Obviously I do not have to preface a discussion on the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. It was horrific. It was a massacre. It was the loss of 28 lives...yes, 28; I refuse to follow along with the current trend of excluding the shooter from the death toll. He was a human being. He may not have been 6 or 7 but in my mind, he too was a kid. He was a severely, mentally disturbed kid.
I was listening to my favorite talk radio show today; Mac and Gaydos on KTAR in Phoenix. Every Tuesday Meghan McCain---yes, the senator's daughter--- joins the guys over the phone. I have always kind of liked this woman but after hearing her today, she is now someone with whom I wish I could have dinner. I was going to say have a beer but, well I just don't like beer. Have you ever had a moment when you thought "She took the words right out of my mouth?" I had that today. Everything I have been spewing the past few days, she said for me. On paper, we are complete opposites. Our one common ground is Phoenix. She's a Republican, whereas up until last year I was a registered Democrat; I am now an Independent. I did not vote for her father in 2008 and I am not a member of the NRA as is Meghan. She came right out on the radio today and said that though she was an NRA member and a 2nd Amendment supporter, she thinks assault weapons belong with soldiers only. She thinks legislation needs to be put through to tighten restrictions. As a gun owner, she has no problem with a two week waiting period to conduct a proper background check. She thinks there should be limits to the amount of ammunition one can purchase. Yes, this is a GOP, 2nd Amendment supporting, NRA gun carrying Arizonan. Hell, you can't turn a corner out here without seeing someone with a gun strapped to his hip. And she has the courage and strength of conviction to speak against what has traditionally been her party's stance on gun control. This, my friends is a strong woman. This is a woman who intelligently speaks her mind. This is a woman who won my heart and loyalty when she stated what I have been saying for days; we have a severe problem in this country when it comes to dealing with those who are mentally disturbed. There is and has been such a negative stigma attached to being diagnosed with mental disease that it often times gets overlooked, misdiagnosed, or neglected. I am certainly not a mental health expert but I do know that schizophrenia can be a dangerous mental disease when not diagnosed and treated. I also know that schizophrenia manifests and presents predominantly in males in their early twenties; Newtown, Aurora, Portland, Virginia Tech, Tucson....too numerous to mention. I also know then when a tragedy such as the one that took place last Friday occurs, everyone turns to the 2nd Amendment; Lefties want to take drastic measures, while Tighty Righties invoke the Constitution. These are perhaps the same Right Wing extremists that complain that God has been taken out of the schools. They really should read all of the Amendments. And it has always been my understanding that if you believe, God is everywhere.
Now, back to Meghan. Ms. McCain, I applaud you. And I thank you as I at last have someone who truly speaks for me. What I think I like best about MM is that she's not afraid to say she doesn't have the answers to all of the problems but understands that answers will not be found until we first have conversation. Not yelling or name calling but actual productive conversation about mental health first and guns second. The two together are in fact the perfect storm; another Sandy.
I also want to let you folks know that if you would like to send a letter expressing condolences to the families, that you can do so through my favorite radio guys; Mac and Gaydos. They are excepting written letter...NOT emails, but actual, old fashioned letters...through the end of the month and will then send them on to Connecticut. Just go to ktar.com for a mailing address. And maybe some Tuesday give these guys a listen and hear what Meghan has to say. You can listen on the computer; maybe streaming or podcast; some computer thing like that. You'll figure it out. After a few listens you might be hoping for what I'm hoping for...a Meghan McCain and Chelsea Clinton presidential ticket someday....Mac and Gaydos just aren't good looking enough.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Friday, December 7, 2012
Milking It....
Hello everyone, it's been a while since I blogged---I still don't know what that means. Now that the election is long over, I'd like to "get out the vote" for something that may not be as important, but it is certainly more satisfying...chocolate milk. I don't like milk; never have. I have a friend, however who really digs chocolate milk. Just today I learned that this tantalizing, brown cow juice is used as an after exercise recovery drink. Who knew to associate chocolate and exercise? My friend Kari knew; she knows a lot of stuff. Let me tell you a little about my friend Kari de Jong. We got off to a rocky start but over the last few years we've established a loyal and respectful friendship. Those two words---loyal and respectful--- are words that immediately come to mind when describing Kari. She understands that friendship is not just a fleeting instance of laughs and fun. In fact, when things are tough in one's life, true friendship is revealed. A few years ago I had to have some surgery at a moments notice. By the time I was brought up to a room in the hospital, it was around 10:00 at night. A short time after getting my wits about me, Kari and Karin---who will from here on out be referred to as Rump, walked into my room. Rump brought me a picture of my one year old dog, and for some reason I still don't understand, the ashes of my old dog. Kari also came bearing gifts of the finest kind; two Dunkin Donuts coffee rolls...one of God's greatest creations. I thought to myself, this is the girl who for the longest time wouldn't even speak to me and now she's at my bedside with the perfect food. As this wasn't a planned surgery, I had to take care of the leave of absence red tape at work from a hospital bed. Not to worry, Kari took care of it the next day. I can't remember if this was before or after she and Rump went to Ghana for a month to volunteer at a refugee camp. I know it was before she stayed up half the night making cheesecake cookies for my dear friend Al who was dying of lung cancer. She had worked a double shift and had to have the cookies ready for me to pick up by 6 the next morning. At 6:00 on the dot I turned onto her street to see Kari standing in the street barefoot and in her p.j's holding a pastry box full of goodies. She had a treat in there for me, too...which I devoured on the way to work.
