About Erica...

Ashley Force Poetry

Found this on Ashley Force's Myspace. I think its great!

'Twas the Week Before Indy…..
'Twas the week before Indy and all through the town
I ran last minute errands in my Mustang all around
To the dry cleaners to pick up my dirty fire suit
The hair salon to touch up and condition my roots
Packing my luggage…I'd be gone for 12 days!
The piles of clothes in my closet had become quite a maze!
So hopeful I was for this upcoming race
To beat up on the boys and try to take first place
For now the big challenge was not to win rounds
But to pack up my luggage in less than 50 pounds
Off to LAX airport we hoped not to be late
We checked in, went to security, then up to our gate
Race credentials and schedules filled up my bags
But of course I had room to grab a couple gossip mags!
Now I sit on this plane thinking of my upcoming week
The packed schedule of race teams is not for the meek!
But I made sure to relax and get my rest
To be ready for our upcoming race and feel my best
Indy brings many memories, some high some low
Now it's time again, so here we go!
First we stop by Chicago to visit family
Then Florida to film a show about Sanyo TV's
Tuesday we head up to Indy on an evening flight
In time for dinner at Andy's for our weekly team night
Wednesday a press conference in downtown Indianapolis
We'll talk about the Indy race that no fan will want to miss!
Some radio, newspaper and magazine interviews
I'll talk about racing dad, and how I hope not to lose!
And also how motivated Team Force is to win
Then it's back to our Indy shop to film with ESPN
Wednesday winds to an end but the fun just began
We'll head to the bowling alley with our crews and their fam
I'm not too good at bowling unless it's on Wii
If you're in the lane next to me you might want to flee!
Early the next morning after a quick Starbucks run
It'll be off to Ford to meet fans and have a little fun
A few more interviews and a trip to Wal-mart
Things for my trailer and the race, fill up my cart
We'll head to our home (the Comfort Inn Suites)
To clean up and change…and rest our feet!
Then back to the city for a Mac Tools event
After that it's to bed…what a week! I'm spent!
As I climb in to bed I don't have to count sheep
While brushing my teeth I'd twice fallen asleep!
What a crazy but fun busy week this has been
And tomorrow is when the race will actually begin!
I can't wait to get to the track with my team
Meet with sponsors and fans and drive that Funny Car machine
We hope to race and get qualified so that we can play
On the day we all look forward to racing on…Race Day!
National Anthem, Prayer and then the cars start
Engines roaring to life is for sure the best part!
Many memories and great times at this historic place
And now I'm so excited to be a part of the big Indy Race!

Labels: women in racing

National Women's Museum

Here's a great cause.... giving a home to Women's History.

I'm all about supporting the lengths that our many historical heroines have endured for their feats. Women have come a long way in the last 100 years alone, and I'd love to see this celebrated. I'm posting this info to help find a permanent home for the museum.

In a year when many women have made history, Members of Congress have the opportunity to recognize women's successes by passing House Resolution (H.R.) 6548 and giving the National Women’s History Museum a permanent home.

Representative Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) introduced H.R. 6548 with bipartisan support on July 17, 2008. Now, we've launched the Right Here. Right Now. campaign so that you can make your voice heard on Capitol Hill. Help us urge Congress to pass H.R. 6548 immediately.

• Tell your Representative to pass H.R. 6548 now.
• Show your support by displaying our Right Here. Right Now. badge online.

Labels: Special Causes

American by Don Garlits

I received this email, a letter apparently from one of Drag Racing's forefathers, Don Garlits. Agree with him or not, he's always stood for what he believes in, both in politics and in racing. That's something we are seeing less and less, as the backbone of our sport is replaced by politically correct gargon.

As most of you know I am a Republican for lack of a better party; I came from a Democratic family that supported the Democrats for over 50 years. We all thought it was wonderful when FDR signed Social Security Act into law. Today the Democratic Party has been hijacked by the lobbyists inside the "Beltway", the Republicans have fell into the same trap.I voted for Bush and would do it again, although I don't support his open border agenda.But this is not about Bush, me or the Democratic Party; it is about us, as Americans, and it seems to me we have been very ungrateful for all our blessings.

Newsweek magazine had a poll that I found had to believe; It must be true given the source, right? The Newsweek poll says that over 60 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence 2/3 of the citizens were not happy and want a change in Government.

