This arrived in my e-mail box and I liked it so much I decided to share it with you.
I think we all need to take a deep breath and get away from the political nastiness for a day. I know I need to or I won't survive the next four weeks.
Enjoy!
The computer
swallowed grandpa.Yes, honestly its true!He pressed 'control and 'enter'And disappeared from view.
It devoured him completely,The thought just makes me squirm.
he must have caught a virusOr been eaten by a worm.
I've searched through the recycle binAnd files of every kind;I've even used the Internet,But nothing did I find.
In desperation, I asked JeevesMy searches to refine.The reply from him was negative,Not a thing was found 'online.'
So, if inside your 'Inbox,'My Grandpa you should see,Please 'Copy, Scan' and 'Paste' himAnd send him back to me.
This is a tribute to all the Grandmas and Grandpas who have been fearless and . ....
learned to use the Computer.... .
They are the greatest!!!
We do not stop
playing because
we grow old;We grow old
because westop playing .
NEVER Be The
First To Get Old!
Subscribe To
Posts
All Comments
Thursday, October 9, 2008
A Break From Politics
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Despicable Hatred
John McCain and his pit bull, Palin, have descended into the mire of such dirty politics that I wonder how they will ever wash it off. If there is any justice left in this world their political careers should be finished by this revolting display of inciting hatred.
Two debates down and one to go. Can we get to the next one without Sarah Barracuda getting Barack killed? She has crossed every line imaginable in attacking Obama and the racists seem to revel in the mud. When one man yelled "Kill him." after she implied that Obama was a terrorist she didn't back down.
I hope that the Secret Service assigned to Obama's safety are very alert because there will always be some "nutcase" who thinks it his mission to eliminate the threat of a black man for president.
While McCain pulled his punches in last night's debate he couldn't resist referring to Obama as "That One." Since I had never heard the meaining of that label I had to wait until this morning to find out how nasty it was. I read that racists call blacks by that name as an insult. (This has been referred to as a Southern thing. Others do not find this offensive. At the least, it is rude.)
Did you see McCain deliberately insult Obama by refusing to accept his hand after the debate? That he seems to actively dislike Obama is obvious by the tone of his voice and body language, but to be so petty on National TV and refuse a common courtesy is beyond the pale. At least Cindy tried to save McShame's face be taking Obama's outstretched hand. (I am adding information that was posted on my blog to the effect that McCain did shake his hand, but the camera didn't catch it. I am unable to verify this. I just know I saw McCain look down as Obama approached.)
I am including some excerpts from this morning's NYT editorial on McCain's campaign. To read the entire editorial go to the New York Times home page.
I have edited it for brevity. (Will someone please tell me how to put a box around quotations).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Politics of Attack
Senator John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin have been running one of the most appalling campaigns we can remember.
They have gone far beyond the usual fare of quotes taken out of context and distortions of an opponent’s record — into the dark territory of race-baiting and xenophobia. Senator Barack Obama has taken some cheap shots at Mr. McCain, but there is no comparison.
Despite the occasional slip (referring to Mr. Obama’s “cronies” and calling him “that one”), Mr. McCain tried to take a higher road in Tuesday night’s presidential debate. But apart from promising to buy up troubled mortgages as president, he offered no real answers for how he plans to solve the country’s deep economic crisis. He is unable or unwilling to admit that the Republican assault on regulation was to blame.
Ms. Palin, in particular, revels in the attack. Her campaign rallies have become spectacles of anger and insult. “This is not a man who sees America as you see it and how I see America,” Ms. Palin has taken to saying.
That line follows passages in Ms. Palin’s new stump speech in which she twists Mr. Obama’s ill-advised but fleeting and long-past association with William Ayers, founder of the Weather Underground and confessed bomber. By the time she’s done, she implies that Mr. Obama is right now a close friend of Mr. Ayers — and sympathetic to the violent overthrow of the government. The Democrat, she says, “sees America, it seems, as being so imperfect that he’s palling around with terrorists who would target their own country.”
Her demagoguery has elicited some frightening, intolerable responses. At a rally in Florida this week a man yelled “kill him!” as Ms. Palin delivered that line and others shouted epithets at an African-American member of a TV crew.
Mr. McCain’s aides haven’t even tried to hide their cynical tactics, saying they were “going negative” in hopes of shifting attention away from the financial crisis — and by implication Mr. McCain’s stumbling response.