You're probably wondering how this all ties into chocolate milk. I babbled so long, I almost forgot myself. Oddly enough there is a website for chocolate milk lovers---www.gotchocolatemilk.com. They have a campaign going on called "Refuel with Chocolate Milk." Kari does just that after she works out...Rump has the cookies. From now until December 31, 2012, Kari is one of the finalists in a contest sponsored by the site. Each finalist describes his or her post-workout routine and explains why chocolate milk is part of his or her recovery process. I want Kari to win. Look, I'm sure there are other people that may have done a nice video, too but they're not Kari. There is only one Kari de Jong. The winner gets some kind of personal coaching and some other cool stuff. The best part is, every time a vote is cast, for any of the contestants, $1 goes to challenged athletes. If for no other reason, go to the site everyday from now until the end of the month and vote.If we all do that everyday for the next three weeks, it will really add up. So those of you who exercise passionately, make sure to go at least once to give back those athletes who are mentally or physically challenged. And since you're going to visit the site anyway, vote for Kari. That's Kari de Jong...spelled just like that. She has no idea I'm writing this, which is strange because when I write for a professor, she is my indispensable editor...yes, she does that, too. And she asks for nothing in return. Loyal, respectful, talented and generous. I'm actually glad she won't see this because I know this is punctuated terribly.
Ok, thank you for reading and I'll thank you in advance for voting for Kari. Next time, I'll tell you all about Rump.
You're probably wondering how this all ties into chocolate milk. I babbled so long, I almost forgot myself. Oddly enough there is a website for chocolate milk lovers---www.gotchocolatemilk.com. They have a campaign going on called "Refuel with Chocolate Milk." Kari does just that after she works out...Rump has the cookies. From now until December 31, 2012, Kari is one of the finalists in a contest sponsored by the site. Each finalist describes his or her post-workout routine and explains why chocolate milk is part of his or her recovery process. I want Kari to win. Look, I'm sure there are other people that may have done a nice video, too but they're not Kari. There is only one Kari de Jong. The winner gets some kind of personal coaching and some other cool stuff. The best part is, every time a vote is cast, for any of the contestants, $1 goes to challenged athletes. If for no other reason, go to the site everyday from now until the end of the month and vote.If we all do that everyday for the next three weeks, it will really add up. So those of you who exercise passionately, make sure to go at least once to give back those athletes who are mentally or physically challenged. And since you're going to visit the site anyway, vote for Kari. That's Kari de Jong...spelled just like that. She has no idea I'm writing this, which is strange because when I write for a professor, she is my indispensable editor...yes, she does that, too. And she asks for nothing in return. Loyal, respectful, talented and generous. I'm actually glad she won't see this because I know this is punctuated terribly.
Ok, thank you for reading and I'll thank you in advance for voting for Kari. Next time, I'll tell you all about Rump.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Stuff That Drives Me To Drink...so I do
I realize that I have been "musing" from Cork but I have not been Amusing. I'll give it a try with some of the things that drive me absolutely crazy; I bet you'll see some of your favorites. First let's start with bodily functions. Number one on my list is spitting. I have to ask, why? Those who spit, and you know who you are, really make me want to throw up. You may be very nice people otherwise but this habit of yours is utterly disgusting. I have the ghastly misfortune of working with a great number of spitters. After ten minutes at the smoking area I start looking around for pieces of lung on the ground. One of the great fortunes of living in America is that you will find tissues wherever you go. It's ok to use them. If money is a problem, I would be happy to buy you some tissues if the spitting ceases. And really, if you have to cough that much, maybe it's time to stop visiting the smoking area.
