rats, i forgot what it was...
Showing posts with label personal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label personal. Show all posts
17 June 2010
06 June 2010
long time...
long, long time...
i hadn't realized how long;
the most recent post - April 24th - was right before the last couple of surgeries i had to have, and they were the worst of all i've had over the last 2 1/2 years; even worse than the back surgeries;
i didn't realize how difficult these were going to be; i say these because they did two at the same time; the major one was a trans urethral resection of the prostate; the secondary one was the removal of a very large growth that grew very quickly on one of the testicles; luckily a benign cyst that had to be removed along with the epididymis;
(i know - too much information, but the truth is the truth)
the second one, understandably, was the most painful and uncomfortable; if you're male and never had something like this done, you can only imagine what the aftermath was like! thank the fates for Vicodin;
in the meantime, i've been spending most of my time using Facebook; it's quick; it's easy; and most of the time keeps you up-to-date;
i'm not completely sold on it, but it has been a really good source for news that doesn't make the major media;
of course, this is due to the fact that i've been fairly selective on who friends are; (friends is really quite a misnomer; only 5-6 on my list are truly friends in the real sense of the word!)
the worst seems to be passed, but they tell me it will take a couple of more months before most of the after effects go away;
i am rethinking a lot of things with this last episode of life and i am looking it over and deciding that another make-over is in order; i've done this before and always had a good time doing it;
i'm just not exactly certain what the change is going to be, but like i said, i want to have fun doing it...
glad to see you all again and there already is a monday morning mayhem ready for posting...
03 March 2010
it's great to be an activist...
but there comes a time when you start to get tired of fighting, when you question if it makes a difference at all, when it may be time to let others, younger, keep the ball rolling...
on the other hand, i remember my friend Father Philip Berrigan & his brother Daniel; what if they had decided to give up? would Vietnam still be a nation in turmoil?
at the same time, i realize that they had a single-minded goal; no, not just to end the war, but to awaken humanity; the conversations were about inhumanity and how it prevented us from moving forward to treat each other in peace.
here we are 40 years later and we still are fighting the foes of humanity; we are battling the false witness of ultra-right, christianist wingnuts who tear down instead of build up; we struggle with proving what is just and fair when they merely come from a power struggle mentality;
i fight with myself daily trying to make a decision that i'm not sure i want to make, but each day as i read about the inequities of healthcare, the discrimination of lgbtq, the economic problems of families struggling to make a life for themselves, and the movement towards a theocratic country and i get closer and closer to that decision - one to get out...
on the other hand, i remember my friend Father Philip Berrigan & his brother Daniel; what if they had decided to give up? would Vietnam still be a nation in turmoil?
at the same time, i realize that they had a single-minded goal; no, not just to end the war, but to awaken humanity; the conversations were about inhumanity and how it prevented us from moving forward to treat each other in peace.
here we are 40 years later and we still are fighting the foes of humanity; we are battling the false witness of ultra-right, christianist wingnuts who tear down instead of build up; we struggle with proving what is just and fair when they merely come from a power struggle mentality;
i fight with myself daily trying to make a decision that i'm not sure i want to make, but each day as i read about the inequities of healthcare, the discrimination of lgbtq, the economic problems of families struggling to make a life for themselves, and the movement towards a theocratic country and i get closer and closer to that decision - one to get out...
08 January 2010
the Facebook experiment...
so it's been a couple few months since i joined Facebook. it's been interesting, but it lacks something.
it lacks any intimacy in the form of familiarity or real friendship.
it's selective much on the order of high school cliques.
i had hoped that it would lead to insight into things going on in the world by becoming "friends" with certain people.
it worked in some cases, and in others it was superficial at best.
there are dedicated people who use it as a clearinghouse, but even they lessen their comments and that leaves one to question what is the motivation behind their comments and posts.
i was even "unfriended" [the 2009 word of the year] by one of my personal friends because she found my posts to be depressing because i dealt with issues of people in pain and in positions where they were being either physically or mentally harmed and i questioned why no one really does anything about it.
i've thought about deactivating my account, but i'm going to keep it and follow some more. plus, i really did meet some very neat people on FB and would like to stay in contact with them.
we'll see...
it lacks any intimacy in the form of familiarity or real friendship.
it's selective much on the order of high school cliques.
i had hoped that it would lead to insight into things going on in the world by becoming "friends" with certain people.
it worked in some cases, and in others it was superficial at best.
there are dedicated people who use it as a clearinghouse, but even they lessen their comments and that leaves one to question what is the motivation behind their comments and posts.
i was even "unfriended" [the 2009 word of the year] by one of my personal friends because she found my posts to be depressing because i dealt with issues of people in pain and in positions where they were being either physically or mentally harmed and i questioned why no one really does anything about it.
i've thought about deactivating my account, but i'm going to keep it and follow some more. plus, i really did meet some very neat people on FB and would like to stay in contact with them.
we'll see...
12 November 2009
i've not forsaken "no matter what..."
but i've been doing more on FaceBook - as I think a lot of people have been doing.
i think it's because there can be a more instant response than on a blog.
there is a FaceBook badge on the right, if you're interested. you'll have to request to add me as a friend, just mention "no matter what..." in your message so i know you are coming from here.
if you're not on FaceBook, why are you waiting?
in the meantime, i'll post from time to time here, until i get back into it, and weekender and monday morning mayhem will continue. [this week, i just totally forgot it was Monday. i know. that's pretty bad...]
i think it's because there can be a more instant response than on a blog.
there is a FaceBook badge on the right, if you're interested. you'll have to request to add me as a friend, just mention "no matter what..." in your message so i know you are coming from here.
if you're not on FaceBook, why are you waiting?
in the meantime, i'll post from time to time here, until i get back into it, and weekender and monday morning mayhem will continue. [this week, i just totally forgot it was Monday. i know. that's pretty bad...]
16 September 2009
JUST one place i've been the last month...
Falconara Albanese, Calabria, Italy
i've been on the go - Egypt, Greece, Italy - and this was really the highlight of the trip.
Falconara Albanese is in the mountains in the South of Italy, in Calabria. it sits on the side of a mountain. it has been there for 700 years. it was founded by Albania exiles in order to protect themselves from Turkish invaders that pushed them out of their land in Albania.
it is also the town in which my maternal grandparents were born before immigrating to the U.S. about 100 years ago.
07 May 2009
litany against fear...
