Pope Says "Spreading Fake News is a sin."

Um ... yeah ... 'cause it's lying!

I'm pretty sure everyone already knew this, even the people who spread fake news. And trust me ... lying isn't the worst sin of the people who knowingly publish fake news.

New Tax on Sugary Soda

 

This fall, three cities in California and one in Colorado passed a law requiring additional taxes on soda. In California, the tax is 1¢ per ounce, in Boulder, it's 2¢. Several years ago, states enacted a tax on cigarettes. I predicted then that as more people quit smoking, the taxes would just move to something else, and I was proven correct. If the higher taxes on cigarettes prompted people to quit, then that's good. But all the people who thought the tax was a good way to get people to quit faced a double-edged sword when it worked and their cigarette tax cash-cow died. As cigarette tax revenue fell in my hometown, fast food was taxed 1% higher.

There will always be another "sin" to tax, and pretty soon, it's going to hit everyone. Municipalities become dependent on these taxes, so they never go away. I would caution people to be careful what sin tax they vote into law. Today it's cigarettes and soda, something the people in those four cities find disagreeable, but eventually, those taxes will move to something they do approve of. And when they find themselves on the receiving end of those taxes, they won't be very happy.

I Was Wrong

My sweet little grandson doesn't bother any of the presents, trees, or other decorations. He seems satisfied with simply looking and pointing at them. He's got lots of toys to play with and is too busy enjoying walking around like a human to be worried about all the sparkly stuff Grandma put in her living room!

You can't see it very well, but there is a basket full of toys for my grandson behind the chair. I figured it would be more fun for him to pull his new toys out of a basket rather than have to wait until someone opens them and removes them from the boxes, which often takes wire cutters! So, the toys small enough to fit in the basket are behind a chair he walks by hundreds of times ... and he has no idea!

 

 

 

 

Cotton Candy Day

 

I don't care how old I get, cotton candy will always be one of my favorite things on earth. I went to the circus last year and we all got a bag of cotton candy. I ate mine, then was asked to hold the cotton candy for a couple of little boys who were too busy with other treats.

Bad decision.

After a while, it became obvious that the little boys weren't going to eat their cotton candy ... so I ate it for them. They had long forgotten about their spun-sugar treat, so I didn't have to apologize to them ... which is good ... because I don't think I could have apologized with even a hint of sincerity!

Let this be a lesson to you ... if you ever take me someplace and tell me to hold onto the cotton candy for you, it won't be too long before I'm holding nothing but a bag.

If I Were Still a Little Girl

 

I would be drooling over this grand piano and ballet studio for Barbie!

A Unique Christmas Tree

 

My son-in-law is a BIG car buff ... it he see's this post, I see a very unusual tree in my daughter's future ... and then I'll be in trouble for giving him this idea!

My Tree is Up

The kids and I got all Christmas decorations from the basement and decorated yesterday. This house is so much smaller than my old one that I can't decorate like I used to. It doesn't look as "Chrstimasy" as my old one, but the kids have assured me the house looks quite festive. I decided not to put the train under the tree this year ... it's going to be hard enough to keep my little grandson away from the tree. A train circling the tree would be way too much temptation!

The babies will be here today, and I have a feeling my grandson won't even see his toys ... all he will see are the trees. I've had to tell him "no" before, of course, but today will be different ... the trees and ornaments are like flashing neon signs, beckoning tiny hands to touch.

I have a feeling today will be a frustrating and confusing day for little guy. I'm really hoping his mom has put up their tree already, and that he's already been told he can't touch it, but when you're fourteen months old, a sparkling Christmas tree is irresistible. Hopefully I can distract him with tickles, peek-a-boo, songs, and dancing!

Food for Thought

Below is something I found interesting. The top a map shows which area voted for which candidate, red for Republican, blue for democrat. The bottom map denotes crime statistics. Blue being an area with higher crimes, red meaning lower crime rates. I find it very interesting that the election map is nearly identical to the crime map.

My Own Private Rainbow

This rainbow appeared on my desk yesterday. In all my years here, this is the first rainbow to come visit me. I always look at rainbows as a gift, and as in the Bible, that better days are coming, so this little rainbow made me quite happy!

My Chili Was Bored

... so I took it on a joy ride!

And, so that chili didn't spew all over van the first time I turned a corner, I strapped it in safe and sound. 

Remember ... seat belts not only save lives, but car interiors!