Following closely behind spitting is open-mouth-chewing. God gave you lips for a reason; use them. Aren't you people afraid the food will fall out of your mouth? Sometimes I sit at the table in the breakroom, quite nicely enjoying some solitude, when all of a sudden an infamous open-mouth-chewer (OMC) will plop down at the table with a big basket of chips and salsa. I have to go. I mean I just have to get up and leave. Once I got up and walked around the corner to the other side of the room only to walk into a grown man clipping his finger nails right next to another lunch table. Again, I must ask, why? We have locker rooms. And I think it's a safe bet that we all have nail clippers at home. Put them next to your bathroom sink, along side the tissues, and use them both. For the love of God, you're adults! I do, however believe I work with children with pituitary disorders; young minds in large bodies. Which brings me to one of my greatest frustrations; 12 year old supervisors on power trips.
I have a couple of supervisors, one in particular, that were not yet born when I graduated high school. When he first started, I noticed while I was training him that he had no beard; not even one little stubble. He played the game and when we got a new manager who wanted young boys with pliable minds (Hitler liked that, too), he became my boss. I know more about my job than he'll ever forget. I don't begrudge anyone for wanting to move up in the company regardless of his age but I just can't sit still while a little boy micro-manages me and everyone in his path just for the sake of flexing his managerial muscle. I find this so annoying due to the fact that he contributes nothing productive. The managerial hierarchy at my place of employment is based on the age old "Good-Old-Boys-Network(GOBN). We have three supervisors who are women, one Hispanic male, and a black guy; just enough to keep it legal. A friend of mine used to work with us. She was pleaded with almost daily from the day she started to become a supervisor; she's black. They would have killed two birds with one stone if they had convinced her; she wisely declined.
Well, now that I have strayed off the amusing trail I will close for now. Next time I'll elaborate more on my company and perhaps racism; huh, another chance to kill two birds with one stone.
Following closely behind spitting is open-mouth-chewing. God gave you lips for a reason; use them. Aren't you people afraid the food will fall out of your mouth? Sometimes I sit at the table in the breakroom, quite nicely enjoying some solitude, when all of a sudden an infamous open-mouth-chewer (OMC) will plop down at the table with a big basket of chips and salsa. I have to go. I mean I just have to get up and leave. Once I got up and walked around the corner to the other side of the room only to walk into a grown man clipping his finger nails right next to another lunch table. Again, I must ask, why? We have locker rooms. And I think it's a safe bet that we all have nail clippers at home. Put them next to your bathroom sink, along side the tissues, and use them both. For the love of God, you're adults! I do, however believe I work with children with pituitary disorders; young minds in large bodies. Which brings me to one of my greatest frustrations; 12 year old supervisors on power trips.
I have a couple of supervisors, one in particular, that were not yet born when I graduated high school. When he first started, I noticed while I was training him that he had no beard; not even one little stubble. He played the game and when we got a new manager who wanted young boys with pliable minds (Hitler liked that, too), he became my boss. I know more about my job than he'll ever forget. I don't begrudge anyone for wanting to move up in the company regardless of his age but I just can't sit still while a little boy micro-manages me and everyone in his path just for the sake of flexing his managerial muscle. I find this so annoying due to the fact that he contributes nothing productive. The managerial hierarchy at my place of employment is based on the age old "Good-Old-Boys-Network(GOBN). We have three supervisors who are women, one Hispanic male, and a black guy; just enough to keep it legal. A friend of mine used to work with us. She was pleaded with almost daily from the day she started to become a supervisor; she's black. They would have killed two birds with one stone if they had convinced her; she wisely declined.
Well, now that I have strayed off the amusing trail I will close for now. Next time I'll elaborate more on my company and perhaps racism; huh, another chance to kill two birds with one stone.
Friday, November 2, 2012
Sandy: The Bright Spot
Superstorm Sandy devastated the people on the east coast; especially those in New Jersey. People have died and homes were destroyed; literally razed right to the ground. I am a weather buff and followed the storm closely. Once I was able to ascertain that my family in New England was ok, I watched those not as fortunate return to empty lots that once contained their homes. My heart goes out to them all. They have my compassion and sympathy but I cannot even comprehend what they are feeling.
With the election so near, it was a nice surprise to see two opposing politicians unite for the good of the people who elected them to their positions. President Obama took control as a leader should and did what all politicians should do more often; cut through the red tape to get results. Governor Christie has done a remarkable job and made it quite clear that he had an urgent job to do and didn't "give a damn about politics." I applaud you, Governor. You gave President Obama the recognition he earned; I imagine much to the chagrin of your party. You prioritized. People had nothing but the clothes on their backs and needed someone to turn to and you did the job.
