Planning out the garden 2009 - step one: decisions

Last year, we had a garden for the first time. We had NO IDEA what we were doing, and way overplanted a 6'x3' area of our back yard. Even with completely not knowign what ewe were doing, and ending up with a hugely overgrown garden, we didn't need to buy veggies for nearly a month. We had Jalapenos, bell peppers, three different types of tomatoes, butternut squash, and a bunch of herbs.

This year, DH and I are talking about ripping up 20' of our yard and making a huge garden. We both really enjoyed the garden last year, even though we had no idea what we were doing, and it got really overgrown. We bought some books over the winter, and have a better idea as to what we are doing now. The only problem is, DH popped up allergic to winter squash! Bleh. it's my favorite. :(

We will need to start preparing the soil probably this weekend. We are still pretty cold here, so It may be a few weks before I feel comfortable about planting, but we really need to decide how much yard to rip open and turn into a garden.

We had talked about putting in a retaining wall, and butting the garden up against that, but the $$ jsut aren't there this year for that, so it'll probably just be at the top of the steep little hill that leads to our lawn. Either that, or I will let Dh terrace out that hill, adn we will put our own little walls up. the problem there is, it won't give us any more useable patio space which was the whole point of the retaining wall, but I can garden in the terraces instead of putting in flowers. :)

Hmm....decisions decisions.

What a bunch of Jokers.

Where the H-E-Double-Hockey-Sticks does anyone get off berating someone for obeying the law, even if it is in doing something unpopular? Where is the "good" in that?

President Obama came out today telling the secretary of the treasury to do whatever it takes to block the contractually obligated bonuses being paid out to some employees of AIG.

I don't think ANYONE understands what this statement essentially amounts to.

President Obama is, effectively, saying "Go break the law."

Screw that those "bonuses" (as many "bonuses" on Wall Street are) are actually most likely contractual variable pay, as opposed to being rewards for good service. Screw that those 'bonuses" were contractually guaranteed. Screw that if ANY private citizen were to default on a contract, they would potentially be facing JAIL TIME.

No, let's set a precedent: When the government is involved, contracts mean nothing. The LAW means nothing. If we (we being the government) determine that it shouldn't be, it shouldn't be.

What's next?

Here's an interesting article by Douglas A. McIntyre: link. I may merely be a small business owner who doesnt trust the president anymore, especially in light of all he has already "done", but I'm not alone in seeing the implications of these actions.

I feel true fear when I think of where things are going. Was George Orwell merely off by 25 years? Are we headed into a loss of all of those things our country was founded upon?

Today it's the sanctity of a legal contract. Tomorrow will it be something bigger? The potential for where this decision to fight these contracts is going is frightening and mind-boggling. Call me paranoid if you like, but when the laws being overturned begin affecting you and your rights, don't say I didn't warn you.....

It's my birthday and I'll buy if I want to....

Ahhh....I am in love with Amazon's used book sellers. I got a bunch of books I have been wanting but unable to justify buying for myself this week at rock bottom prices from used sellers. Even with the $3.99 shiping, I still made out like a bandit. Woohoo!

I also thought I might mention some of my favorite authors....hint hint family members. ;)

Sherrilyn Kenyon - I have every one of her hunter novels. Drem hunter, dark hunter, were hunter. You name it, I have read it....at least twice....

MaryJanice Davidson - I love her Betsy novels. They're so irreverent! The take on Vampires is fun and interesting. I also love her royal series, and wish she would write another one. The other serieses are hit or miss.

Charlaine Harris - Are we noticing a trend here? I LOVE the Sookie Stackhouse novels. They are pretty different from the show True Blood, so be warned. I like the books infinitely better. They're more thoughtful and more realistic, I think. I like Charlaine Harris' work so much, I just bought the first books in her other series in that lot. Looking forward to reading them!

Jayne Ann Krentz - Ok, I think as far as mystery is concerned, she still has a lot to learn, but Ms. Krentz ALWAYS delivers on the romance. I love her books, writen under all of her pseudonyms: Jayne Castle, Amanda Quick, and even some old ones as Stephanie James.

I love to read. I should do it more often, but life keeps catching up on me.