So I asked myself just what is America unhappy about? Is it that all our homes have electricity and running water 24/7? Is our unhappiness the result of having our homes between 72 and 76 degrees 365 days a year? Could it be that most of us have a job, if we want one? Maybe we would rather be on welfare, or some kind of entitlement program! Maybe it is the ability to go into any grocery store at any time and see all the shelves full of nice fresh food! Also we can pull into any gas station and "fill her up"? Maybe it is the ability to take a trip anywhere in the United States without having to show our "papers", remember Nazi Germany? I guess not, it was a long time ago. Are we unhappy about the thousands of nice safe clean motels and hotels we would find during this trip? We could then stop at any number of fine restaurants with varying food to suit our taste. Are we unhappy that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up to take us to a hospital, and even send a helicopter, if necessary! Maybe you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home, does this make you unhappy? Do the firefighters respond quickly enough if you have a fire? Is their equipment in top notch condition?Isn't it nice to be home watching a big screen TV, knowing that it is very unlikely that you will have a home invasion? And even if you do, an armed policeman will quickly come to your home to protect you. However the majority of us live in neighborhoods free of bombs, militias, raping and pillaging the residents. Most of our children have cell phones and computers! I had one pair of shoes at a time! We have complete religious, social and political freedoms. You can even chain yourself to the prison fence any time they get ready to put a murderer to death, which is very seldom I might add.

We are the envy of everyone in the world! Nobody is trying to escape America ; all are trying to get in! Is it the above that makes America unhappy? We are the largest group of ungrateful, human beings the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. , yet hates its citizens. We are the most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

What about President Bush who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Don't you realize this is the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? President Bush cut taxes that brought the economy out of a recession. This is the same President who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all of us safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief has an all-volunteer army that is out there defending America . Take a good look around for yourself and see all the good things and be happy! Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain? OR are you unhappy because the 'Media' told you he was failing in his job. Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan are an all volunteer Army, they all agreed to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country, maybe there should be if you are so unhappy. Why then all the discontentment in the minds of over 60% Americans?

Say what you want but I blame it on the mass media. They specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch a TV show about the Boy Scouts on a Jamboree? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations, plus they all have an agenda. Remember when the Fox News had the Republican debates? When Ron Paul won the debate, Fox News openly said that he did not and wouldn't give Ron Paul the time of day! With "fair and balanced" coverage, Ron Paul could have been the Republican Candidate. The mass media offers what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by 'justifying' them in one way or another.

I have turned off the TV, burned Newsweek, and canceled the New York Times and Washington Post. Try being a little grateful for all we have as country. There is a lot more good than bad. We are the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God we live in America. One last thing, we had better never take God out of America , this would be our downfall for sure!

Please keep this in circulation. There are so many people who need to read this and appreciate America as it is, we don't need change!

Jay Leno was credited with a similar piece, but snopes said he didn't write it. I wrote this one and I approve the message.

--Don Garlits garlits@mfi.net

About Debbie...

Veterans Keep Me Grounded

You know, I never realized how patriotic I really am.  I mean, I always stop what I am doing and stand with my hand on my chest for the national anthem when I am at the track or a footlball game. I get chills when I hear a great voice sing our countries song, I admit.  I always try to stay informed on  the war and the basic political issues of the week, but I never realized that some of the most moving and inspirational memories I have are related somehow to soldiers or veterans. Here's another one.

As I stood in the security line at JAX airport very early Saturday morning to make my way to Nashville there were about 60 or so older gentlemen in wheel chairs wearing yellow wind breakers waiting in a security line(just for them).  I thought wow, that's odd - must be a Shriners convention or some senior citizen group travelling somewhere. I thought - that's nice and continued to suck down my Starbucks before the guy made me trash it. 

About 5 minutes later and when I was about the 3rd person away from the guy who scribbles on your boarding pass, gives you that glaring dirty look and then sends you on to the next herding line,  A younger woman in her 30's loudly blurts out "Excuse me ladies and gentlemen, I would like you to take notice and give a round of applause to our WWII veterans who are on their way to Alaska for a reunion cruise".

You know, I immediately turned around to take another look and realized that they were a group of about 150 not 60 but I only noticed the ones in the wheel chairs.  At that moment, everyone ofcourse started to clap and cheer.  As, did I.  The weird thing was I couldn't help but getting choked up.  And, I am talking really choked up.  My eyes started tearing and I couldn't help getting terribly emotional.  I felt like I just wanted to run up to each and every one of them and give them a big hug and thank them. And, it reminded me that this isn't the first time I have been in such a situation and every time before this one I recalled getting just as emotional.  As I am writing this I am getting a little choked up.  What a sissy, I guess I am.   