I hope, naive as I am, that this is a trend we will see continue; leaders who get the job done without politics. Christie is correct; he was elected to that office by the very people who are now in dire need of his assistance. My dad told me when I was very young, "believe half of what you read in the paper and none of what you hear from a politician." In this one instance, this very brief moment in time, I believe Governor Christie. I may not believe what he says tomorrow but I believed him this week. Thank you for giving me this brief moment, Mr. Christie. It may not come along again for quite some time but in the midst of disaster you became a leader and forgot about being a politician. I am 3000 miles away from Jersey but the Governor helped me this week, too.
Now, let's all do what we can to help the people who have lost so much. Let's not forget the now homeless pets. They will need food. The Red Cross had to cancel several blood drives in the area and needs blood. Let's all step up and do what we can to help. Thanks.
With the election so near, it was a nice surprise to see two opposing politicians unite for the good of the people who elected them to their positions. President Obama took control as a leader should and did what all politicians should do more often; cut through the red tape to get results. Governor Christie has done a remarkable job and made it quite clear that he had an urgent job to do and didn't "give a damn about politics." I applaud you, Governor. You gave President Obama the recognition he earned; I imagine much to the chagrin of your party. You prioritized. People had nothing but the clothes on their backs and needed someone to turn to and you did the job.
I hope, naive as I am, that this is a trend we will see continue; leaders who get the job done without politics. Christie is correct; he was elected to that office by the very people who are now in dire need of his assistance. My dad told me when I was very young, "believe half of what you read in the paper and none of what you hear from a politician." In this one instance, this very brief moment in time, I believe Governor Christie. I may not believe what he says tomorrow but I believed him this week. Thank you for giving me this brief moment, Mr. Christie. It may not come along again for quite some time but in the midst of disaster you became a leader and forgot about being a politician. I am 3000 miles away from Jersey but the Governor helped me this week, too.
Now, let's all do what we can to help the people who have lost so much. Let's not forget the now homeless pets. They will need food. The Red Cross had to cancel several blood drives in the area and needs blood. Let's all step up and do what we can to help. Thanks.
Friday, October 26, 2012
I Thought I Was Done
I thought I was done with political blogging...politics in general for the year. A friend posted an article from the Huffington Post regarding Mitt Romney's stance on gay rights. I have another friend who calls him Shit Romney, but I swore I would not go down that path. So I'll leave it up to her to call him Shit, so I don't have to call Mr. Romney Shit. This post is off the cuff as I am so angry I just did not want to take the time to calm down. Shit...oh, I mean Mitt, quite clearly thinks it wrong for homosexuals to have children. He thinks the children will be harmed if they do not have a mother and father. Okay, let's look at this. First of all, Shmitt, they will have a mother and a father! Perhaps he needs a refresher biology class. Apparently the potential leader of the free world is unfamiliar with the concept of sperm and egg. Secondly, if a child has two parents, she is a rarity. To go one step further, if the child has two parents that love her and each other, she is off the charts lucky. If a child has two parents in a loving home who provide and sacrifice for her, does it matter if both parents have all the same parts? Of course not; only an antiquated, uninformed, narrow minded, compassionless dolt with his head in the sand would have such an erroneous thought.
I am a lesbian. A card-carrying, Ellen loving lesbian; have been my whole life. All homosexuals are homosexuals their whole lives because we are born this way. I have blue eyes, too...because I was born that way. I could buy colored lenses if I wanted green or brown eyes, but it would be a facade. Likewise, I could pretend to be heterosexual; I did for the first 20 years of my life. Another facade, and very tiresome. I have the courage to be myself; a 47 year old, blue-eyed lesbian. I don't have kids; I don't want them. I have dogs. Now, I would love to see Shmitt try to take a dog away from a lesbian...next he'll want my truck. Also, I do not have a partner at this time; I don't think I want one of those either. Once I figured out I could sleep diagonal across the bed, I decided being alone is a good thing. However, that is my choice. I do not want Shmitt deciding for me who I can or can't sleep with. I don't want him deciding for my friends who they can and can't marry or to tell them that having and loving a child is only right for certain people; the ones an act of birth made heterosexual. That's right folks, it's not a choice. Does anyone really still think it is? Really? I've been "out" for almost 30 years and let me state for the record that to be shunned by society and deemed the "freak" by your family and supposed friends is not something one chooses. I'll say it again, I have courage. I don't want to come across as cocky but I am proud of being strong enough to live my life honestly. It's a lot easier today than it was 30 years ago. I am no longer chased when leaving a gay bar. Well, I don't go to the bars anymore, so that's kind of a moot point. Let's say this, a partner no longer has to be "the roommate." Holding hands in public isn't as frightening as it once was. We really have made tremendous progress and I hate to see a buffoon like Shmitt tear down the work we have done.