The tactic of guilt by association is perplexing, since Mr. McCain has his own list of political associates he would rather forget. We were disappointed to see the Obama campaign air an ad (held for just this occasion) reminding voters of Mr. McCain’s involvement in the Keating Five savings-and-loan debacle, for which he was reprimanded by the Senate. That episode at least bears on Mr. McCain’s claims to be the morally pure candidate and his argument that he alone is capable of doing away with greed, fraud and abuse.
Mr. McCain has stooped so low, since the debate showed once again that he has little else to talk about. His Reagan-inspired ideology of starving government and shredding regulation lies in tatters on Wall Street.
Mr. McCain and his team can come up with a better answer to that problem than inciting more division, anger and hatred.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
John McCain's temper is well known. Please check out the video.
YouTube - John McCain's Rage is a National Security Concern
Two debates down and one to go. Can we get to the next one without Sarah Barracuda getting Barack killed? She has crossed every line imaginable in attacking Obama and the racists seem to revel in the mud. When one man yelled "Kill him." after she implied that Obama was a terrorist she didn't back down.
I hope that the Secret Service assigned to Obama's safety are very alert because there will always be some "nutcase" who thinks it his mission to eliminate the threat of a black man for president.
While McCain pulled his punches in last night's debate he couldn't resist referring to Obama as "That One." Since I had never heard the meaining of that label I had to wait until this morning to find out how nasty it was. I read that racists call blacks by that name as an insult. (This has been referred to as a Southern thing. Others do not find this offensive. At the least, it is rude.)
Did you see McCain deliberately insult Obama by refusing to accept his hand after the debate? That he seems to actively dislike Obama is obvious by the tone of his voice and body language, but to be so petty on National TV and refuse a common courtesy is beyond the pale. At least Cindy tried to save McShame's face be taking Obama's outstretched hand. (I am adding information that was posted on my blog to the effect that McCain did shake his hand, but the camera didn't catch it. I am unable to verify this. I just know I saw McCain look down as Obama approached.)
I am including some excerpts from this morning's NYT editorial on McCain's campaign. To read the entire editorial go to the New York Times home page.
I have edited it for brevity. (Will someone please tell me how to put a box around quotations).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Politics of Attack
Senator John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin have been running one of the most appalling campaigns we can remember.
They have gone far beyond the usual fare of quotes taken out of context and distortions of an opponent’s record — into the dark territory of race-baiting and xenophobia. Senator Barack Obama has taken some cheap shots at Mr. McCain, but there is no comparison.
Despite the occasional slip (referring to Mr. Obama’s “cronies” and calling him “that one”), Mr. McCain tried to take a higher road in Tuesday night’s presidential debate. But apart from promising to buy up troubled mortgages as president, he offered no real answers for how he plans to solve the country’s deep economic crisis. He is unable or unwilling to admit that the Republican assault on regulation was to blame.
Ms. Palin, in particular, revels in the attack. Her campaign rallies have become spectacles of anger and insult. “This is not a man who sees America as you see it and how I see America,” Ms. Palin has taken to saying.
That line follows passages in Ms. Palin’s new stump speech in which she twists Mr. Obama’s ill-advised but fleeting and long-past association with William Ayers, founder of the Weather Underground and confessed bomber. By the time she’s done, she implies that Mr. Obama is right now a close friend of Mr. Ayers — and sympathetic to the violent overthrow of the government. The Democrat, she says, “sees America, it seems, as being so imperfect that he’s palling around with terrorists who would target their own country.”
Her demagoguery has elicited some frightening, intolerable responses. At a rally in Florida this week a man yelled “kill him!” as Ms. Palin delivered that line and others shouted epithets at an African-American member of a TV crew.
Mr. McCain’s aides haven’t even tried to hide their cynical tactics, saying they were “going negative” in hopes of shifting attention away from the financial crisis — and by implication Mr. McCain’s stumbling response.
The tactic of guilt by association is perplexing, since Mr. McCain has his own list of political associates he would rather forget. We were disappointed to see the Obama campaign air an ad (held for just this occasion) reminding voters of Mr. McCain’s involvement in the Keating Five savings-and-loan debacle, for which he was reprimanded by the Senate. That episode at least bears on Mr. McCain’s claims to be the morally pure candidate and his argument that he alone is capable of doing away with greed, fraud and abuse.
Mr. McCain has stooped so low, since the debate showed once again that he has little else to talk about. His Reagan-inspired ideology of starving government and shredding regulation lies in tatters on Wall Street.
Mr. McCain and his team can come up with a better answer to that problem than inciting more division, anger and hatred.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
John McCain's temper is well known. Please check out the video.
YouTube - John McCain's Rage is a National Security Concern
Monday, October 6, 2008
Health Care Destruction
If the Bush administration hasn't done enough to ruin our country, and by association our citizens, a McCain presidency would surely finish the job.
