Gasoline

As the end of the year draws closer like any business you start making year end projections. How much will we profit? What were the overall sells? What was spent where and how? Who will get bonuses (if any after this rough year)? What was spent on labor? Material? Etc. Then I was informed of a shocking number... I knew it would be bad but had no idea how bad it was. GASOLINE.... Last year at the end of the year we spent $22,000 in gasoline. For 2008 our Year end projection is $66,000! Up over $40,000!!!! That's just Crazy! Now we did have more on the books this year then last year so even if prices had stayed the exact same we would have gone up some but not $40,000! But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. As prices have been falling on gas I past this gas station and thought it was picture worthy! Georgia is finally back on the cheap gas list! $1.39!!!!! Just think, two months ago you couldn't even find gas in Goergia! Not not only do we have it but it's cheap!

Run Off....

Well Tuesday it’s back to the polls for Georgia voters. The vote shouldn’t be too hard for anyone our two senate candidates are about as different as night and day. Chambliss (incumbent) is a typical Republican and Martin the typical democrat with all that comes with it. For me, the choice is clear mainly because I don’t like one party dominating the Senate. I have one major problem with Chambliss though, he voted yes to the bailout. I mean come on, really? Clearly he was voting for himself and not what the citizens of the state of Georgia truly wanted. We were polled over and over again and overwhelming most Georgia citizens was against the bailout. 11 of our 13 Congressmen voted no as they respected our desires so why didn’t Chambliss? So there’s my one thing that makes me question him. Though on paper he’s the one I agree with politically more then the other… just like the presidential candidates neither is a perfect choice for me but I have to go with one or the other so Chambliss it is. I feel confident that he’ll win as well. The truth of the matter is more people came out in the state of Georgia to vote then any other election and McCain won our state. A lot of the people that came out to vote for Obama won’t show up and they're the same people that came out to vote for Martin. I could be wrong but I just don’t see it happening.

Whatever you do though if you live in the state of Georgia… don’t forget to vote! It’s your responsibility as an American Citizen. My husband as a resident doesn’t have the privilege to vote and he yearns for the day he’ll be able to walk to the polls and have an opinion that counts. So get out and vote friends!

Change

For 21 months we’ve heard chants of change. Now is Obama's chance to show us the changes he intends to make. We know the promises that were made but now he will refine his agenda and priorities will be outlined as to what changes will truly take place. There is an official website for President-Elect Obama found at http://www.change.gov/ you can read about his agenda, learn about the official transition process, and the best part is be heard (or at least it leads you to believe you’re being heard who knows if his team is really listening but the thought is nice). So go on over to http://www.change.gov/ and check it out! Got opinions on key cabinet members, proposed agenda, etc. this is the place you can voice it.

Proposition 8 has been a matter of great interest to me. I am actually do not oppose gay marriage (loud gasp from readers); though I was in favor of proposition 8 out of respect for democracy. Here’s the truth behind proposition 8 that nobody seem to be focused on. Everyone was focused on should gays be able to marry or not? But if you believe in democracy then you believe as I do that once the public has voted the decision of the public must be honored. Back in 2000 California introduced a proposition (#22) which changed the “California Family Code” to define marriage in California to a man and woman. So really democracy played its roll and the people had already decided eight years ago they did not want same sex marriage in the state of California. Proposition 22 was a “statutory change” not a constitutional change which basically means they were changing the wording of a line that already existed in the California Constitution. This went to vote in 2000 and was overwhelming won with 61% of voters in favor of changing the wording. The supreme court of California overturned this decision in May 2008. Yes four judges got to decided what the citizens of California had already voted on was no longer going to be honored. This is why you saw same sex couples getting married by the masses in California. I was right there cheering on my friends that had for years not been able to be married and had so yearned to be. Proposition 8 came into play because so many people were upset that their rights as a citizen to vote for laws and amendments had been taken away because of 4 judges. The difference in Proposition 8 and 22 is that 8 is an actual constitutional change and not subject to judicial review like a statue change is. So my point here today my friends is we live in a democracy in favor of gay marriage or not the citizens of CA had already made their decision in 2000 and it should be honored. Amendments can be brought for review among citizens at anytime so this will be visited again especially sense it won by only 4%.

Isn't it ironic?

Has anyone but me noticed that Obama won California by a land slide he received 6,308,161 votes; McCain received 3,849,431 yet Proposition 8 past with a vote of 5,387,939 to 4,883,460. Ummm… does anyone see the contradiction here? Those same people voting for Obama the man that supports gay rights also voted Yes to Proposition 8! This tells me one thing; they didn’t truly know Obama when they voted for him. I realize you don’t have to agree with your candidate 100% but it seems to me that anyone voting for the most liberal senator in US History would also be opposed to proposition 8. But hey, what do I know.