Gay, straight, bi, trans, or hetero, we are all part of the human family. We are, biologically, products of the genetics of our parents. One in four children of the same parents is homosexual. Whether or not that child lives her life honestly and has the courage to live without the facade will be up to her. She will if she has understanding and loving parents who have instilled in her the confidence and intelligence she needs to have an honest, successful life. My grandmother instilled that sense of pride in me. She loved me regardless of the stupid things I did...repeatedly. Knowing I had her---my best friend---in my corner, made me know there was nothing I was too afraid to do. Why deny a child of someone so wonderful? That seems to be the goal of Shmitt. He can rhetorically spin his stance on this issue any way he chooses but the bottom line is he would rather deny a child a stable and loving home, than accept people as they were born.
There is supposed to be a place for comments on this but I heard that function is not working. I have absolutely no idea how to change this. If you want to comment, and I am interested in hearing what people have to say, you can do so on my Facebook page.
I am a lesbian. A card-carrying, Ellen loving lesbian; have been my whole life. All homosexuals are homosexuals their whole lives because we are born this way. I have blue eyes, too...because I was born that way. I could buy colored lenses if I wanted green or brown eyes, but it would be a facade. Likewise, I could pretend to be heterosexual; I did for the first 20 years of my life. Another facade, and very tiresome. I have the courage to be myself; a 47 year old, blue-eyed lesbian. I don't have kids; I don't want them. I have dogs. Now, I would love to see Shmitt try to take a dog away from a lesbian...next he'll want my truck. Also, I do not have a partner at this time; I don't think I want one of those either. Once I figured out I could sleep diagonal across the bed, I decided being alone is a good thing. However, that is my choice. I do not want Shmitt deciding for me who I can or can't sleep with. I don't want him deciding for my friends who they can and can't marry or to tell them that having and loving a child is only right for certain people; the ones an act of birth made heterosexual. That's right folks, it's not a choice. Does anyone really still think it is? Really? I've been "out" for almost 30 years and let me state for the record that to be shunned by society and deemed the "freak" by your family and supposed friends is not something one chooses. I'll say it again, I have courage. I don't want to come across as cocky but I am proud of being strong enough to live my life honestly. It's a lot easier today than it was 30 years ago. I am no longer chased when leaving a gay bar. Well, I don't go to the bars anymore, so that's kind of a moot point. Let's say this, a partner no longer has to be "the roommate." Holding hands in public isn't as frightening as it once was. We really have made tremendous progress and I hate to see a buffoon like Shmitt tear down the work we have done.
Gay, straight, bi, trans, or hetero, we are all part of the human family. We are, biologically, products of the genetics of our parents. One in four children of the same parents is homosexual. Whether or not that child lives her life honestly and has the courage to live without the facade will be up to her. She will if she has understanding and loving parents who have instilled in her the confidence and intelligence she needs to have an honest, successful life. My grandmother instilled that sense of pride in me. She loved me regardless of the stupid things I did...repeatedly. Knowing I had her---my best friend---in my corner, made me know there was nothing I was too afraid to do. Why deny a child of someone so wonderful? That seems to be the goal of Shmitt. He can rhetorically spin his stance on this issue any way he chooses but the bottom line is he would rather deny a child a stable and loving home, than accept people as they were born.
There is supposed to be a place for comments on this but I heard that function is not working. I have absolutely no idea how to change this. If you want to comment, and I am interested in hearing what people have to say, you can do so on my Facebook page.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Appreciation
After re-reading my last post---yes, I am my own biggest fan--- I realized yet again how much I have in my life. I also came to recollect something I learned many years ago: You cannot appreciate something unless and until you have experienced the opposite. For example, if you've never been lied to you cannot fully appreciate the truth. Until you've been broke, you cannot appreciate wealth. Unless you have been broken-hearted, you cannot appreciate love. We can understand things in conceptual terms but without experience this is simply knowledge; not appreciation. I can understand, in theory, the love a parent has for a child but can't understand the actual feeling. Just as someone may understand the unconditional love given by a pet, until that person has shared her home with an animal, she will never truly understand the bond between animal and person.