I have just spent several days in an e-mail discussion with an arch conservative about the economy, starting with the offshore drilling. He thinks it's a necessity and I think it would be a disaster. Neither one of us changed the others mind and he will surely cancel my vote. The consoling reverse is that I will cancel his.
I feel so much frustration in not being able to make my case better. He is adamantly against "social engineering" as he puts it. His premise is that social engineering is the entire cause of the housing crisis. While I have to agree that it certainly played a part in the crisis, I maintain that lack of oversight made it possible. In this case, there is enough blame to go around. Unintended consequences of allowing unqualified buyers to purchase houses started the problem, but it certainly was not the only cause of the unfolding disaster.
But on to the health care crisis. Again, my e-mail debater will not agree with this article as we are poles apart on politics. I do think that most of you will see the wisdom of Paul's analysis. Please make comments pro or anti.
For anyone who still thinks that John McCain's health care plan of giving a $5,000 tax credit to pay for health insurance is a good plan I recommend that they read the following article by Paul Krugman.
"Health Care Destruction
By PAUL KRUGMAN
Sarah Palin ended her debate performance last Thursday with a slightly garbled quote from Ronald Reagan about how, if we aren’t vigilant, we’ll end up “telling our children and our children’s children” about the days when America was free. It was a revealing choice.
You see, when Reagan said this he wasn’t warning about Soviet aggression. He was warning against legislation that would guarantee health care for older Americans — the program now known as Medicare.
Conservative Republicans still hate Medicare, and would kill it if they could — in fact, they tried to gut it during the Clinton years (that’s what the 1995 shutdown of the government was all about). But so far they haven’t been able to pull that off.
So John McCain wants to destroy the health insurance of nonelderly Americans instead.
Most Americans under 65 currently get health insurance through their employers. That’s largely because the tax code favors such insurance: your employer’s contribution to insurance premiums isn’t considered taxable income, as long as the employer’s health plan follows certain rules. In particular, the same plan has to be available to all employees, regardless of the size of their paycheck or the state of their health.
This system does a fairly effective job of protecting those it reaches, but it leaves many Americans out in the cold. Workers whose employers don’t offer coverage are forced to seek individual health insurance, often in vain. For one thing, insurance companies offering “nongroup” coverage generally refuse to cover anyone with a pre-existing medical condition. And individual insurance is very expensive, because insurers spend large sums weeding out “high-risk” applicants — that is, anyone who seems likely to actually need the insurance.
So what should be done? Barack Obama offers incremental reform: regulation of insurers to prevent discrimination against the less healthy, subsidies to help lower-income families buy insurance, and public insurance plans that compete with the private sector. His plan falls short of universal coverage, but it would sharply reduce the number of uninsured.
Mr. McCain, on the other hand, wants to blow up the current system, by eliminating the tax break for employer-provided insurance. And he doesn’t offer a workable alternative.
Without the tax break, many employers would drop their current health plans. Several recent nonpartisan studies estimate that under the McCain plan around 20 million Americans currently covered by their employers would lose their health insurance.
As compensation, the McCain plan would give people a tax credit — $2,500 for an individual, $5,000 for a family — that could be used to buy health insurance in the individual market. At the same time, Mr. McCain would deregulate insurance, leaving insurance companies free to deny coverage to those with health problems — and his proposal for a “high-risk pool” for hard cases would provide little help.
So what would happen?
The good news, such as it is, is that more people would buy individual insurance. Indeed, the total number of uninsured Americans might decline marginally under the McCain plan — although many more Americans would be without insurance than under the Obama plan.
But the people gaining insurance would be those who need it least: relatively healthy Americans with high incomes. Why? Because insurance companies want to cover only healthy people, and even among the healthy only those able to pay a lot in addition to their tax credit would be able to afford coverage (remember, it’s a $5,000 credit, but the average family policy actually costs more than $12,000).
Meanwhile, the people losing insurance would be those who need it most: lower-income workers who wouldn’t be able to afford individual insurance even with the tax credit, and Americans with health problems whom insurance companies won’t cover.
And in the process of comforting the comfortable while afflicting the afflicted, the McCain plan would also lead to a huge, expensive increase in bureaucracy: insurers selling individual health plans spend 29 percent of the premiums they receive on administration, largely because they employ so many people to screen applicants. This compares with costs of 12 percent for group plans and just 3 percent for Medicare.
In short, the McCain plan makes no sense at all, unless you have faith that the magic of the marketplace can solve all problems. And Mr. McCain does: a much-quoted article published under his name declares that “Opening up the health insurance market to more vigorous nationwide competition, as we have done over the last decade in banking, would provide more choices of innovative products less burdened by the worst excesses of state-based regulation.”