I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.
i thought of this when i was posting a comment on Pam's House Blend to an article about the right wingers being all aflutter about the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Bill about which i have previously posted.
one of the things i have always observed is that the louder people oppose or deride something, the more it seems that they are running from something that they fear.
fear underlies so much of the ills and problems we see all around us, and rather than embracing it we run away and avoid it. what we are missing are the lessons that we could learn from facing it.
i always end my emails with a little saying i used when i was working with kids -
one of the things i have always observed is that the louder people oppose or deride something, the more it seems that they are running from something that they fear.
fear underlies so much of the ills and problems we see all around us, and rather than embracing it we run away and avoid it. what we are missing are the lessons that we could learn from facing it.
i always end my emails with a little saying i used when i was working with kids -
there is nothing wrong, only things that are missing...
i would quite often hear adults say that a kid had issues or was just bad or was slow. there were a myriad of prognostications i would hear. all of them made it seem that there was something wrong with the kid.
what i always discovered is that there was some piece of information that we didn't know; something that happened in the past of which we weren't aware; or a story that was made up and the child learned to believe it.
i would also find this to be true in almost all of the management situations i was in with adults. their reluctance was never defined, their doubt was never uttered, or their insecurity revolving aroung change never was stated. it was the same thing. there was always something that was missing; something i didn't know; or something i could not quite put my finger on.
when i found out what it was that was missing, i would always go, "ohhhhhhhh!" and everything was suddenly crystal clear. the missing piece made everything fall into place.
so i always looked for that thing that was missing. i still do.
behind all of it i always found fear. it is debilitating and i still fall into it myself. it is my/our nature.
it explains a lot and leaves a lot unanswered. but remember - there is always something missing...
what i always discovered is that there was some piece of information that we didn't know; something that happened in the past of which we weren't aware; or a story that was made up and the child learned to believe it.
i would also find this to be true in almost all of the management situations i was in with adults. their reluctance was never defined, their doubt was never uttered, or their insecurity revolving aroung change never was stated. it was the same thing. there was always something that was missing; something i didn't know; or something i could not quite put my finger on.
when i found out what it was that was missing, i would always go, "ohhhhhhhh!" and everything was suddenly crystal clear. the missing piece made everything fall into place.
so i always looked for that thing that was missing. i still do.
behind all of it i always found fear. it is debilitating and i still fall into it myself. it is my/our nature.
it explains a lot and leaves a lot unanswered. but remember - there is always something missing...
05 May 2009
i haven't been taking much seriously, i guess...
i just was reviewing the last couple of weeks of posts. they've really been all monday morning mayhem's, weekender's and other funny stuff. (Zeus and Jupiter know we could use some laughs now-a-days.)
it's not that i haven't been reading the news, watching Obermann, Maddow & Maher, or haunting blog sites. i have been.
i have my daily round of news starting with "Morning Joe", reading the Chicago Sun-Times & the online New York Times: Global Edition, going to Andrew Sullivan's Daily Dish, following "Pam's House Blend", and watching ABC World News
actually, now that i think about what i just wrote, it is because i'm reading all of those things. they are filled with obfuscations.
they're depressing.
it's just one struggle after another and the more i read the more i realize that none of these things are real. they are all man-made.
AND then conflagrated and fanned by the media into bigger and bigger nonsense.
take the Miss California thing or the Joe the Plumber brouhaha. both of them have run over by two hours their fifteen minutes of fame, and it really should be called shame not fame. they've embarrassed themselves and they don't even know it!
so she's got fake boobs. so she posed for risque photos. so she gave an insane reasoning for posing - I'm a model. I pose
so he won't let his kids go near queers. so he pops up at strange Republican doings. so he wants to run for Congress.
they can do whatever they want. as the saying goes, It's a free country. if they want to made fools of themselves, let them.
neither one of these schmucks would be around the news today if the news didn't keep them there.
we are in a state of flux today. the United States, for the previous eight years can be compared to sixth grade girls. (i hate sixth grade girls!) they fight constantly because, well, because they look at each other funny.
Tsar George took us to war because Saddam looked at him funny (well, actually his father).
sixth grade girls stab each other for this. they then lie and cheat and torture everyone around them. they come up with logical reasoning for why they did what they did, and it's all legitimate in their reasoning.
the Tsar fabricated homeland security issues and reasons why his lackies didn't have to follow the law of the land, hedged on torture, and put the entire country into greater risk.
now, we are becoming seventh grade girls. we've come into a period of calm after a brief summer recess and are falling into a more realistic sense of need and led by a man who remains calm, cool and collected.
the only problem i have is that every once in a while those sixth grade girl habits will pop up when least expected.
AND seventh grade girls do something sixth grade girls don't - they keep their mouths shut and don't let you know what's really going on with them.
that scares me.
so, i'm going to keep making funnies and once in a while pointing out and commenting on obfuscations. i might be raging inside but what good will it do to vent it all. my story has always been, "No one ever listens to me. So why should I bother?" it's a safe place for me to be. believe me. really safe.
and i will listen to what Maxx has to say and laugh along with him. he laughs all of the time. maybe he's got the right idea...
you go Maxx...
have another glass of gin.
oh, sorry. Bombay Sapphire...
i think i'll join him.
[i know. my cynicism is on my sleeve right now. really on BOTH sleeves, in my pocket, out on the front lawn...]
it's not that i haven't been reading the news, watching Obermann, Maddow & Maher, or haunting blog sites. i have been.
i have my daily round of news starting with "Morning Joe", reading the Chicago Sun-Times & the online New York Times: Global Edition, going to Andrew Sullivan's Daily Dish, following "Pam's House Blend", and watching ABC World News
actually, now that i think about what i just wrote, it is because i'm reading all of those things. they are filled with obfuscations.
they're depressing.
it's just one struggle after another and the more i read the more i realize that none of these things are real. they are all man-made.
AND then conflagrated and fanned by the media into bigger and bigger nonsense.
take the Miss California thing or the Joe the Plumber brouhaha. both of them have run over by two hours their fifteen minutes of fame, and it really should be called shame not fame. they've embarrassed themselves and they don't even know it!
so she's got fake boobs. so she posed for risque photos. so she gave an insane reasoning for posing - I'm a model. I pose
so he won't let his kids go near queers. so he pops up at strange Republican doings. so he wants to run for Congress.
they can do whatever they want. as the saying goes, It's a free country. if they want to made fools of themselves, let them.
neither one of these schmucks would be around the news today if the news didn't keep them there.
we are in a state of flux today. the United States, for the previous eight years can be compared to sixth grade girls. (i hate sixth grade girls!) they fight constantly because, well, because they look at each other funny.