People think my dogs are the luckiest in the world because of how I treat them, whereas I think of myself as the lucky one to be in a position to have these wonderful beasts in my life. For those of you who have never had a dog, you are missing out on so much. I've been in many, what I thought to be life-long relationships(more then I'll admit here), but never have I been greeted with such love and excitement as when my dogs hear me come up the driveway. When I'm sad, they know. When I'm happy, they know. When I want to play, they play...and the list goes on and on. Several years ago my dog, who was born in my bathroom and lived to be almost 15, died in my arms. I was lost for many weeks. She could never and has never been replaced. Instead, adhering to the natural cycle of life, I came home one day with a 25 pound baby who I named, Reddog. She rescued me as much as I rescued here. Sometimes we all need to be rescued; those with 2 legs as well as those with four. Due to the fact that our society is filled with...well, irresponsible jerks...there are so many dogs that need homes. And I don't believe for a second that there isn't someone reading this who isn't in need of some rescuing. For those in Phoenix, we have a wonderful no-kill shelter here named the Arizona Animal Welfare League. I don't have their web info at hand but you can Google them or find them on Facebook. They can get you in contact with any one of the numerous shelters in the Grand Canyon state. The National Humane Society can give you information nationwide. Just something I want everyone to think about. As part of the human race, we are all responsible for the domestication of animals. Thus it is now our responsibility to care for them. So the next time you come home to an empty house, think of how great it would be to put your feet up on the couch with a dog on your lap. Then, you'll have something new to appreciate.
On the lighter side of appreciation; this is for all of you youngsters out there---I'll let you define yourselves. You have all been born into the computer age and I'll wager to guess have never experienced the typewriter. Oh it was quite a joy. First, you had to load the paper---one sheet at a time---evenly onto the roll. Then of course was the challenge of carbon paper. My favorite part was when you made a mistake. You had 2 options: find the eraser ribbon or use the eraser itself. For those of you giggling right now, you know the one I mean; it looks like a pencil and you had to unroll the paper and try to erase while the paper was still in the typewriter. If you managed to do this without tilting your paper, you continued to type only to find that you had erased a hole right through the paper...and were instead typing on the carbon.That being said, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate the machine I am typing on at this very minute...with Reddog by my side.
People think my dogs are the luckiest in the world because of how I treat them, whereas I think of myself as the lucky one to be in a position to have these wonderful beasts in my life. For those of you who have never had a dog, you are missing out on so much. I've been in many, what I thought to be life-long relationships(more then I'll admit here), but never have I been greeted with such love and excitement as when my dogs hear me come up the driveway. When I'm sad, they know. When I'm happy, they know. When I want to play, they play...and the list goes on and on. Several years ago my dog, who was born in my bathroom and lived to be almost 15, died in my arms. I was lost for many weeks. She could never and has never been replaced. Instead, adhering to the natural cycle of life, I came home one day with a 25 pound baby who I named, Reddog. She rescued me as much as I rescued here. Sometimes we all need to be rescued; those with 2 legs as well as those with four. Due to the fact that our society is filled with...well, irresponsible jerks...there are so many dogs that need homes. And I don't believe for a second that there isn't someone reading this who isn't in need of some rescuing. For those in Phoenix, we have a wonderful no-kill shelter here named the Arizona Animal Welfare League. I don't have their web info at hand but you can Google them or find them on Facebook. They can get you in contact with any one of the numerous shelters in the Grand Canyon state. The National Humane Society can give you information nationwide. Just something I want everyone to think about. As part of the human race, we are all responsible for the domestication of animals. Thus it is now our responsibility to care for them. So the next time you come home to an empty house, think of how great it would be to put your feet up on the couch with a dog on your lap. Then, you'll have something new to appreciate.
On the lighter side of appreciation; this is for all of you youngsters out there---I'll let you define yourselves. You have all been born into the computer age and I'll wager to guess have never experienced the typewriter. Oh it was quite a joy. First, you had to load the paper---one sheet at a time---evenly onto the roll. Then of course was the challenge of carbon paper. My favorite part was when you made a mistake. You had 2 options: find the eraser ribbon or use the eraser itself. For those of you giggling right now, you know the one I mean; it looks like a pencil and you had to unroll the paper and try to erase while the paper was still in the typewriter. If you managed to do this without tilting your paper, you continued to type only to find that you had erased a hole right through the paper...and were instead typing on the carbon.That being said, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate the machine I am typing on at this very minute...with Reddog by my side.
Friday, October 19, 2012
One More One More Thing
Ok, I just read my last post and I feel bad. I think it sounds a little harsh and I don't want to piss-off my followers...I have one. What sounded like an admonishment for being irresponsible was just me poorly saying that we must admit to our mistakes and take responsibility for our choices. I am not saying people don't deserve help or empathy, just admit you screwed up and ask for help. We are all part of the human family and everyone needs help from time to time. I have the greatest friends in the world who have helped me more times than I care to count. But maybe every now and then we should all help a stranger. The next time you see a guy on the street asking for help, give him a couple of dollars.It doesn't matter what he'll spend it on. It's not our place to judge. Just help when you can and be thankful you're in a position to help. My grandmother, who was the wisest person who ever walked the earth, always said, "Never let a friend go without and help a stranger when you can." If you don't encounter anyone on your travels that needs help and I've inspired you in any way to contribute to your fellow human beings, there is an organization in Phoenix called the Welcome to America Project. They aid refugees coming to this country who literally have nothing but the clothes on their backs. I think their site is wtap.org, or maybe .com. Just Google them if you feel so inclined. When you get home, look around and see, really see all the things you have and then think of someone who has absolutely nothing; not even a home or food. People need your help. Give it to them.
