It’s ALL ABOUT ME!

Wilson and I are spending the weekend with Jennifer and Sadie. We left our house this afternoon and arrived at Jennifer’s around 5:00. Wilson was so happy to see Sadie! They ran around the house chasing each other. Jennifer, Kelly, and I went to dinner after Kelly got off work. After dinner, Jennifer and I dropped Kelly off at home and we went to Target. We bought a few groceries and a couple of pairs of lounge shorts and t-shirts. Tomorrow we are going to see the apartment she and Emily will be moving into in the summer. Jennifer is also going to show me her work and we might do a little shopping. Tomorrow night we plan to cook chicken on the grill. Here’s to a great weekend!

Roll call votes in Legislature on pay raise for legislators

March 20, 2007 05:10 PM

Votes Tuesday as the House, on a 57-41 vote, overrode a veto by Gov. Bob Riley of a resolution giving legislators a 61 percent pay raise. Voting yes were 7 Republicans and 50 Democrats. Voting no were 34 Republicans and 7 Democrats. Not voting were 2 Republicans and 2 Democrats. Abstaining were 0 Republicans and 3 Democrats.

House

REPUBLICANS VOTING YES

Barton, J. (Mobile); Collier, S. (Bayou La Batre); Faust, J. (Fairhope); Galliher, B. (Rainbow City); Gipson, M. (Prattville); Hill, M. (Columbiana); McClendon, J. (Springville).

REPUBLICANS VOTING NO

Allen, G. (Cottondale); Baker, A. (Brewton); Ball, M. (Madison); Beck, W. (Geneva); Bentley, R. (Tuscaloosa); Bridges, D. (Valley); Canfield, G. (Vestavia Hills); Clouse, S. (Ozark); Davis, R. (Daphne); DeMarco, P. (Homewood); Drake, O. (Leeds); Fincher, C. (Semmes); Gaston, V. (Mobile); Greeson, T. (Ider); Grimes, D. (Montgomery); Hammon, M. (Decatur); Hubbard, M. (Auburn); Ison, J. (Mobile); Johnson, R. (Sylacauga); Lewis, B. (Dothan); Love, J. (Montgomery); Mask, B. (Wetumpka); McClurkin, M.S. (Pelham); McCutcheon, M. (Capshaw); McMillan, S. (Gulf Shores); Oden, J. (Vinemont); Sanderford, H. (Huntsville); Shiver, H. (Bay Minette); Thomas, E. (Oneonta); Treadaway, A. (Morris); Ward, C. (Alabaster), Williams, J. (Vestavia Hills); Wood, R. (Anniston); Wren, G. (Montgomery).

DEMOCRATS VOTING YES

Bandy, G. (Opelika); Beasley, B (Clayton); Black, M. (Tuscumbia); Boothe, A. (Troy); Boyd, B. (Anniston); Buskey, J. (Mobile); Coleman, M. (Midfield); Dukes, B. (Decatur); Dunn, P. (Bessemer); England, C (Tuscaloosa); Fite, L. (Jacksonville); Ford, C. (Gadsden); Gordon, J. (Saraland); Graham, B.C. (Alexander City); Grantland, R. (Hartselle); Guin, K. (Carbon Hill); Hall, L. (Huntsville); Hammett, S. (Andalusia); Hilliard, E. (Birmingham); Hinshaw, R. (Meridianville); Howard, R. (Greensboro); Hurst, S. (Munford); Jackson, T. (Thomasville); Keahey, M. (Grove Hill); Kennedy, Y. (Mobile); Knight, J. (Montgomery); Laird, R. (Roanoke); Lindsey, R. (Centre); Martin, J. (Clanton); McCampbell, A.J. (Linden); McClammy, T. (Montgomery); Millican, M. (Hamilton); Mitchell, J. (Mobile); Moore, M. (Birmingham); Morrow, J.M. (Red Bay); Newton, D. (Birmingham); Page, J. (Gadsden); Robinson, J. (Scottsboro); Robinson, O. (Birmingham); Rogers, J. (Birmingham); Salaam, Y. (Selma); Schmitz, S. (Toney); Scott, R. (Fairfield); Sherer, T. (Jasper); Spicer, T. (Elba); Taylor, B (New Hope); Thomas, J. (Selma); Vance, L. (Phenix City); Warren, P. (Tuskegee); White, H. (Athens).

