Volunteer, or drafted?

I love working for the Milwaukee Brewers. The fans are great. The players are friendly. My co-workers are fun to work with. And, of course, I get paid to see games. But there is one thing I hate about working for the Brewers: the SEIU. I have to be a member of this union. Every month they take out $5, plus $.40 per hour, and I make $8 per hour. I know of many ushers who hate the union and see no benefit having it. Of course, they did get us a $.10 (ten cents) and hour raise last contract. WOW! Of course, the union dues went up more than that...

Anyway, this election cycle I keep getting more and more crap for Obama. I usually don't care because I view it as a waste of money for them. Better that I get it and laugh than someone else gets it can actually buys the crap they're selling. But this last one put me over the edge. I now have an SEIU volunteer identification card. It included a web address with my name on it (http://www.jamesscheuer8573.turnoutforchange.org/) and an actual barcode. I feel like Captain Von Trapp getting his telegram "inviting" him back into service in the navy.

Normally I file these articles in their proper outbox (the trash; I never recycle this garbage - bury it forever in some landfill where eventually some rodent will eat it, then excrete it so it can finally become its true form), but I had to check this one out. Go to the link. It's great. My name. They used my name! I now know how John Proctor felt when he cried, "It is my name, I can have no other!" Putting my name on this drivel...I had to do something, so I completed the form.

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Their questions

My answers

Are you willing to volunteer at a local headquarters to help the SEIU elect the Barack Obama?

Yes

No X

2. Name

James Scheuer

3. Address

I put in the West Allis McCain office address; I thought they could use a laugh.

4. Local
1

5. Occupation
Usher

6. Phone

I was going to put someone's number from the McCain office, but I thought that would be cruel and unusual punishment.

7. Primary Email Address

Ditto

8. What's your biggest concern this election?

Rising Healthcare Costs

The Economy

Your Retirement

Education

X Other
An inexperienced man who only spent 143 days in the Senate and has ties to crooked Chicago politicians, a corrupt national organization (ACORN), a convicted terrorist, and campaigned for an Islamic fascist in Africa (where he also received millions in illegal campaign contributions).

9. Is everyone in your family registered to vote?

X Yes

No

10. Would you like to receive periodic emails from SEIU about politics?

Yes

X No

11. Share your story- Let the candidates know what it's like to work and raise a family today.
I copied and pasted my opening paragraphs here, and added:

As far as Obama goes, I'm certain that if he gets in without any Republican checks in place we will see an economic and social collapse within the first two years.

12. Is it ok for us to share your story on SEIU web sites and materials?

X Yes, please feel free to share my story.

No, please do not share my story

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Somehow I don't think I'll be getting anymore contact information....

Fatime's best (girl)friend

I first met Lisa Leider in November of 1984. Her father accepted a Call to be pastor at Hope Lutheran Church, Milwaukee. I gave Lisa a tour of "my" church. We quickly became the best of friends. As best friends, we have had good times, as well as bad times. There are a couple of years we would like to forget. After high school, our lives took different paths...Lisa went to UW, partied and got a degree in Linguistics. I went to Concordia College-WI and met my love, James. I became certified to teach pre-school and got married. Lisa went to Russia for a year. I had Logan. Lisa met Ryan Rupe,got married, and moved to St. Louis, MO. We lived in Rockford, IL. We moved to Detroit, MI and had Brett. Lisa and Ryan moved to Pearland, TX and had Kyle. They moved to Oceanside, CA. We moved to back to Milwaukee. I had Katherine. Lisa had Ella. They moved to Virginia Beach, VA.
It has been a very long time (20 years) since Lisa and I have lived in the same city. Lisa and her family moved here in August and will be Wisconsinites for three years, while her husband is stationed at the Coast Guard office. Ryan is a U.S. Navy Chaplain.
Her daughter, Ella, attends the same school as Brett and Katherine. We attend the same worship service each Sunday. Oh, the Lord is good to me! I thank God for my best friend, Lisa. She is beautiful, smart, talented (Katherine will learn to sew from her, not me.), and dedicated to her Lord and family.

9/23/08 Overwhelmed!

It has been a long time since our last post. We have been so overwhelmed with various activities. Mondays-Brett has play rehearsal while Logan and Katherine have soccer practices.
Tuesdays-Jim has either had to usher at Miller Park or had a Board of Christian Day School meeting at M.O., Brett, Katherine, and I go to Logan's soccer games. Katherine gets to be the ball-girl for the home games.
Wednesdays-see Mondays
Thursdays-I pick Katherine up after school. Jim gets Logan from soccer practice. Pastor Wangerin gets Brett after play rehearsal. We all sit down for a family meal together.
Fridays-Logan has soccer practice.
Although, this week Jim will be working at the ballpark.
Katherine would tell you that she is overwhelmed with homework. She struggles with her school work and needs extra one-on-one from Mom and Dad. Logan is overwhelmed with all his high school responsibilities....studying and reviewing for a Geometry test today, a Biology test tomorrow, new Latin words, and a World History paper. Brett is overwhelmed with nightly homework (something new for him this year). He is still done and busy reading a book before anyone else, though! Brett is on the new Chapel Worship Team at Mount Olive. He will be participating in a skit for tomorrow's Chapel service.
I am overwhelmed with the day-to-day activities of being a Mom who works part-time. I don't know how people work full-time or even part-time and still have time to have a well-cared-for house. I was able to wash the kitchen floor and have dinner on the table for Jim and the boys yesterday (a rare domesticated moment for me).
I was at soccer practice with Katherine. Work in the kitchen at MLHS is quite overwhelming at times, but I am adjusting to it. I thank God that we are able to send Logan to a Christian school, because of my part-time work. I am overwhelmed with joy for all the Lord's blessings that He sees fit to bestow on our family. We are healthy and adjusting to this new phase in our life; that being busy parents with active children.