I agree: the McCain plan would do for health care what deregulation has done for banking. And I’m terrified."
After reading this I believe you will see the connection between the economy and health care as visualized by McCain.
I have just spent several days in an e-mail discussion with an arch conservative about the economy, starting with the offshore drilling. He thinks it's a necessity and I think it would be a disaster. Neither one of us changed the others mind and he will surely cancel my vote. The consoling reverse is that I will cancel his.
I feel so much frustration in not being able to make my case better. He is adamantly against "social engineering" as he puts it. His premise is that social engineering is the entire cause of the housing crisis. While I have to agree that it certainly played a part in the crisis, I maintain that lack of oversight made it possible. In this case, there is enough blame to go around. Unintended consequences of allowing unqualified buyers to purchase houses started the problem, but it certainly was not the only cause of the unfolding disaster.
But on to the health care crisis. Again, my e-mail debater will not agree with this article as we are poles apart on politics. I do think that most of you will see the wisdom of Paul's analysis. Please make comments pro or anti.
For anyone who still thinks that John McCain's health care plan of giving a $5,000 tax credit to pay for health insurance is a good plan I recommend that they read the following article by Paul Krugman.
"Health Care Destruction
By PAUL KRUGMAN
Sarah Palin ended her debate performance last Thursday with a slightly garbled quote from Ronald Reagan about how, if we aren’t vigilant, we’ll end up “telling our children and our children’s children” about the days when America was free. It was a revealing choice.
You see, when Reagan said this he wasn’t warning about Soviet aggression. He was warning against legislation that would guarantee health care for older Americans — the program now known as Medicare.
Conservative Republicans still hate Medicare, and would kill it if they could — in fact, they tried to gut it during the Clinton years (that’s what the 1995 shutdown of the government was all about). But so far they haven’t been able to pull that off.
So John McCain wants to destroy the health insurance of nonelderly Americans instead.
Most Americans under 65 currently get health insurance through their employers. That’s largely because the tax code favors such insurance: your employer’s contribution to insurance premiums isn’t considered taxable income, as long as the employer’s health plan follows certain rules. In particular, the same plan has to be available to all employees, regardless of the size of their paycheck or the state of their health.
This system does a fairly effective job of protecting those it reaches, but it leaves many Americans out in the cold. Workers whose employers don’t offer coverage are forced to seek individual health insurance, often in vain. For one thing, insurance companies offering “nongroup” coverage generally refuse to cover anyone with a pre-existing medical condition. And individual insurance is very expensive, because insurers spend large sums weeding out “high-risk” applicants — that is, anyone who seems likely to actually need the insurance.
So what should be done? Barack Obama offers incremental reform: regulation of insurers to prevent discrimination against the less healthy, subsidies to help lower-income families buy insurance, and public insurance plans that compete with the private sector. His plan falls short of universal coverage, but it would sharply reduce the number of uninsured.
Mr. McCain, on the other hand, wants to blow up the current system, by eliminating the tax break for employer-provided insurance. And he doesn’t offer a workable alternative.
Without the tax break, many employers would drop their current health plans. Several recent nonpartisan studies estimate that under the McCain plan around 20 million Americans currently covered by their employers would lose their health insurance.
As compensation, the McCain plan would give people a tax credit — $2,500 for an individual, $5,000 for a family — that could be used to buy health insurance in the individual market. At the same time, Mr. McCain would deregulate insurance, leaving insurance companies free to deny coverage to those with health problems — and his proposal for a “high-risk pool” for hard cases would provide little help.
So what would happen?
The good news, such as it is, is that more people would buy individual insurance. Indeed, the total number of uninsured Americans might decline marginally under the McCain plan — although many more Americans would be without insurance than under the Obama plan.
But the people gaining insurance would be those who need it least: relatively healthy Americans with high incomes. Why? Because insurance companies want to cover only healthy people, and even among the healthy only those able to pay a lot in addition to their tax credit would be able to afford coverage (remember, it’s a $5,000 credit, but the average family policy actually costs more than $12,000).
Meanwhile, the people losing insurance would be those who need it most: lower-income workers who wouldn’t be able to afford individual insurance even with the tax credit, and Americans with health problems whom insurance companies won’t cover.
And in the process of comforting the comfortable while afflicting the afflicted, the McCain plan would also lead to a huge, expensive increase in bureaucracy: insurers selling individual health plans spend 29 percent of the premiums they receive on administration, largely because they employ so many people to screen applicants. This compares with costs of 12 percent for group plans and just 3 percent for Medicare.