Anyway, so there I was, awe struck in a way.  I was so proud to have seen them there and felt honored that I was one of the dozens of normal everyday people that were able to cheer and clap just to let them know how honored I was to applaude them and how even though they fought, came home and started a life post WWII that has since gone on longer than mine, I am still inspired by them. 

I couldn't help but think of them the entire trip to Nashville.  Because, I on the other hand, spent 4 days pissed off and miserable because it would not stop raining.  30 inches of rain in two days. Didn't get the yard work done, didn't want to go to the grocery store, complained I was getting cabin fever.  The kids were driving me crazy because they were couped up.  I was miserable because of some dumb low pressure system that dumped a bunch a rain on my area.  I was praying it would at least be sunny in Bowling Green.  I jokingly told Erica on the phone if it is cloudy when you pick me up from Nashville airport I am going to flip. 

How whimpy and complacent and spoiled we all are.  Can you imagine being a soldier in WWII, I thought to myself.  I felt like a jerk.  What a brat, I am.  God, it made me feel so petty and weak. I asked myself, was I actually complaining and being non productive from rain. How about bullets flying at you.  Or, Mustard Gas like in WWI, how about worn shoes in nasty cold weather, frost bite, fatigue, gee fighting to stay alive, even...  Wow, I was embarrased of myself.  Whining about a little bit of flood damage and some rain.

Yeah, my heroes have always been our soldiers.  Days like Saturday reminded me of why.  It's amazing how they can keep us grounded and push us to be stronger and strive to be better people from what they sacrificed for us so long ago.  I wish I could tell them all that.  We really do remember.  And, we really are thankful. I hope they know that inside their aging hearts. 

God bless our troops.  All of them.

To Be or Not to Be

When my son was in 4th grade he came in from riding his bike one Saturday afternoon and asked me what a MILF was.  It  took me a few minutes to jog my memory as to where I had heard that before and when it finally popped into my head, OH! That's American Pie, the movie... I was mortified.  I quickly blurted out.  I have no idea turned, and ran into the laundry room to hide my embarrasment behind the dryer door until I could regain my composure.  After all, what the hell was I supposed to say. 

So now the kid is in High School and his school mates in the lunch room asked him if his Mom is a Jaguar Cheerleader, yesterday. Is it cool to be the "hot" Mom or not? At this point I am thinking, not. 

Seems that my high schooler's friends have started to make him feel uncomfortable.  Which, makes me uncomfortable.  He's going through enough adjustment being a ninth grader this year.  He doesn't need anything else to make him feel like he doesn't fit in.  It's hard enough coming here from Miami and being half latin.  Don't get me wrong, I love where I reside.  I call it my very own Mayberry.  But, you know being from Miami and moving to suburban Jacksonville isn't always easy when it comes to fitting in.  So, now we are both screwed.  The soccer Moms will have nothing to do with me (which I don't mind) because I don't fit the mold here.  Thank God.  But, my high schooler's friends mothers don't want me around their kids because I am not 25 pounds overweight and dress like I shopped the sales rack at Talbots.  I don't let my hair turn grey 4 inches from my roots before I run to the nearest CVS, and I wear make up when I go out somewhere nice.  I care about my appearance and I feel I work at "staying attractive" for my husband.  So, I guess the other Moms don't want me around their kids or husbands, for that matter because the husbands are dumb enough to make comments like.  Wow, she's really nice.  (We all know what that means)  Or, She seems so down to earth.  Or, the death sentence statement.  She always looks so nice or even better "so put toghether". DONE.... I am done!, totally screwed. To top it all off, I drive a lowered car not a mini van or an Expedition.  So, I have been ostracized  from the "Soccer Mom" scene.  Seriously, I am a member of the PTO and when I sign up for volunteer work or purchases for the school, noone, I mean NO ONE ever calls me.  I've even called them and they kindly say in their sweet as pie, southern drawl.  Oh, no honey it's quite all right.  Mary Sue already baked those 200 cup cakes by herself.  Whatever!  I guess I should start answering okay fine, but your son Bobby says he likes my cup cakes better.  )ha- ha - ha - lol!)  I know that was just wrong... Funny, but wrong. 

My poor son.  I guess this will be another life lesson that helps build character.  I am sure one day he will look back and be proud.  

Damn it, MAN!

Here are some photos of the whole mission to get them in my yard. Man, I was so proud of my trees. I guess that is what happens for trying to bring Miami to Me. These trees were imported from Miami. I wanted tropical landscape (as best as I could get) that would make it through the colder winters here and they swore to me Sable Palms would do great. Uh huh? Well now they're dead.