A quick explanation of the financial crisis

Got this in my e-mail today- thought it was helpful:

Five years ago, Republicans proposed "the most significant regulatory overhaul in the housing finance industry [in a decade]." (Source: New York Times)

Democrats on the House Financial Services Committee blocked efforts at fixing Fannie and Freddie. Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) said, "Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac... are not facing any kind of financial crisis,"

At least 18 times since 2001 Democrats blocked efforts at overhauling Fannie and Freddie even as accounting scandals and executive rip offs became public.

Why? For starters, the top two recipients of Fannie and Freddie campaign donations were Democrat fat cats Chris Dodd ($165K) and Barack Obama ($126K) (Source: Open Secrets)

And Fannie Mae paid well. Clinton-era Democrats, serving as the CEO, CFO and Vice Chairman, paid themselves $200 million in only six years even while a $10 billion accounting scandal was exposed. (Source: Wall Street Journal)

And Democrats like Chris Dodd also got favorable loans under a "VIP program." Dodd alone saved over $75,000 on his mortgage payments. (Source: Conde Nast Portfolio)

So where are former Fannie Mae CEOs like Franklin Raines ($90 million in salary) and Jim Johnson ($21 million in salary in one year)? As you might expect, they're serving as Barack Obama's key economic advisers. (Source: Washington Post)

Hiring Fannie Mae's two former CEOs as economic advisers?
Barack Obama: not ready to lead.

How did we forget to mention?

How cute was Thurday night? Our favorite couple is FINALLY engaged! What took so long? I love how they played it- it really worked- the rain, the urgency. Preciousness. They almost had us thrown with the funny guy at her school- but I think they knew we would lose it if we had to wait another year for them to work it out. I'm over Dwight and Angela- they have gotten too low- they need to show a little more strength of character- especially since Angela is supposed to be the wholesome gal in the office. Overall- the office season premiere performed as we had hoped- and I hope they keep up the good work!

Quotes from the weekend:

Entering a birthday party on Saturday-
Host: Hi Julia, how are you doing?
Julia: Birfday cake.
Host: We have a jump castle- do you see it?
Julia: Birfday cake.
Host: Would you like a hot dog?
Julia: Birfday cake. Pease.

Riding to church this morning-
Marky: Hey- I DO have hair on my legs- I AM a mammal!

The Secret Garden

Today we went with our friends to the Botanical Gardens for a picnic and adventure. I can't belive I haven't been there in over four years! It's FREE and so much fun. Here are Mary Hannah and Marky on the rock bridge. They are both into pretend play BIG time so they get along great.
Here they are in the Asian garden feeding Angela, Mary Hannah's leopard.
Baby sisters got to play too- here is baby Margaret and Julia. Julia is on the right- a lot of people think she and Margaret look a lot alike. Marky is really sold on this "superhero" pose of his- as you can see from all his latest pictures.
Juliabug loved the Bamboo trail and liked to shake the limbs. The weather is just too perfect to stay inside anymore! I think we are going to try to some of our schooling outside now as well. Happy Fall Ya'll!

Thought for the Day

While watching Adventures from the Book of Virtues: Generosity today we heard this wonderful poem:

Count that Day Lost

If you sit down at set of sun
And count the acts that you have done,
And, counting, find
One self-denying deed, one word
That eased the heart of him who heard,
One glance most kind
That fell like sunshine where it went -
Then you may count that day well spent

But if, though all the livelong day,
You've cheered no heart, by yea or nay -
If, through it all
You've nothing done that you can trace
That brought the sunshine to one face -
No act most small
That helped some soul and nothing cost -
Then count that day as worse than lost.

George Eliot

May we all have days well spent!

Circle of Friends

We've come a long way (although my hair is the same!)

Alpha Gams- Troy State University- 1999- after the homecoming football game.
Backrow: Lori Lee, Amy, Donna, Front Row: Jacqueline, Shelley, Jill


I'm recovering from a whirlwind weekend of Alpha Gamma Delta sisterhood! I had the privilege of hosting five of my favorite college friends this weekend and we had a blast. Here we are picking Shelley and Jill (from Louisiana) up from the airport. Jacqueline and Kelly drove in from Florida and Tennessee respectively. Shana, of course, lives here.
We went immediately to Che Lulu in Mountainbrook for a late dinner and we laughed all night!
Then we went to Billy's and listened to a band. The band was playing songs from the 90s which was great b/c it brought back so many memories!
Here's Shelley and Jill.
We stayed up 'till 3:00 talking and then slept in and had a late brunch. Kelly had driven in that morning to complete our party.
We shopped all afternoon and then went to sips and strokes where we sipped wine (or in my case Sprite) and painted for FOUR hours. Our other sister Joy was able to meet up with us then.

Here we are. It's Jacqueline, Shana, me, Jill, Kelly, Shelley and Joy.
(Jac will start a blog soon- Kelly says she has no time!) And our "beautiful" paintings. None of us are hanging these in our homes. The backgrounds were ridiculous. But it was a funny adventure nonetheless. We stayed up again after painting laughing and talking until 3 a.m. again and then slept in the next day. Kelly and Jac had to leave Sunday after lunch. That night Shelley, Jill, Shana and I went to see The Women and ate dinner outside. I don't recommend the movie- they tried too hard and it didn't work. Anyway we stayed up talking again Sunday night and then Jill and Shelly flew home this morning. Thank you guys so much for coming- I love you and had a blast!!! The absolute real hero of the weekend, however, is my sweet husband. I feel like I was on vacation too because I basically didn't see my family the whole time. He took them to the YMCA, the zoo, the park. He fed them, bathed them and put them to bed. Since some of the girls slept in Julia's room, she and Marky shared his twin bed. It was so precious- they giggled for a while and then would pass out. They slept great and the first night we put her back in her big girl bed she cried for Marky.

Gym Day

Friday we had our first "home school P.E." day. It went well- they do relays, kickball, and dodge ball (how politically incorrect) with the younger elementary kids. Here is Marky with his buddies John Paul and Joseph. They were running around and got lots of energy out!
Julia and the other babies just watched. This is her and her buddy Ann Marie. If you look in the background- the yellow chubby tummy is my prego belly. Holly, this is probably the only pregnancy picture I'm putting on here (if I can help it). : )