In short, the McCain plan makes no sense at all, unless you have faith that the magic of the marketplace can solve all problems. And Mr. McCain does: a much-quoted article published under his name declares that “Opening up the health insurance market to more vigorous nationwide competition, as we have done over the last decade in banking, would provide more choices of innovative products less burdened by the worst excesses of state-based regulation.”
I agree: the McCain plan would do for health care what deregulation has done for banking. And I’m terrified."
After reading this I believe you will see the connection between the economy and health care as visualized by McCain.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
I have been a fan of Jon Stewart since my daughter introduced his show to me years ago. His satire is hilarious and he was never funnier than on the following clip.
Not only is humor the best medicine, it is the best way to get a point across. You just gotta' love the guy.
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Official Website | Current Events & Pop Culture News, Comedy & Fake News | Comedy Central
(Try as I might, I just don't get the hang of embedding the video on my blog.)
I assure you that after you see this recent clip you will want to stay on the site and view more of Jon Stewart's videos.
Since Palin has proven herself to not only be lacking in knowledge, she has compounded her ignorance by making stupid excuses. Poor Sarah - Katy Couric irritated her. Oh really? How lame can you get?
With McCain's famous temper and her lack of sportsmanship (hunting wolves from a helicopter) their administration would be a total disaster.
If there is a God, please let him keep these two idiots from running our country.
Not only is humor the best medicine, it is the best way to get a point across. You just gotta' love the guy.
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Official Website | Current Events & Pop Culture News, Comedy & Fake News | Comedy Central
(Try as I might, I just don't get the hang of embedding the video on my blog.)
I assure you that after you see this recent clip you will want to stay on the site and view more of Jon Stewart's videos.
Since Palin has proven herself to not only be lacking in knowledge, she has compounded her ignorance by making stupid excuses. Poor Sarah - Katy Couric irritated her. Oh really? How lame can you get?
With McCain's famous temper and her lack of sportsmanship (hunting wolves from a helicopter) their administration would be a total disaster.
If there is a God, please let him keep these two idiots from running our country.
One Of the Oldest Old or I Am An Antique
Ronni, of TIME GOES BY, had a writing project open to all of us over 80. Unfortunately it coincided with my preparations for my trip to Colorado. I simply didn’t have the time to give it any thought or to write an essay. Now I have more time to think about the changes in my life between the ages of 60 through 83.
I was widowed exactly 24 years ago this month. My daughter was living with me then but she needed to get on with her life and moved out sometime after that. The stress I was under during those years caused such a blur that I really can’t remember when she left or for how long. She did move back home later when she was suffering with a severe back problem. For several years I had a revolving door.
I was soon living alone for the first time in my life. I had recently lost my job because my hearing level deteriorated and I was quickly under great financial stress. During that time I was unsuccessfully trying to find employment.
I kept busy improving my house. When my husband was alive I would call on him to do the most menial tasks, like changing a light bulb. (Please don’t send me any “How many morons does it take to change a light bulb? I’ve heard them all). Out of necessity I discovered skills I didn’t know I possessed. I painted and wallpapered rooms, repaired drywall holes, replaced every door knob in my house with the European style handle. mowed the lawn, trimmed the hedges, etc. I was surprised and pleasantly gratified to find that I wasn’t as helpless as I thought.
When I was able to go on Social Security at the age of 62 I thanked Franklin Roosevelt for his foresight and crossed my fingers hoping that I would stay healthy until I was eligible for Medicare; Luckily, I didn’t need to see a doctor during that period and was, again, grateful when I could add my name to the roll of the insured.
I remained healthy and wisely invested the small insurance amount from my husband‘s policy. I was fortunate that the interest rate was paying 12% and my investments grew rapidly. I had always wanted to see far away places with strange sounding names so I cashed in some of my Mutual Funds and took to the friendly skies for a trip to the British Isles, France and Italy. I used three different tour groups and planned my itinerary between tours. It fulfilled the dream of a lifetime.
I am very frugal by nature (not cheap, you understand - just thrifty) and I managed to add to my travels by visiting Spain, Morocco, and a cruise of the Greek Isles. At the age of 75, I made my final European tour.
I have friends in Switzerland and, using their home as my base, I visited Austria, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. This turned out to be the most exciting trip of all because I was totally on my own. Since I was not with a group I could take as long as I wanted in the museums, leave early if I wished, and I was in full charge of my itinerary. I even managed to see Neuschwanstein castle in Germany and it became the highlight of that trip.