DEMOCRATS VOTING NO

Baker, L. (Abbeville); Harper, A. (Aliceville); Letson, J. (Hillsboro); Morrison, N. (Cullman); Newton, C. (Greenville); Thigpen, W. (Fayette); Todd, P. (Birmingham).

REPUBLICANS NOT VOTING

Moore, P. (Pleasant Grove)*; Payne, A. (Trussville).

DEMOCRATS NOT VOTING

Holmes, A. (Montgomery)*; McDaniel, F. (Albertville).

REPUBLICANS ABSTAINING

None.

DEMOCRATS ABSTAINING

Curtis, M. (Florence); Irons, T. (Florence); McLaughlin, J. (Guntersville).

*Holmes and Moore both said they attempted to vote, but their voting machines jammed and their votes were not registered. Holmes said he voted “yes” and Moore said she voted “no.”

SENATE

Votes Tuesday as the Alabama Senate, on a 20-15 vote, overrode the governor’s veto of a legislative pay raise. Voting yes were 2 Republicans and 18 Democrats. Voting no were 10 Republicans and 5 Democrats. Not voting were 0 Republicans and 0 Democrats. Abstaining were 0 Republicans and 0 Democrats.

REPUBLICANS VOTING YES

Beason, S (Gardendale); Glover, R. (Semmes).

REPUBLICANS VOTING NO

Bishop, C. (Jasper); Brooks, B. (Mobile); Byrne, B. (Montrose); Dixon, L. (Montgomery); Erwin, H. (Montevallo); French, S. (Birmingham); Marsh, D. (Anniston); Orr, A. (Decatur); Smith, H.A. (Slocomb); Waggoner, J. (Vestavia Hills).

DEMOCRATS VOTING YES

Barron, L. (Fyffe); Bedford, R. (Russellville); Coleman, L. (Birmingham); Denton, B. (Muscle Shoals); Figures, V. (Mobile); Griffith, P. (Huntsville); Lindsey, P. (Butler); Little, T. (Auburn); Little, Z. (Cullman); McClain, E.B. (Midfield); Mitchell, W. (Luverne); Mitchem, H. (Union Grove); Penn, M. (Union Springs); Preuitt, J. (Talladega); Ross, Q. (Montgomery); Sanders, H. (Selma); Singleton, B. (Greensboro); Smitherman, R. (Birmingham).

DEMOCRATS VOTING NO

Benefield, K (Woodland); Butler, T. (Madison); Holley, J. (Elba); Means, L. (Attalla); Poole, P. (Moundville).

Congratulations, Kelly, on your success in cheerleading tryouts!! I knew you would make it! My little niece — a high school cheerleader! I love you very much and am so proud of you!

To my favorite big brother:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Love, your favorite little sister!

Jennifer came home this weekend, and we had a great time, as usual. We shopped. And shopped. And shopped a bit more! Jessica wanted to go to the Penney’s outlet, so Saturday morning, off we went. We also went to K-mart and Target. This morning, we went grocery shopping and I bought Jennifer some groceries. I think she’s coming home again next weekend…. we need to find something fun to do that isn’t shopping!!!!

I sure wish my sisters would blog more often!!!

The local news stations have been warning all week about the potential for bad weather in the state. We’ve known it was coming and just hoped it wouldn’t be as bad as predicted. Most times it isn’t as bad as predicted, but today turned out to be the exception. North Alabama was, thankfully spared. Middle Alabama, where Jennifer now lives, had some scares but came away unscathed. I spent considerable time talking to Jennifer who spent some of the afternoon in the closet with her little dog. Sadie was scared, but Jennifer never seemed to get nervous (was she just trying to placate her nervous mom?). Sadly, South Alabama didn’t escape the wrath of the weather.

It is now being reported in the national media that at least 18 people died in the state today due to the storms. I’d say that I cannot imagine such destruction, but we’ve had our share of horrid weather events locally, so I have witnessed the obliteration that these storms can cause. My thoughts and prayers go out to those families who lost loved ones, to the students who survived the devastation, to the rescue workers, to the community, to the hospital workers, and to everyone involved.

A Personal Account

Update: The death toll is, thankfully, not as great at first reported…..

Update: But continues to rise…..