Tsar George took us to war because Saddam looked at him funny (well, actually his father).
sixth grade girls stab each other for this. they then lie and cheat and torture everyone around them. they come up with logical reasoning for why they did what they did, and it's all legitimate in their reasoning.
the Tsar fabricated homeland security issues and reasons why his lackies didn't have to follow the law of the land, hedged on torture, and put the entire country into greater risk.
now, we are becoming seventh grade girls. we've come into a period of calm after a brief summer recess and are falling into a more realistic sense of need and led by a man who remains calm, cool and collected.
the only problem i have is that every once in a while those sixth grade girl habits will pop up when least expected.
AND seventh grade girls do something sixth grade girls don't - they keep their mouths shut and don't let you know what's really going on with them.
that scares me.
so, i'm going to keep making funnies and once in a while pointing out and commenting on obfuscations. i might be raging inside but what good will it do to vent it all. my story has always been, "No one ever listens to me. So why should I bother?" it's a safe place for me to be. believe me. really safe.
and i will listen to what Maxx has to say and laugh along with him. he laughs all of the time. maybe he's got the right idea...
you go Maxx...
have another glass of gin.
oh, sorry. Bombay Sapphire...
i think i'll join him.
[i know. my cynicism is on my sleeve right now. really on BOTH sleeves, in my pocket, out on the front lawn...]
27 April 2009
REAL monday morning mayhem...
well, this one has no jokes. it really has turned out to be a mayhem day right from the start.
i had to get up early to get the car to Infiniti because there was recall on the fuel pump. turned out to be a false alarm. it was okay. they did do a couple of things for free for my coming in.
then i had to run to a friend's house to bring her some papers in PDF that she couldn't open on her computer. i tried everything i could to open them on her machine. it worked fine on mine. seems her email server thought it was spam/virus because it came from a Xerox scanning device. it erased all contents.
over the weekend i had a problem start up in my mouth and when i called the doctor, they said, "come in NOW." about three weeks ago i was having a problem breathing because of one of the medications from the surgery i had. they increased my Advair; actually, they more than doubled the dose from 100mcg twice/day to 250mcg twice/day!
seems that oral corticosteroids like Advair are known to produce yeast fungal infections in the mouth [Thrush]. though i have been on the 100mcg dose for years, the higher dose, even though i was rinsing out my mouth per instructions, it was too high and caused the fungal infection.
not a happy camper.
my biggest worry was that the Advair has been so effective that it has really been years since i've had a full-blown asthma attack. now i have to stop using it at least for the next couple of weeks. this during one of the worst times of the allergy season. the doc gave me a script for a rescue inhaler in case i need it. i do not like those things, but if i have to the alternative is not pleasant, if any of you with asthma well know.
so, i went from my house that is at 8700 south to 15900 south to 12000 west back to 5500 south, east to 1100 west and then to 2200 north. if you are familiar with Chicago at all, it was a giant circle of about 90 miles.
well, it will all work out. it always does, but it does remind me of what retirement may really be all about:
Wisdom Of A Retiree!
I've often been asked, 'What do you old folks do now that you're retired?'
Well..., I'm fortunate to have a chemical engineering background, and one of the things I enjoy most is turning beer, wine, gin, Scotch, and margaritas into urine.
if only you all knew how true that is in what all i've been going through. though it hasn't been through the gin...
shut up, Maxx...
sometimes he drives me bonkers!
i had to get up early to get the car to Infiniti because there was recall on the fuel pump. turned out to be a false alarm. it was okay. they did do a couple of things for free for my coming in.
then i had to run to a friend's house to bring her some papers in PDF that she couldn't open on her computer. i tried everything i could to open them on her machine. it worked fine on mine. seems her email server thought it was spam/virus because it came from a Xerox scanning device. it erased all contents.
over the weekend i had a problem start up in my mouth and when i called the doctor, they said, "come in NOW." about three weeks ago i was having a problem breathing because of one of the medications from the surgery i had. they increased my Advair; actually, they more than doubled the dose from 100mcg twice/day to 250mcg twice/day!
seems that oral corticosteroids like Advair are known to produce yeast fungal infections in the mouth [Thrush]. though i have been on the 100mcg dose for years, the higher dose, even though i was rinsing out my mouth per instructions, it was too high and caused the fungal infection.
not a happy camper.
my biggest worry was that the Advair has been so effective that it has really been years since i've had a full-blown asthma attack. now i have to stop using it at least for the next couple of weeks. this during one of the worst times of the allergy season. the doc gave me a script for a rescue inhaler in case i need it. i do not like those things, but if i have to the alternative is not pleasant, if any of you with asthma well know.
so, i went from my house that is at 8700 south to 15900 south to 12000 west back to 5500 south, east to 1100 west and then to 2200 north. if you are familiar with Chicago at all, it was a giant circle of about 90 miles.
well, it will all work out. it always does, but it does remind me of what retirement may really be all about:
Wisdom Of A Retiree!
I've often been asked, 'What do you old folks do now that you're retired?'
Well..., I'm fortunate to have a chemical engineering background, and one of the things I enjoy most is turning beer, wine, gin, Scotch, and margaritas into urine.
if only you all knew how true that is in what all i've been going through. though it hasn't been through the gin...
shut up, Maxx...
sometimes he drives me bonkers!
11 March 2009
surgery...
okay... so this is being posted at 7:30 am this morning - the exact time i'm supposed to be in surgery.
this will be the second back surgery in less than a year. i certainly hope this fixes everything. the problem is all of the injuries to the five discs are new; only one is a re-injury at S1 from the first time.
so... as a result today's mayhem is all about surgery, because if you can't laugh about it, it becomes too serious. besides, laughter helps the medicine go down. oh, wait. maybe that's honey...
Four-Letter Surgery
Jerry is recovering from surgery when a nurse asks him how he is feeling.
"I'm OK but I didn't like the four-letter-word the doctor used in surgery," he answered.
"What did he say," asked the nurse.
"OOPS!"
A List of Things You Don't Want to Hear During Surgery:
1. What do you mean "You want a divorce"?
2. Has anyone seen my watch?
3. Come back with that! Bad Dog!
4. Wait a minute, if this is his spleen, then what's that?
5. Hand me that...uh...that uh.....thingy
6. What do you mean he wasn't in for a sex change!
7. Damn, there go the lights again...
8. Everybody stand back! I lost my contact lens!
9. Well folks, this will be an experiment for all of us.
10. What do you mean, he's not insured?
11. Let's hurry, I don't want to miss "Idol"
oh, wait. that's 11!
After Surgery
A nurse had to take a patient back to his room after surgery. The man was still feeling the effects of the anesthetic and was rather confused.
After the nurse had made him comfortable, she was confronted with four of the man's friends who asked, "How is he?"