While I saw many wonderful things on that trip it also made me realize that my days of traveling by myself had come to an end. Schlepping my suitcase on and off trains, staying in less than desirable places, sometimes sharing a bath, dealing with the con artists at the stations, etc. were just too much for an old lady. There were days when I simply wished that I was home in my own bed because I didn’t feel well and was too tired to enjoy what I was seeing.
I believe that’s when I began to feel old. My last trip coincided with the sale of my house and buying a town house. Up until my mid seventies I did not feel old and was constantly amazed at the fact that the calendar said I was becoming an ancient. I continued to do all of my work, but physical limitations were beginning to appear. (A caveat: my hearing loss was the first limiting problem and it had occurred many years before so I have to qualify my last statement.)
Rapid changes in attitude accompanied declining energy in my 80’s. I no longer miss going to concerts, plays, and other events that were once desired. Somehow, very little seems worth the effort. I am quite content to stay home with a good book or a DVD. I fall asleep watching TV, or even a good movie. I go to bed when that happens no matter how good the show might be. At first I tried keeping a regular bed time routine then one day I thought, “Why bother?” Who cares if I go to bed at 9 pm and get up at 3 am. I am setting my own schedule and not apologizing for it. My doctor does not approve.
I also find that I do not suffer fools gladly now. I am ashamed to say that I am not as tolerant of people who believe things just because Oprah, Rush or some politician say it's so. I admire people who think for themselves. It should be the other way around, I know. I should be like the Beatitude for elders that says, “Blessed are they who never say, you’ve told that story twice today.” I am doubly ashamed because I know I am guilty of the very thing that irritates me.
I no longer care if my house is spotless. It used to be a matter of pride that my furniture was polished, the floors clean, the windows washed and all was in order. While I was never a Mrs. Felix Unger I did try to retain my image. No more. I think that might be a matter of self preservation because I am aware that I am unable to do the hard work necessary. I shove it onto my list of things that I won’t worry about. Now I am more like Phyllis Diller who joked, "I clean my house twice a year whether it needs it or not."
My mental closet is full of things that I will think about tomorrow. I have become a regular Scarlett O’Hara.
Like Mort said in his post on this subject, decisions are much harder now. I just don’t want to have to make any. I want my life to run smoothly without complications and a mix up on a bill can drive me to distraction. I hate having to deal with computer problems, being overcharged, etc. Truth to tell, I don’t handle stress well at all. There are also days when I think I need a keeper.
I have fears, but they are no longer about things that go bump in the night. I fear a stroke or a disability that will rob me of my independence. I do not fear death; I fear what may come first. Everyone wishes that they could just go to sleep and not wake up. Very few are so blessed and even though I hope I am one of those, I fear I may not be. My worst nightmare is that I might become a burden.
There is much to be said for being 83. I am contentedly happy and I am more aware of small pleasures. I appreciate each extra day that I have been given. I love being responsible for no one except me, and I enjoy the freedom that I now have. Old age brings many problems, but it is also a time of great joy.
I was widowed exactly 24 years ago this month. My daughter was living with me then but she needed to get on with her life and moved out sometime after that. The stress I was under during those years caused such a blur that I really can’t remember when she left or for how long. She did move back home later when she was suffering with a severe back problem. For several years I had a revolving door.
I was soon living alone for the first time in my life. I had recently lost my job because my hearing level deteriorated and I was quickly under great financial stress. During that time I was unsuccessfully trying to find employment.
I kept busy improving my house. When my husband was alive I would call on him to do the most menial tasks, like changing a light bulb. (Please don’t send me any “How many morons does it take to change a light bulb? I’ve heard them all). Out of necessity I discovered skills I didn’t know I possessed. I painted and wallpapered rooms, repaired drywall holes, replaced every door knob in my house with the European style handle. mowed the lawn, trimmed the hedges, etc. I was surprised and pleasantly gratified to find that I wasn’t as helpless as I thought.
When I was able to go on Social Security at the age of 62 I thanked Franklin Roosevelt for his foresight and crossed my fingers hoping that I would stay healthy until I was eligible for Medicare; Luckily, I didn’t need to see a doctor during that period and was, again, grateful when I could add my name to the roll of the insured.
I remained healthy and wisely invested the small insurance amount from my husband‘s policy. I was fortunate that the interest rate was paying 12% and my investments grew rapidly. I had always wanted to see far away places with strange sounding names so I cashed in some of my Mutual Funds and took to the friendly skies for a trip to the British Isles, France and Italy. I used three different tour groups and planned my itinerary between tours. It fulfilled the dream of a lifetime.