And One More Thing...
Hello again and thanks for checking back in with me. There is one other comment I want to make about the debate, then I'll let it go. A woman asked about tax cuts; specifically about credits and deductible items such as learning credits that Romney plans to eliminate. Romney stated that she would still come out ahead even though she had children in college because he is planning to eliminate capital gains taxes. Ok, he had just finished commenting on the terrible state of the economy and the horrifically high unemployment rate: does he honestly believe that people who are depleting their savings accounts are concerned about capital gains taxes. They have no capital gain. People are concerned about feeding the kids and paying the rent. There is no more disposable income. There is no money left to invest once the bills have been paid. Savings accounts are shrinking even as I write. People are living in the present. What got them to this point?
In fairness to both Obama and Romney, neither is as fault for the sad state in which people find themselves.Who then is to blame? The last time this country had a balanced budget and was debt free was under Andrew Jackson, sometime around 1836. Obama did this, Bush did that, and Clinton did everything...or should I say everyone? I am not financially intelligent enough to describe why the stock market took a dive, but it did and people lost a lot of money and a lot of jobs. I am one of the lucky ones; I have a job and health benefits. However, I had dug myself into a financial hole by living well beyond my means on credit. A great number of others did the same on a much larger scale. They bought homes they could not afford and had 2 SUVs in the driveway. I live in the Phoenix area and have seen new neighborhoods pop up, alive with activity and kids riding bikes in the street. Those same neighborhoods are now virtual ghost towns. I am truly sorry for those people as they may not be as fortunate as I. However, in some cases---not all so don't get offended---the circumstances in which they now find themselves are a result of the choices they previously made. Those people, through their own fault or just plain bad luck have no concern at the present time as to whether or not their savings accounts will be face tax implications. Their savings accounts are on their kids feet or in their lenders hands.
As I said, I am fortunate to have a job. I am also fortunate in my wisdom; that is to say I am wise enough to be a renter with a 16 year old truck that does not belong to the bank. I once had the responsibility of being a home owner.....never again. Maybe I'll talk about that next time.
In fairness to both Obama and Romney, neither is as fault for the sad state in which people find themselves.Who then is to blame? The last time this country had a balanced budget and was debt free was under Andrew Jackson, sometime around 1836. Obama did this, Bush did that, and Clinton did everything...or should I say everyone? I am not financially intelligent enough to describe why the stock market took a dive, but it did and people lost a lot of money and a lot of jobs. I am one of the lucky ones; I have a job and health benefits. However, I had dug myself into a financial hole by living well beyond my means on credit. A great number of others did the same on a much larger scale. They bought homes they could not afford and had 2 SUVs in the driveway. I live in the Phoenix area and have seen new neighborhoods pop up, alive with activity and kids riding bikes in the street. Those same neighborhoods are now virtual ghost towns. I am truly sorry for those people as they may not be as fortunate as I. However, in some cases---not all so don't get offended---the circumstances in which they now find themselves are a result of the choices they previously made. Those people, through their own fault or just plain bad luck have no concern at the present time as to whether or not their savings accounts will be face tax implications. Their savings accounts are on their kids feet or in their lenders hands.
As I said, I am fortunate to have a job. I am also fortunate in my wisdom; that is to say I am wise enough to be a renter with a 16 year old truck that does not belong to the bank. I once had the responsibility of being a home owner.....never again. Maybe I'll talk about that next time.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Presidential Debate: Thanks for the Inspiration
Hello everyone and thanks for taking a look at my first attempt at blogging. Technologically speaking, I'm a couple of decades behind but after watching the debate last night I have a lot to say. After several hours and help from my friends, I figured out how to begin blogging; it was either this or to send out lengthy texts to everyone. Since I still have an old Nokia flip phone, texting was not a viable option. So, here I sit typing my first blog on "Musings from Cork County."