The nurse replied, "Oh, he's quite dopey."
One of the friends said, "We know that! How is he healthwise?"
my friends would say the same thing...
Comparing Childhood Surgeries
Two little kids are in a hospital, lying on stretchers next to each other, outside the operating room. The first kid leans over and asks, "What are you in here for?"
The second kid says, "I'm in here to get my tonsils out and I'm a little nervous."
The first kid says, "You've got nothing to worry about. I had that done when I was four. They put you to sleep, and when you wake up they give you lots of Jell-O and ice cream. It's a breeze!"
The second kid then asks, "What are you here for?"
The first kid says, "A circumcision."
The second kid says, "Whoa! I had that done when I was born. I couldn't walk for a year!"
wish me luck.
oh, i almost forgot.
to help you through the work week -
hellllllloooooooooooo!
this will be the second back surgery in less than a year. i certainly hope this fixes everything. the problem is all of the injuries to the five discs are new; only one is a re-injury at S1 from the first time.
so... as a result today's mayhem is all about surgery, because if you can't laugh about it, it becomes too serious. besides, laughter helps the medicine go down. oh, wait. maybe that's honey...
Four-Letter Surgery
Jerry is recovering from surgery when a nurse asks him how he is feeling.
"I'm OK but I didn't like the four-letter-word the doctor used in surgery," he answered.
"What did he say," asked the nurse.
"OOPS!"
A List of Things You Don't Want to Hear During Surgery:
1. What do you mean "You want a divorce"?
2. Has anyone seen my watch?
3. Come back with that! Bad Dog!
4. Wait a minute, if this is his spleen, then what's that?
5. Hand me that...uh...that uh.....thingy
6. What do you mean he wasn't in for a sex change!
7. Damn, there go the lights again...
8. Everybody stand back! I lost my contact lens!
9. Well folks, this will be an experiment for all of us.
10. What do you mean, he's not insured?
11. Let's hurry, I don't want to miss "Idol"
oh, wait. that's 11!
After Surgery
A nurse had to take a patient back to his room after surgery. The man was still feeling the effects of the anesthetic and was rather confused.
After the nurse had made him comfortable, she was confronted with four of the man's friends who asked, "How is he?"
The nurse replied, "Oh, he's quite dopey."
One of the friends said, "We know that! How is he healthwise?"
my friends would say the same thing...
Comparing Childhood Surgeries
Two little kids are in a hospital, lying on stretchers next to each other, outside the operating room. The first kid leans over and asks, "What are you in here for?"
The second kid says, "I'm in here to get my tonsils out and I'm a little nervous."
The first kid says, "You've got nothing to worry about. I had that done when I was four. They put you to sleep, and when you wake up they give you lots of Jell-O and ice cream. It's a breeze!"
The second kid then asks, "What are you here for?"
The first kid says, "A circumcision."
The second kid says, "Whoa! I had that done when I was born. I couldn't walk for a year!"
wish me luck.
oh, i almost forgot.
to help you through the work week -
hellllllloooooooooooo!
12 February 2009
February 12th...
has long held a special place in the hearts and minds of not just the United States but most of the world. We celebrate the anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, probably the greatest president and leader the world has ever had.
He was, to all available knowledge and research, a humble, intelligent and special person. He was a risk taker and made tough decisions even if they were not what he would consider part of his psyche or ethic. He made them based on what was best; not what was politically correct or catering to small minded people.
Today is the 200th anniversary of his birth, a special occasion. In Illinois it is always a holiday for government and schools.
In spite of the checkered political history of the state, it was his home and maybe that is unconsciously why people are reacting to the recent embarrassments and shenanigans. I don't really know.
It is also a personally important day. Today would have been my mother's 89th birthday. She was born on the same date as Abraham Lincoln. She died 12 years ago, but you never really stop feeling a hole when you loose someone, especially a parent. One of the things that I do, and it is not something I broadcast, is visit the cemetery. Not just on her birthday but also the anniversary of her death. Actually, I do it for all of my close relatives. This habit is something she ingrained in me and I accept it. I would have to take her to the cemetery for all of these occasions.
One more thing - my grandparents didn't get to name her. Since she was born on February 12th, the doctor named her. Her first name was Lincoln.
It's a pretty name for a lady. I have also met men who have it as a first name.
I remember one story she told me when I was younger. She said, "Thank God I wasn't born a boy! I'm afraid the doctor would have named me Abraham!"
Of course that really wasn't the end of it. When she was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church, they wouldn't use the name Lincoln because it wasn't a saint's name. When the priest got to the part where he had to say her name, he said, "Catherine". My grandparents were furious; he never mentioned it to them before hand.
I can just hear my grandmother. She spoke very little English but swore in Italian like an old truck driver and added the English curse words at every chance. [she knew those!] They had to remind her often when I was around because I understood everything. I didn't totally speak English until I was four.
yes..., i did inherit her mouth, but i'm cautious most of the time, since i worked with kids for 37 years. though they taught me a few words my grandmother didn't know...
He was, to all available knowledge and research, a humble, intelligent and special person. He was a risk taker and made tough decisions even if they were not what he would consider part of his psyche or ethic. He made them based on what was best; not what was politically correct or catering to small minded people.
Today is the 200th anniversary of his birth, a special occasion. In Illinois it is always a holiday for government and schools.
In spite of the checkered political history of the state, it was his home and maybe that is unconsciously why people are reacting to the recent embarrassments and shenanigans. I don't really know.
-----------------------
It is also a personally important day. Today would have been my mother's 89th birthday. She was born on the same date as Abraham Lincoln. She died 12 years ago, but you never really stop feeling a hole when you loose someone, especially a parent. One of the things that I do, and it is not something I broadcast, is visit the cemetery. Not just on her birthday but also the anniversary of her death. Actually, I do it for all of my close relatives. This habit is something she ingrained in me and I accept it. I would have to take her to the cemetery for all of these occasions.
One more thing - my grandparents didn't get to name her. Since she was born on February 12th, the doctor named her. Her first name was Lincoln.
It's a pretty name for a lady. I have also met men who have it as a first name.
I remember one story she told me when I was younger. She said, "Thank God I wasn't born a boy! I'm afraid the doctor would have named me Abraham!"
Of course that really wasn't the end of it. When she was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church, they wouldn't use the name Lincoln because it wasn't a saint's name. When the priest got to the part where he had to say her name, he said, "Catherine". My grandparents were furious; he never mentioned it to them before hand.
