I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

Athena - A number of years ago DH and I got into a problem with the IRS - wasn't our fault but the people who were supposed to file DH's taxes while he was out of the country on assignment - anyway, long story short we went to our CPA and although it took a few months and we received lots and lots of letters from the IRS in the interim it was solved by our accountant - I certainly wouldn't hire a lawyer and I don't know why an elected (or appointed) official would work either - if you do in fact owe an amount the "new" IRS will work out a payment plan for you. 

And now for something completely different:

Checking in to say hi.  Piccolo is probably a name I would think about --- I guess I tend to just go with an internal kind of flow and that is what it said.  Ok....have to admit, I have a cat named Beau Freckles and Jingles and a couple of others that popped from the blue somewhere.  I also have a cat named Jimmie Dean.  Jimmie is cute in a sort of soft and yet sort of rugged way.  My first sensation is usually the one I go with. 

Didn't get much accomplished ( couple of presents purchased )  today but am ok with it.  Still a bit bummed out by Connecticut.  Work tomorrow so something to keep my mind occupied for a bit.  Things are well with my kids here.  SIL has already laded a job....couldn't believe it myself.  Only took a week.  dd may have one as well since I know a store manager that we ran into Sat. night and she told me she definitely needs someone.  Things are not looking bad so far. 

Jackie

I luv Tard. Thanks for sharing, Lindasa. Which reminds me - the first ornament on the tree this year was a certain horse and rider. :-)

The NYT blogs on Obama's speech:

Mr. Obama said the nation is failing at what he called “our first task,” which he said was to care for the children of the nation.

“It’s our first job. If we don’t get that right, we don’t get anything right,” he said, asking: “Can we truly say, as a nation, that we are meeting our obligations? Can we honestly say that we are doing enough to keep our children — all of them — safe from harm?”

Mr. Obama asked whether the nation is doing enough to give all children a chance at a good life with “happiness and with purpose.”

“If we are honest with ourselves, the answer is no,” he said. “We are not doing enough, and we will have to change.”

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I love that picture of President Obama with the children. Of course, the cynical are already saying it was just a photo op. I'm so sad for those people who can't feel human feelings anymore.

Mary

Is that picture of Obama with the young children from tonite?  So genuine...a feel good moment.  It's needed.

Great to see on the news here, people taking their guns to a location to surrender them - just what I thought should be done in memory of those poor babies.

Just watched The President's speech online.  He is the embodiment of Grace, and Compassion, and Love.  Combined with the wisdom he brings to his work, I feel hopeful that this time, this time, oh please, this time our society will change.

I don't read the negative comments anymore, I am so, so, so grateful President Obama is the President.  I can't imagine how he had the strength to read all the names, but he did, and it was perfect.  Thank you President Obama.

E, actually at least Reagan was in favor of some gun control, at least I know he was in favor of an assault weapons ban and after Jim Brady was shot it seemed like he also favored some other controls but my memory is hazy and I'd have to go back and research.  So while he did play a part in gutting the mental health system (state governments also played a part), I can't blame him for the gun situation.

Jackie, I could be wrong but I think the NYT blogs also typically referred to President Bush as Mr. Bush.

My concern is on how bold Obama is willing to be, especially during these fiscal cliff negotiations. Rep. and Dem. gun advocates may balk at any move to address gun laws. Both parties are to blame here. I remember during the 2004 election that Kerry made a big public thing about going hunting so as to show his gun touting credentials.

I wonder if the country has changed enough since then? If it can elect a black president, can it see the light of day on long held misconceptions and distortions about guns and freedom?

Funny how my own views have changed on the topic since Columbine. I have always been against the second amendment. I think guns should be legal, but tightly regulated, and governments should not have their hands tied by a misrepresented and outdated part of the constitution. However, when Eric Harris (a true psychopath) and Dylan Klebold (sp.) shot all of those students, and everybody started to blame "guns" "society" "parenting." I kept thinking - "blame the BOYS first!"

Now I don't even care about the perpetrator --psychopath or good person. It's no longer about one individual's story to me. It's a pattern, and the perpetrators all have one thing in common: easy access to an unjustifiably large stash of weaponry.