently, after the last flight of the day (mine) had taken off, they closed up shop. No ticket office, no representative of any kind. I finally tracked down a local American Airlines office phone number, and after an extended struggle with the payphones, I was able to rebook a flight for the next day. The lines were incredible since there were tons of cancelled flights. I waited in line for about 2 hours at the Easy Jet counter to try and get into a hotel. I witnessed the worst public freakout I ever saw, complete with screaming, swearing, (45 minutes worth) multiple security guards, and a Morrocan guy in a fez with a huge entourage of family with him. Crazy! After a night in one of Europe's largest hotels, I caught a flight the next day, which, thankfully was uneventful. A 7 hour layover (!!!) in Miami, and I was finally home in my bed by 2 AM... from the morning I actually flew out of Madrid till I got home... 25 hours. Longer than the jouney from India. From the time I left Lisbon.... 49 hours.

But it was all worth it!!!

Cool archaeological site at the Se Cathedral, a church dating back to the 12th century, which was built on a mosque... there were infrastructure findings dating back to the iron age!! The Torre de Belem, one of the dozens of elaborate Royal coaches at the Coach Museum, and a picture of me after we went to church on Sunday.

More of the Mosterio dos Jeronimos, the final resting place of Vasco de Gama (we were amazed by this!!), and a couple of the Torre de Belem, which was the first and last thing that the explorers would see before and after their great journeys.

Palacio da Pena, a quiet street in the Alfama ( a little too quiet if you know what I mean), an unplanned lunch on the way up an eternal set of steps (it was thrilling when a huge group of crazy bikers passed by our table, thumping down the steps), and a the beautiful Mosterio dos Jeronimos in the Belem district.