Back to School, 9/4/08

After over a week of school, I thought I should let you know how things are going for the children and Jim.
Logan...is a Freshman at Milwaukee Lutheran High School (a 2nd generation Scheuer). He is taking 15 credits this year:
1 Concert Band
2 Study Hall/ Boys P.E. (2nd Semester)
3 Geometry
4 Latin 1
Lunch
5 English 1
6 World History
7 Freshmen Religion
8 Biology (Anyone have leaves for Logan?)
Logan is on the Varsity Reserve Soccer Team. They didn't have enough for a JV team. He has 7 Conference games.
Brett...is in the 6th grade at Mount Olive Lutheran School and still playing the saxophone. He tried out for the operetta, "The Saga of the Golden Horseshoe...or That Was No Lady, That Was My Filly". He was given the big part of 'Sheriff Slidell'. The play is set for Friday, Oct. 24 at 7:00 P.M. and Saturday, Oct. 25th at 3:00 P.M. Brett and his class will head to Camp LuWiSoMo next Wednesday-Friday for their outdoor experience. He is really looking forward to his time there!
Katherine...is in the 3rd grade at Mount Olive, where she is getting real grades and learning how to write in cursive. She will be an "extra" in the operetta. Katherine started the Fall session of soccer. She is on a U-9 team for the Tosa Kickers. Her games are close to home, but she practices far away-Chippewa Park. Any of you Scheuer boys remember that park? Katherine practices where you all used to hit baseballs. It's also the same park where Jim proposed to me over 18 years ago.
Jim started school yesterday. Oconomowoc High School during the day and ushering at Miller Park at night. He is one tired man!

Harley's 105th

Here's the family at the Harley Davidson 105th party at the Summerfest grounds. Let's just says it wasn't a kid-friendly venue and leave it at that.

Proof that they just don't get it...

So I'm sitting at home and someone rings the bell. I answer the door and am greeted by a pony-tailed twenty-something who asks if I'm James. I can tell where this is going, and sure enough, he has a political survey. I love those things, so I say sure.
His first question: Who am I going to vote for?
"McCain."
Next question: What is the single most important issue in the coming election?
"National security."
Do you mean the war?
"No. The surge worked and the war is pretty much a non-issue. The real problems are Russia rattling its sabers by invading Georgia and Iran threatening Israel."
Hmmm. He scrolls through his PDA. I can't find those issues. All I have is rising energy prices, war, abortion, health care, rising cost of living, and education.
"Fine. Give me the need for an effective energy policy."
You mean energy prices?
"Sure."
Now, of the two candidates, which do you think will bring the most change in the White House?
"Both will bring change. But change can either be good or bad. It depends on what you change from to what you change to."
So do you say both?
"No. Go with McCain."
Thanks. That's all I have.

No kidding. Russia is not even on their radar. How short-sighted. If we're not careful, we will change right back to the cold war. If you don't remember the picture below, it's the the crosses that were a memorial for all of those people who died while trying to escape the Soviet Union by getting by the Berlin Wall.

How Barack Obama is Like a Little Girl

Poor, little Yang. She is the Chinese girl who sang at the opening ceremonies. She had the talent, and she was selected from so many others to sing for her country because of her talented voice. She worked hard to achieve such a noble goal. So why poor, little Yang? Because we've never seen her sing. Her magical voice was heard around the world, but her face was hidden behind a curtain in favor of a more impressive one, which was the face of Lin Miaoke.

Why was this done? Chen Qigang, the general music designer of the ceremony said, "The reason why little Yang was not chosen to appear was because we wanted to project the right image, we were thinking about what was best for the nation." He further stated, "The reason was for the national interest. The child on camera should be flawless in image, internal feelings, and expression."

Now substitute McCain for Yang and the Presidency for the child. Let's read the paragraph again: "The reason why John McCain was not chosen to appear was because we wanted to project the right image, we were thinking about what was best for the nation." He further stated, "The reason was for the national interest. The president on camera should be flawless in image, internal feelings, and expression." Hmm.....sounds quite a bit like Barack Obama: a candidate who is all about image, feelings, and expression but lacking in experience and substance. He has the looks, but his ideas are as crooked as poor, little Yang's teeth. If America wants to see the pretty face win this November, they better not expect the sweet music to come with it; when they pull back the curtain they won't find a magical voice, or a wizard for that matter, all that will be there is a scarecrow without a brain.