I can just hear my grandmother. She spoke very little English but swore in Italian like an old truck driver and added the English curse words at every chance. [she knew those!] They had to remind her often when I was around because I understood everything. I didn't totally speak English until I was four.
yes..., i did inherit her mouth, but i'm cautious most of the time, since i worked with kids for 37 years. though they taught me a few words my grandmother didn't know...
19 January 2009
the way i see it...
there is a huge, major difference between organized religion and humanism or atheism.
the vast majority of the world's organized religions see themselves as more deserving, more special and more equal than anyone else because of the beliefs in their gods, who promise them that their worship will give people a better chance of happiness and salvation. in that respect, it is all right to detract and discriminate against someone who does not believe. they are doomed and of no importance. [sort of shoots the idea hate the sin, love the sinner all to blazes.]
humanism and atheism, on the other hand, believe that ALL people have happiness and don't need salvation but a rewarded by the way they treat and revere others right here, right now, where it is the most important.
the second part of this is humanists/atheists don't go around overtly trying to convince/convert religious to come over to their side. they are willing to let the religious believe as they wish - as long as they allow them to believe as they wish, but even then, we tend to keep our mouths closed. this is usually not because of the heated exchange that might follow but because it's just not worth arguing logically with others who believe in myth rather than reality.
actually, when you think about it atheists are also humanists. interesting.
at least that's the way i see it...
the vast majority of the world's organized religions see themselves as more deserving, more special and more equal than anyone else because of the beliefs in their gods, who promise them that their worship will give people a better chance of happiness and salvation. in that respect, it is all right to detract and discriminate against someone who does not believe. they are doomed and of no importance. [sort of shoots the idea hate the sin, love the sinner all to blazes.]
humanism and atheism, on the other hand, believe that ALL people have happiness and don't need salvation but a rewarded by the way they treat and revere others right here, right now, where it is the most important.
the second part of this is humanists/atheists don't go around overtly trying to convince/convert religious to come over to their side. they are willing to let the religious believe as they wish - as long as they allow them to believe as they wish, but even then, we tend to keep our mouths closed. this is usually not because of the heated exchange that might follow but because it's just not worth arguing logically with others who believe in myth rather than reality.
actually, when you think about it atheists are also humanists. interesting.
at least that's the way i see it...
10 January 2009
blogging...
posts have been few for a number of reasons. Monday Morning Mayhem and Weekender are easy because i can do them well in advance and they will post themselves.
for one thing, i got the double whammy over the holidays. i had that violent stomach flu Christmas week and then i caught a cold from kids so New Years week was worthless also. it was the first time i've stayed home New Year's Eve in many years. i think i was asleep by 8:30, maybe even 7:30. i can't even remember.
on top of that, the back problems continue. i need to have more surgery. it will be scheduled either the second or third week in February. to be better prepared, unlike the last one where there was nothing i could do, i've been working with a physical trainer who has a background in physical therapy and a massage therapist who specializes in therapeutic massage. the two have been working me to get my legs and abs strong enough to make it through the surgery better. both take up a lot of time and sometimes i've been completely wiped out - especially after the massage. go figure...
another reason for not blogging as much is that i'm just into not reacting to all of the s*** that's going on. i'm tired of hearing about Obama. it's all like a cultist thing and everything he's putting together is a Clinton administration. as i've written before, people should have just voted for Hillary - i did.
the crap going on in Illinois is beyond circus. you all, in other parts of the country, are hearing just a small portion and they are sensationalized.
there are very serious thoughts here that, even if Blago is forced out of the governorship since he's been impeached, the federal trial might be in big trouble. his attorneys have filed a motion to get Patrick Fitzgerald off the case because of the comments he's made in the initial press conference and since. he really may have blown it. he broke every policy involved with the federal handling of investigations with the comments he made. i don't think he was ready for the announcement but he was forced into it, and i don't believe it was because he felt it necessary because of his fear what Blago might have done. and if the federal trial goes bust, what fools are the Illinois legislators going to look like?
let me put it this way: it's near impossible for them to look bigger fools than they already are. the state politics in Illinois have always been an us vs. them - Chicago versus the rest of the state. meanwhile, the entire infrastructure is falling apart from schools to bridges to roads. all because they were constantly fighting with Blago instead of putting their focus where it should have been. hell, the Speaker of the Illinois House (Madigan) refused to speak to Blago for years.
as far as the happenings around the rest of the world, what's changed? the Middle East is the same old, same old. Israel does it's usual "The U.S. is changing presidents. We better do what we want now, because we don't know if the new guy will let us." and the Palestinians are doing the same things for the same reasons.
these people have been fighting for over 5,000 years. do they even know what they are fighting about anymore? as far as anti-semitism being at the heart of it? hellllloooo! both sides are semite! they all came from the same background of tribes.
same sex marriage? there are more important LGBTQ issues that need to be addressed. i know, i know. the leaders are saying that ENDA, DADT, and other basic rights are soooooo 1990's, but we still don't have them in all states. the U.S. Constitution still does not guarantee that all people are the same, no matter what the words are.
marriage of any kind seems to be on the way out. 50%+ divorce rates? more people procreating without being married, and they are doing it with a plan. that kind of shoots the marriage argument from the churches all to hell. the only thing you need to do to have children is screw.
if the wingnuts are really serious about saving marriage, they should be getting laws passed that outlaw divorce and have mandatory contraception until you get married. wouldn't that bolster their concept of ideal marriage? they could even go one step further. why not you have to pass a test and be certified before you can even have the fun to procreate? you don't get and A? NO screwing!
maybe David Vitter wouldn't have gotten into trouble. or the governor of New York. or Bill Clinton. hey, maybe it's an idea who's time has come.
and don't even get me started on the Panzerpope. "Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?"
as you can see, my cynicism is at a very high level. that alone has been blocking me from posting. what use can it do? there's never going to be a change.
well, yes, there will be a change. in 13 days i'll be in Miami where it is 80° and then onto the Freedom of the Seas for an Atlantis cruise in the Caribbean.