I am very frugal by nature (not cheap, you understand - just thrifty) and I managed to add to my travels by visiting Spain, Morocco, and a cruise of the Greek Isles. At the age of 75, I made my final European tour.
I have friends in Switzerland and, using their home as my base, I visited Austria, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. This turned out to be the most exciting trip of all because I was totally on my own. Since I was not with a group I could take as long as I wanted in the museums, leave early if I wished, and I was in full charge of my itinerary. I even managed to see Neuschwanstein castle in Germany and it became the highlight of that trip.
While I saw many wonderful things on that trip it also made me realize that my days of traveling by myself had come to an end. Schlepping my suitcase on and off trains, staying in less than desirable places, sometimes sharing a bath, dealing with the con artists at the stations, etc. were just too much for an old lady. There were days when I simply wished that I was home in my own bed because I didn’t feel well and was too tired to enjoy what I was seeing.
I believe that’s when I began to feel old. My last trip coincided with the sale of my house and buying a town house. Up until my mid seventies I did not feel old and was constantly amazed at the fact that the calendar said I was becoming an ancient. I continued to do all of my work, but physical limitations were beginning to appear. (A caveat: my hearing loss was the first limiting problem and it had occurred many years before so I have to qualify my last statement.)
Rapid changes in attitude accompanied declining energy in my 80’s. I no longer miss going to concerts, plays, and other events that were once desired. Somehow, very little seems worth the effort. I am quite content to stay home with a good book or a DVD. I fall asleep watching TV, or even a good movie. I go to bed when that happens no matter how good the show might be. At first I tried keeping a regular bed time routine then one day I thought, “Why bother?” Who cares if I go to bed at 9 pm and get up at 3 am. I am setting my own schedule and not apologizing for it. My doctor does not approve.
I also find that I do not suffer fools gladly now. I am ashamed to say that I am not as tolerant of people who believe things just because Oprah, Rush or some politician say it's so. I admire people who think for themselves. It should be the other way around, I know. I should be like the Beatitude for elders that says, “Blessed are they who never say, you’ve told that story twice today.” I am doubly ashamed because I know I am guilty of the very thing that irritates me.
I no longer care if my house is spotless. It used to be a matter of pride that my furniture was polished, the floors clean, the windows washed and all was in order. While I was never a Mrs. Felix Unger I did try to retain my image. No more. I think that might be a matter of self preservation because I am aware that I am unable to do the hard work necessary. I shove it onto my list of things that I won’t worry about. Now I am more like Phyllis Diller who joked, "I clean my house twice a year whether it needs it or not."
My mental closet is full of things that I will think about tomorrow. I have become a regular Scarlett O’Hara.
Like Mort said in his post on this subject, decisions are much harder now. I just don’t want to have to make any. I want my life to run smoothly without complications and a mix up on a bill can drive me to distraction. I hate having to deal with computer problems, being overcharged, etc. Truth to tell, I don’t handle stress well at all. There are also days when I think I need a keeper.
I have fears, but they are no longer about things that go bump in the night. I fear a stroke or a disability that will rob me of my independence. I do not fear death; I fear what may come first. Everyone wishes that they could just go to sleep and not wake up. Very few are so blessed and even though I hope I am one of those, I fear I may not be. My worst nightmare is that I might become a burden.
There is much to be said for being 83. I am contentedly happy and I am more aware of small pleasures. I appreciate each extra day that I have been given. I love being responsible for no one except me, and I enjoy the freedom that I now have. Old age brings many problems, but it is also a time of great joy.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Biden vs Palen
The long awaited Veep debate is now a thing of the past and I can breathe again. Here is "Fact Check" points on the errors.
Both candidates had some stumbles on foreign policy. Palin, in criticizing Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's Iraq policy, said that President Bush's Iraq troop ``surge'' plan had worked and that U.S. troop levels in Iraq are now back at pre-surge levels.
In fact, there are 152,000 troops in Iraq. There were 137,000 troops there before the surge.
Palin also said that Obama has refused to acknowledge that the surge worked, but in a Fox News interview last month, he said, ``The surge has succeeded in ways that nobody anticipated . . . I've always said it's succeeded beyond our wildest dream.''
In Iraq, Palin said, ``we're getting closer and closer to victory,'' and ``victory is within sight'' because of the surge.
That's far more optimistic than U.S. military commanders and analysts are. While the level of violence in Iraq is much improved, military commanders and a report this week from the Pentagon caution that the gains are fragile and threatened by a number of worrisome developments.