I decided on this title while opening a bottle of wine. My grandmother, who is never far from my mind, was a first generation American who was born to William and Mary Barrett from County Cork, Ireland. As I held the cork from my bottle of Chianti, I realized I had my title. Now, I'm going to speak on politics for this post but who knows what I'll talk about in the future. First let me say that I am a registered Independent who is fed up with Party politics. I have engaged in many conversations with friends and co-workers regarding politics. What starts out as interesting dialogue quickly turns into heated arguments with constant interruptions and hateful remarks. I am as guilty of this as the next guy. I am a firm believer that change, which is what we all claim to want, begins with words and ideas. Instead of yelling at each other from high atop our Party platforms, we need to engage each other intelligently and with open minds. I am glad to know that the politics of our country inspires such passion but we need to attack our problems; not each other. Now, on to the debate.
Last night both men were asked about equality for women in the workforce. Let's face it, neither one answered the question, rather they danced around it like the seasoned politicians they are. President Obama wants us to have equal pay because we women are more frequently becoming the "bread winners." I am single with no kids, I have always been my own bread winner. I want equality because I deserve it not so I can feed my family because my husband lost his job. As annoying as that was, Mr. Romney topped him. After scouring the earth for "qualified" women, he made the sacrifice of having a flexible work schedule for them so they could be home in time to cook dinner for the family. WHAT? What year is this? I had to check my closet to see if I had a Poodle Skirt. I think that is when I went for the corkscrew. When I came back, Romney was talking about unemployment. I caught the end of his answer when he said that Obama had not even created enough jobs to match the population growth. That got me thinking. First of all, newborns don't work. Secondly, did he consider that perhaps we are over-populated as a nation;something which will become an even greater problem when he works to eliminate contraceptive benefits for women from insurance plans? I was reminded of Socrates' Cyclical Argument (it was really Plato). He stated that things are born from opposites. In other words, if you are feeling stronger, you must have been weak to start. Hence, strength can only come to exist when weakness vanishes. I must admit that Mr. Romney proved Socrates correct. If contraceptive benefits disappear the population will grow at an exponential rate; thus making it impossible for the creation of jobs to keep up with the population growth.
Well, that's my first blog. If you liked it, check in another time to see what I'm rambling about. But you must come to this site with an open mind. If we all have something to complain about then what we have been doing over the years is not working. Customs and habits can be very good things but they also can hinder the mind from opening up to new ideas. Thomas Paine, our forgotten Founding Father, wrote in the introduction to Common Sense (1776) that " a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right."
I decided on this title while opening a bottle of wine. My grandmother, who is never far from my mind, was a first generation American who was born to William and Mary Barrett from County Cork, Ireland. As I held the cork from my bottle of Chianti, I realized I had my title. Now, I'm going to speak on politics for this post but who knows what I'll talk about in the future. First let me say that I am a registered Independent who is fed up with Party politics. I have engaged in many conversations with friends and co-workers regarding politics. What starts out as interesting dialogue quickly turns into heated arguments with constant interruptions and hateful remarks. I am as guilty of this as the next guy. I am a firm believer that change, which is what we all claim to want, begins with words and ideas. Instead of yelling at each other from high atop our Party platforms, we need to engage each other intelligently and with open minds. I am glad to know that the politics of our country inspires such passion but we need to attack our problems; not each other. Now, on to the debate.
Last night both men were asked about equality for women in the workforce. Let's face it, neither one answered the question, rather they danced around it like the seasoned politicians they are. President Obama wants us to have equal pay because we women are more frequently becoming the "bread winners." I am single with no kids, I have always been my own bread winner. I want equality because I deserve it not so I can feed my family because my husband lost his job. As annoying as that was, Mr. Romney topped him. After scouring the earth for "qualified" women, he made the sacrifice of having a flexible work schedule for them so they could be home in time to cook dinner for the family. WHAT? What year is this? I had to check my closet to see if I had a Poodle Skirt. I think that is when I went for the corkscrew. When I came back, Romney was talking about unemployment. I caught the end of his answer when he said that Obama had not even created enough jobs to match the population growth. That got me thinking. First of all, newborns don't work. Secondly, did he consider that perhaps we are over-populated as a nation;something which will become an even greater problem when he works to eliminate contraceptive benefits for women from insurance plans? I was reminded of Socrates' Cyclical Argument (it was really Plato). He stated that things are born from opposites. In other words, if you are feeling stronger, you must have been weak to start. Hence, strength can only come to exist when weakness vanishes. I must admit that Mr. Romney proved Socrates correct. If contraceptive benefits disappear the population will grow at an exponential rate; thus making it impossible for the creation of jobs to keep up with the population growth.
Well, that's my first blog. If you liked it, check in another time to see what I'm rambling about. But you must come to this site with an open mind. If we all have something to complain about then what we have been doing over the years is not working. Customs and habits can be very good things but they also can hinder the mind from opening up to new ideas. Thomas Paine, our forgotten Founding Father, wrote in the introduction to Common Sense (1776) that " a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right."
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