Heather misses Dennis

I loved his HBO talk show so I have to settle for glimpses of him here and there.

http://www.foxnews.com/video2/video08.html?maven_referralObject=3176611&maven_referralPlaylistId=&sRevUrl=http://www.foxnews.com/index.html

Like Christmas Eve...

This is going to be a long day! I feel like a child on Christmas Eve just waiting on baited breath for the outcome! I'm sure results won't be in until tomorrow or even days later for that matter. I woke up at 5:30 and headed to poll by 6:00 AM. There were about 100 people in line in front of me and by 7:00 when the poll opened about 300 people behind me. All in all it moved quickly I thought. I would have been in line for two hours no matter what time I showed up it appeared from the crowds I was just glad to be there and out by 8:00 AM.

Now this should come has no surprise to anyone but here was the Gwinnett County Ballot and how I voted...

For President of the United States
John McCain (R) (though so very tempted to mark Bob Barr if only I thought he could actually win even one electoral vote).

For United State Senate
Saxby Chambliss (R) (this was a toss up for me between him and Allen Buckley).

For Public Commissioner
John Monds (L)

Public Commissioner
Brandon Givens (L)

US Representative 7th District
My main man, John Linder (R) I love this man and will vote for him any party any day of the week. He's always been a great Rep.

State Representative in General Assembly 102nd district
Clay Cox


And a bunch of other boring local stuff that you probably don't care about. Now in regards to proposed ammendments and things:


"shall the constitution of Georgia be amended so as to provite that the General Assembly by general law shall encourage the preservation, conservation, and protection of the state's forests through the special assessment and taxation of certain forest lands and assistance grants to local government?" I said No.


To authorize local school districts to use tax funds for community redevelopment purposes. I said YES (HELLO, of course!)


To authorize the creation of specal infrastraction development disctrics providing infrastructurs to undeserved areas? Yes


And finally basically add a special one percent tax for the building of parks and things. of course YES! Not only do my children, your children, and the neighbors kids get to play there but my families company will build them... so carry on and keep making our community a better place!

Check out Gwinnett

Everyone predicts this year will be record number at the polls and who can argue with stats like this? Below is a list of early voting locations in Gwinnett County (my county) along with current wait times. Pretty impressive!

GWINNETT COUNTY
Monday-Friday the main office is open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Satellite offices are open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Gwinnett County Voter Registration and Elections office: 455 Grayson Highway, Suite 200, Lawrenceville
Update: 2.5-hour wait on Wednesday.

• Centerville Community Center: 3025 Bethany Church Road, Snellville
Update: 3.5 hour wait early Thursday, with managers predicting some 2,500 people will vote at the center, up from 2,200 on Wednesday. 14 voting booths in use, up from 12 earlier in week. Parking very limited.

• Dacula Activity Building: 2735 Old Auburn Road, Dacula
Update: 2-hour, 15 minute wait Thursday morning. Several hundred people in line at 9:30 a.m. 14 voting machines in use.

• George Pierce Community Center: 55 Buford Highway, Suwanee
Update: 3-hour wait expected. More than 300 people were in line shortly after 9 a.m. when the poll opened. About 2,300 people voted Wednesday, poll manager Tom Coffin said.

• Singleton Road Activity Building: 5220 Singleton Road, Norcross
Update: 4-hour wait shortly after doors opened at 9 a.m. Thursday.

Welcome!

During this entire election I’ve found myself restraining from comments (which if you’re reading this blog then you know me and you know that restraining myself from commenting on politics or anything for that matter is very difficult for me to do). That being said I’ve respected the average reader of my family blog is there for updates on my cutie family (it is a very cute family don’t you think?). So I’ve decided I need a sounding board for all the moments when I have something to say that has nothing to do with my family and I’ve started up my new blog “Heathers outlook”. This is a blog based 100% on Heather’s outlook on politics and the latest news I feel is worth mentioning. This isn’t the place you’ll find pictures of Byron & me basking in the sun on a Caribbean Beach, or JP accomplishing his next milestone. This is me uncut, uncensored (which even uncut & uncensored will still be rather boring to some of you) and ready to talk. I welcome commentary from anyone as long as it remains civil and not offensive to other commenter’s… you won’t offend me I’m a pretty tough cookie. So with that being said… let the fun begin!