AND IT HAS BEEN SNOWING LIKE HELL HERE SINCE LAST NIGHT AND CONTINUING TODAY...
sorry, i couldn't help but scream. we all need some sun and warmth since there has been so little of it...
for one thing, i got the double whammy over the holidays. i had that violent stomach flu Christmas week and then i caught a cold from kids so New Years week was worthless also. it was the first time i've stayed home New Year's Eve in many years. i think i was asleep by 8:30, maybe even 7:30. i can't even remember.
on top of that, the back problems continue. i need to have more surgery. it will be scheduled either the second or third week in February. to be better prepared, unlike the last one where there was nothing i could do, i've been working with a physical trainer who has a background in physical therapy and a massage therapist who specializes in therapeutic massage. the two have been working me to get my legs and abs strong enough to make it through the surgery better. both take up a lot of time and sometimes i've been completely wiped out - especially after the massage. go figure...
another reason for not blogging as much is that i'm just into not reacting to all of the s*** that's going on. i'm tired of hearing about Obama. it's all like a cultist thing and everything he's putting together is a Clinton administration. as i've written before, people should have just voted for Hillary - i did.
the crap going on in Illinois is beyond circus. you all, in other parts of the country, are hearing just a small portion and they are sensationalized.
there are very serious thoughts here that, even if Blago is forced out of the governorship since he's been impeached, the federal trial might be in big trouble. his attorneys have filed a motion to get Patrick Fitzgerald off the case because of the comments he's made in the initial press conference and since. he really may have blown it. he broke every policy involved with the federal handling of investigations with the comments he made. i don't think he was ready for the announcement but he was forced into it, and i don't believe it was because he felt it necessary because of his fear what Blago might have done. and if the federal trial goes bust, what fools are the Illinois legislators going to look like?
let me put it this way: it's near impossible for them to look bigger fools than they already are. the state politics in Illinois have always been an us vs. them - Chicago versus the rest of the state. meanwhile, the entire infrastructure is falling apart from schools to bridges to roads. all because they were constantly fighting with Blago instead of putting their focus where it should have been. hell, the Speaker of the Illinois House (Madigan) refused to speak to Blago for years.
as far as the happenings around the rest of the world, what's changed? the Middle East is the same old, same old. Israel does it's usual "The U.S. is changing presidents. We better do what we want now, because we don't know if the new guy will let us." and the Palestinians are doing the same things for the same reasons.
these people have been fighting for over 5,000 years. do they even know what they are fighting about anymore? as far as anti-semitism being at the heart of it? hellllloooo! both sides are semite! they all came from the same background of tribes.
same sex marriage? there are more important LGBTQ issues that need to be addressed. i know, i know. the leaders are saying that ENDA, DADT, and other basic rights are soooooo 1990's, but we still don't have them in all states. the U.S. Constitution still does not guarantee that all people are the same, no matter what the words are.
marriage of any kind seems to be on the way out. 50%+ divorce rates? more people procreating without being married, and they are doing it with a plan. that kind of shoots the marriage argument from the churches all to hell. the only thing you need to do to have children is screw.
if the wingnuts are really serious about saving marriage, they should be getting laws passed that outlaw divorce and have mandatory contraception until you get married. wouldn't that bolster their concept of ideal marriage? they could even go one step further. why not you have to pass a test and be certified before you can even have the fun to procreate? you don't get and A? NO screwing!
maybe David Vitter wouldn't have gotten into trouble. or the governor of New York. or Bill Clinton. hey, maybe it's an idea who's time has come.
and don't even get me started on the Panzerpope. "Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?"
as you can see, my cynicism is at a very high level. that alone has been blocking me from posting. what use can it do? there's never going to be a change.
well, yes, there will be a change. in 13 days i'll be in Miami where it is 80° and then onto the Freedom of the Seas for an Atlantis cruise in the Caribbean.
AND IT HAS BEEN SNOWING LIKE HELL HERE SINCE LAST NIGHT AND CONTINUING TODAY...
sorry, i couldn't help but scream. we all need some sun and warmth since there has been so little of it...
01 January 2009
2009...
for the first time in many years, i spent New Year's Eve alone. well, with a terrible cold actually. having worked at both a bar and a restaurant years ago, i came to the conclusion that New Year's Eve was amateur night - let's see how drunk we can get...! i felt safer behind the bar.
for the last 14 years i've spent the evening quietly with friends. usually i cook a multi-course dinner with matching wines and go over the top. it's fun; i love to cook; and it's nice ringing in the new year this way. this year, friends went home for the holidays so we're skipping the tradition. plus, with this cold, i don't feel like doing anything.
that's not true. i had a glass of gin. not just any gin - Bombay Sapphire in the new designer martini glass i got for Christmas...
Happy New Year!
24 December 2008
14 December 2008
wow! i went to TWO movies this weekend...
my friends tease me because i hardly ever go to see a movie at the theatre. i usually wait to see in on cable or DVD.
the problem i have is i always end up with the people who jabber on the cellphone during the movie or some other rude thing.
when i went to see the Bourne Ultimatum, there was a couple who had brought there 2-3 year old with them. first it was inappropriate for her to be there because of the type of movie and second they let her crawl around on the floor under the seats! obviously, they had not gone to any parenting classes. BUT giving her a flashlight was the last straw for me, as well as others. before i could get up, someone had already made it to an usher or manager who was right there telling them to either control her or leave. like i said, it was inappropriate for her to be at this film anyway.
so you can see why i don't like going to the theatre. it's just my luck.
i do, however, go to see movies with special effects that would be much better seen on the wide screen than the small. this sent me this Friday to see The Day the Earth Stood Still, that plus a curiosity to compare if with the classic original.
neither the updated story nor the special effects disappointed me. i loved it.
the special effects in the first 10-15 minutes are some of the most spectacular i've ever seen. they were so because they were both subtle and understated. they didn't stop there, but continued through the entire film. in addition, the story updating was believable for today's world, and contrary to others, i think that Keanu Reeves played Klaatu the only way possible, and the robot would scare the s*** out of me.
if you want pure escapist fare, i recommend it. if you're a sci-fi aficionado, don't miss it.
i just came home from the second movie - Milk.
what can i say?
as a piece of history, it is believable; as a reflection of what it is to fight for yourself, it is insightful; as a piece of art, it is incredible; and as a journey of a man and a movement, it is beyond important.
could i identify with all of it? absolutely, positively yes.
did i emotionally loose it at any point? yes, but i won't tell the part unless you've seen the movie. i did get a little teary-eyed at the end, but it was so well done and so dramatically understated to make a point, that it brought the entire project full-circle.
i went with straight friends. they were totally impressed. Sharon said that Sean Penn's performance was one of the most realistic and the best she's ever seen, and she can see 4-5 movies a week, if she can. my other friends said it was one of the best movies they've ever seen also.
i have to tell you that i hesitate referring to them as friends. we have known each other for 40 years and we are more family than friend. we go on vacations together; we celebrate holidays together; and we do lots and lots of things together. the one thing that we are is totally supportive and loving of each other.
since we are friends/family we have a relationship that is such that we talk just about everything. well, sex is probably the one thing we don't talk about, but it's because it's nobody's business. well, i can't really say we never talk about it, but it's not something that is, like, tabletalk during a card game.
my orientation is never discussed either. it is my choice and they understand that. my sexuality is only a part, and a very small part, of who i am. it does not define me; though it adds to my definition.
though the argument in Milk is "let everyone know you're gay because when they know one of us, they know us all" is powerful, but it also tells the story of how we are all alike, and that is the point of demanding and what underscores everyone deserving equal rights. the other thing that is unique about the movie is that it is a love story with a wonderful telling of Harvey and Scott's relationship. a relationship that was just like everyone else's - straight or gay.
if i came away from the movie with anything, it is that everything i've believed, everything for which i have stood, everything that i have done, i have done as a human being. i left the theatre with everything reinforced, everything intact, and everything having more importance.
to use a cliche with which i identify -
the problem i have is i always end up with the people who jabber on the cellphone during the movie or some other rude thing.
when i went to see the Bourne Ultimatum, there was a couple who had brought there 2-3 year old with them. first it was inappropriate for her to be there because of the type of movie and second they let her crawl around on the floor under the seats! obviously, they had not gone to any parenting classes. BUT giving her a flashlight was the last straw for me, as well as others. before i could get up, someone had already made it to an usher or manager who was right there telling them to either control her or leave. like i said, it was inappropriate for her to be at this film anyway.
so you can see why i don't like going to the theatre. it's just my luck.
i do, however, go to see movies with special effects that would be much better seen on the wide screen than the small. this sent me this Friday to see The Day the Earth Stood Still, that plus a curiosity to compare if with the classic original.
neither the updated story nor the special effects disappointed me. i loved it.
the special effects in the first 10-15 minutes are some of the most spectacular i've ever seen. they were so because they were both subtle and understated. they didn't stop there, but continued through the entire film. in addition, the story updating was believable for today's world, and contrary to others, i think that Keanu Reeves played Klaatu the only way possible, and the robot would scare the s*** out of me.
if you want pure escapist fare, i recommend it. if you're a sci-fi aficionado, don't miss it.
i just came home from the second movie - Milk.
what can i say?
as a piece of history, it is believable; as a reflection of what it is to fight for yourself, it is insightful; as a piece of art, it is incredible; and as a journey of a man and a movement, it is beyond important.
could i identify with all of it? absolutely, positively yes.
did i emotionally loose it at any point? yes, but i won't tell the part unless you've seen the movie. i did get a little teary-eyed at the end, but it was so well done and so dramatically understated to make a point, that it brought the entire project full-circle.
i went with straight friends. they were totally impressed. Sharon said that Sean Penn's performance was one of the most realistic and the best she's ever seen, and she can see 4-5 movies a week, if she can. my other friends said it was one of the best movies they've ever seen also.
i have to tell you that i hesitate referring to them as friends. we have known each other for 40 years and we are more family than friend. we go on vacations together; we celebrate holidays together; and we do lots and lots of things together. the one thing that we are is totally supportive and loving of each other.
since we are friends/family we have a relationship that is such that we talk just about everything. well, sex is probably the one thing we don't talk about, but it's because it's nobody's business. well, i can't really say we never talk about it, but it's not something that is, like, tabletalk during a card game.
my orientation is never discussed either. it is my choice and they understand that. my sexuality is only a part, and a very small part, of who i am. it does not define me; though it adds to my definition.
though the argument in Milk is "let everyone know you're gay because when they know one of us, they know us all" is powerful, but it also tells the story of how we are all alike, and that is the point of demanding and what underscores everyone deserving equal rights. the other thing that is unique about the movie is that it is a love story with a wonderful telling of Harvey and Scott's relationship. a relationship that was just like everyone else's - straight or gay.
if i came away from the movie with anything, it is that everything i've believed, everything for which i have stood, everything that i have done, i have done as a human being. i left the theatre with everything reinforced, everything intact, and everything having more importance.
to use a cliche with which i identify -
13 December 2008
"THE" Newsweek article...
i finally read the article in Newsweek - Gay Marriage: Our Mutual Joy - published Dec 6, 2008. if you've missed it, i recommend that you click on the link to read it.
the article, if you are not familiar, uses the Bible, just as the anti-gay marriage people do, as a means of supporting same-sex marriage. it's interesting and i've been familiar with most references in the article. the main points are 1) that there is no direct reference to homosexuality in the either the New or the Old Testament and 2) the message of Jesus was inclusion of all people in the love and joys of his father.
the more interesting part of the article is the comments following it from readers. [Note: Newsweek has had to suspend people from making additional comments because the server couldn't handle it. interesting!]
the comments have the usual mix of arguments that have been going around for the last number of years. there are people who say that the Good Book cannot be wrong; there are others who say that the book was written for the specific times it makes rules for and a lot is lost in translation; some comments are very well thought out and written and others are, well, ridiculously blind.
i was especially struck by the latter. the people who have their blind faith with no question or thought are especially rancorous. it is almost as if they are threatened that their entire world will end if same-sex marriage becomes widely accepted. of course, the article and the comments also point out this similarity to slavery, but it makes no difference to them.
personally, after reading both the article and its comments, i more firmly believe something that i've thought for a long time:
the article, if you are not familiar, uses the Bible, just as the anti-gay marriage people do, as a means of supporting same-sex marriage. it's interesting and i've been familiar with most references in the article. the main points are 1) that there is no direct reference to homosexuality in the either the New or the Old Testament and 2) the message of Jesus was inclusion of all people in the love and joys of his father.
the more interesting part of the article is the comments following it from readers. [Note: Newsweek has had to suspend people from making additional comments because the server couldn't handle it. interesting!]
the comments have the usual mix of arguments that have been going around for the last number of years. there are people who say that the Good Book cannot be wrong; there are others who say that the book was written for the specific times it makes rules for and a lot is lost in translation; some comments are very well thought out and written and others are, well, ridiculously blind.
i was especially struck by the latter. the people who have their blind faith with no question or thought are especially rancorous. it is almost as if they are threatened that their entire world will end if same-sex marriage becomes widely accepted. of course, the article and the comments also point out this similarity to slavery, but it makes no difference to them.
personally, after reading both the article and its comments, i more firmly believe something that i've thought for a long time:
if Jesus were alive today, there is one thing he would not want to be - a christian!
blasephemy? afraid not. i'm no longer a believer in the mythology. only in its inherent message of brotherly love and equality of all.
30 November 2008
seems like nothing going on...
the last couple of weeks it seems i've been doing more humor that anything else on the site.
post-election blahs? not really. i'm glad it's over.
too much Obama? no. it is to be expected. Tsar George has basically bowed out of everything, and people are looking forward to a change from the last eight years. i'm sure even the Busheviks are included in this. they probably are happy that the lead weight is going to be gone from around their necks.
holiday blues? not really. holidays have been great for me the last several years. i look forward to them and have a good time.
cabin fever? too early. the weather has just begun to change in Chicago and the sun is coming out every couple of days. besides, fall has always been my favorite season of the year.
idleness? no way. the Thanksgiving holiday. the HEDAC holiday donation mailer. a new startup charity i'm getting involved with called H.A.N.K. - Helping All Needy Kids based in the community my school was located. opera season. [i've already seen Les Pecheur des perles, Manon, and Lulu. Porgy & Bess is next.] the gym. doctors.
oh, there's a big part of it. i've been to see the neurosurgeon again, had a new MRI and also underwent a series of tests to determine nerve damage with my back. it's been a year since the original injury; i've had multiple interventions and one major surgery. looks like it may be another, even more complicated. i'll find out more on the 18th.
the economy? definitely. my portfolio is waaayyyyyyy down, but who's isn't. it's sad to see everyone struggling. being on a fixed income with retirement, i watch the prices of things going up and realize that it effects me also. i go by the local churches and see more people in line at the food pantries, and i don't live in a poor neighborhood. it's very middle class and established. it's kind of sad. no, it's very sad.
Propositon 8 in California? yes, that's a large part of it also. i've been watching so much of what has been happening as it's result. the LGBT community is at odds not only with the wingnutters but with itself also. the latest was an op-ed in the New York Times - Gay Marriage and a Moral Minority - by Charles M. Blow. there is a lot to the article but the effect it is having has at its heart that Civil Rights and rights for LGBT are not the same thing.
you see, i've always believed that a civil right is a civil right no matter what you gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, etc. that civil rights are the promises made by the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the Rights of Man, Déclaration des droits de l'Homme et du citoyen, etc. had no barrier to anyone who is a human being, in spite of the decades it took to complete it for women, African-Americans and others.
with the latter, i thought that when Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed, though it was meant to specifically address the standing of the Black Community, it would be understood that no one should be left out of basic civil rights.
i suppose i could mention other things, but probably the ones above are the biggest and, add in my back problems, it sometimes seems overwhelming. i also understand that others are worse off, but i am only a speck. there is only so much any one of us can do.
we just have to make sure we do it...
post-election blahs? not really. i'm glad it's over.
too much Obama? no. it is to be expected. Tsar George has basically bowed out of everything, and people are looking forward to a change from the last eight years. i'm sure even the Busheviks are included in this. they probably are happy that the lead weight is going to be gone from around their necks.
holiday blues? not really. holidays have been great for me the last several years. i look forward to them and have a good time.
cabin fever? too early. the weather has just begun to change in Chicago and the sun is coming out every couple of days. besides, fall has always been my favorite season of the year.
idleness? no way. the Thanksgiving holiday. the HEDAC holiday donation mailer. a new startup charity i'm getting involved with called H.A.N.K. - Helping All Needy Kids based in the community my school was located. opera season. [i've already seen Les Pecheur des perles, Manon, and Lulu. Porgy & Bess is next.] the gym. doctors.
oh, there's a big part of it. i've been to see the neurosurgeon again, had a new MRI and also underwent a series of tests to determine nerve damage with my back. it's been a year since the original injury; i've had multiple interventions and one major surgery. looks like it may be another, even more complicated. i'll find out more on the 18th.
the economy? definitely. my portfolio is waaayyyyyyy down, but who's isn't. it's sad to see everyone struggling. being on a fixed income with retirement, i watch the prices of things going up and realize that it effects me also. i go by the local churches and see more people in line at the food pantries, and i don't live in a poor neighborhood. it's very middle class and established. it's kind of sad. no, it's very sad.
Propositon 8 in California? yes, that's a large part of it also. i've been watching so much of what has been happening as it's result. the LGBT community is at odds not only with the wingnutters but with itself also. the latest was an op-ed in the New York Times - Gay Marriage and a Moral Minority - by Charles M. Blow. there is a lot to the article but the effect it is having has at its heart that Civil Rights and rights for LGBT are not the same thing.
you see, i've always believed that a civil right is a civil right no matter what you gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, etc. that civil rights are the promises made by the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the Rights of Man, Déclaration des droits de l'Homme et du citoyen, etc. had no barrier to anyone who is a human being, in spite of the decades it took to complete it for women, African-Americans and others.
with the latter, i thought that when Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed, though it was meant to specifically address the standing of the Black Community, it would be understood that no one should be left out of basic civil rights.
i suppose i could mention other things, but probably the ones above are the biggest and, add in my back problems, it sometimes seems overwhelming. i also understand that others are worse off, but i am only a speck. there is only so much any one of us can do.
we just have to make sure we do it...
26 November 2008
Happy Thanksgiving...
A game warden was driving down the road when he came upon a young boy carrying a wild turkey under his arm.
He stopped and asked the boy, 'Where did you get that turkey?'
The boy replied, 'What turkey?'
The game warden said, 'That turkey you're carrying under your arm.'
The boy looks down and said, 'Well, lookee here, a turkey done
roosted under my arm!'
The game warden said, 'Now look, you know turkey season is closed, so whatever you do to that turkey, I'm going to do to you.'
If you break his leg, I'm gonna break your leg. If you break his wing, I'll break your arm. Whatever you do to him, I'll do to you. So, what are you gonna do with him?'
The little boy said, 'I guess I'll just kiss his ass and let him go!'
May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have never a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
04 November 2008
in spite of my cynicism...
if the election goes as i hope it will, i will be one of the first in tears. i've already been feeling moments here and there of emotion.
my godson just texted me to say IT'S HERE! VOTE! VOTE! he is so unbelievably excited about this whole election and has been for a long time. it has been great seeing him involved in something like this in his 26 years. the only other thing he's ever been enamored of is sports.
he sees the potential for something big in an Obama elected. i do also. he sees the start of a promise that has been long in coming. i do also.
i have waited for 40 years to be able to say that the concept of hope with which i sustain my existence may move closer to reality.
yet, It ain't over 'til the fat lady sings.
she's warming up right now...
my godson just texted me to say IT'S HERE! VOTE! VOTE! he is so unbelievably excited about this whole election and has been for a long time. it has been great seeing him involved in something like this in his 26 years. the only other thing he's ever been enamored of is sports.
he sees the potential for something big in an Obama elected. i do also. he sees the start of a promise that has been long in coming. i do also.
i have waited for 40 years to be able to say that the concept of hope with which i sustain my existence may move closer to reality.
yet, It ain't over 'til the fat lady sings.
she's warming up right now...
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