Most analysts also say that, while adding the extra troops in Iraq last year helped, other changes may have had more impact. These included the decision by radical Shiite leader Muqtada al Sadr to agree to a cease-fire and a U.S. program that paid Sunni tribesman to fight Islamic extremists in their midst.
While talking about Iraq and Afghanistan, Palin incorrectly called the U.S. commanding general in Afghanistan ``McClellan.'' The top military commander in Afghanistan is Army Gen. David McKiernan.
Biden, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, misspoke when he said ``we kicked _ along with France, we kicked Hezbollah out of Lebanon.''
Hezbollah, a radical Shiite Muslim group, is very much alive in Lebanon, part of the government there, and in fact more powerful than it's ever been.
Biden may have meant to say Syria, which under intense international pressure withdrew its forces from Lebanon in 2005 after a two- decade-long presence.
On domestic issues, Palin attacked Obama, accusing him of voting 94 times to either raise or fight against tax cuts. FactCheck.org, a non-partisan watchdog Web site, called the claim ``misleading.''
According to FactCheck, Obama voted against proposed tax cuts 23 times. He also voted 11 times for increasing taxes on families earning more than $1 million a year to help pay for Head Start school nutrition programs.
Moreover, 53 of his votes were on non-binding resolutions on allowing scheduled tax cuts to expire.
Palin repeated a McCain campaign claim that Obama voted to raise taxes on Americans making as little as $42,000 a year, but that claim, too, is considered misleading. Obama voted for a non-binding resolution on budget guidelines assuming that the Bush tax cuts would expire on schedule in 2011. The resolution was not a vote to raise taxes.
Palin overstated Alaska's contribution to America's oil and natural gas needs. She said her state has ``billions of barrels of oil and hundreds of trillions of cubic feet of clean, green natural gas.'' Natural gas is cleaner than oil or coal, but it still emits hydrocarbons when it's burned.
Alaska produces 3.5 percent of all U.S. energy, 13.7 percent of U.S. oil and 2.3 percent of U.S. natural gas, according to the Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration
Palin added that Alaska is building a ``nearly $40 billion natural gas pipeline which is North America's largest and most expensive infrastructure project ever to flow those sources of energy into hungry markets.''
In fact, no building has begun, no federal pipeline approval has been issued and actual construction is years away _ if it ever happens.
This summer the Alaska Legislature, at Palin's request, passed a law under which the state will issue a ``license'' to a Canadian energy company, TransCanada Corp., and pay it up to $500 million as an incentive to attempt this enormous project, which Alaska politicians have long sought with little success. The license is not a construction contract.
Palin also put the price tag for the project at nearly $40 billion, an
exaggeration. This is roughly $10 billion more than most cost estimates industry players and consultants have made to date.
She also appeared to misspeak when she said that when she and others in the state legislature found out that Alaska had some millions of dollars investment in Sudan, they called for divestment ``to make sure we weren't doing anything that would be seen as condoning the activities there in Darfur.''
There's no evidence, however, that Palin had any part in the divestiture legislation, and one legislator who was involved said there's been no sign of her.
I apologize for the ads that appear in this blog. They do not show up in my Preview. I can't delete them because when I go to my template to try and fix something, another thing gets screwed up. Arrrrgh!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
The Elephant In the Room
I am holding my breath like the rest of us who are frightened to death at the prospect of a McCain/Palin win. I am wondering if I will be able to stay grounded until the election is over.
This morning the news is mixed. The Senate passed a terrible bill to bail out the fat cats and it looks like the House will follow suit tomorrow. I am enclosing links to two articles on this subject. You will have to make up your own mind as to the advisability of the bailout. They are both from the NYT's editorial pages.
Op-Ed Columnist: Save the Fat Cats
Editorial: Show Us the Hope
To keep me from tearing out my hair, the latest polls show Obama with a 9 point lead. We all know anything negative about him can cause that lead to evaporate like steam. The undecided can sway the election at the last minute.
The elephant in the room is the dirty tricks that are being waged in some key states. Cards were sent to students telling them they couldn't vote if their parents voted in another state. Dispossessed homeowner's were told they couldn't vote because their address didn't match their driver's license. And then there are still those electonic voting machines that can be manipulated to change the results. Unless I am missing something, it appears that all of these dirty tricks are being initiated ala 'Karl Rove style' by Republicans. It makes me want to vomit. Please click on the following link for more on that subject :
http://www.truthout.org/article/red-flag-purging-voter-rolls
Stay tuned to see if my blood pressure rises to the boiling point.
This morning the news is mixed. The Senate passed a terrible bill to bail out the fat cats and it looks like the House will follow suit tomorrow. I am enclosing links to two articles on this subject. You will have to make up your own mind as to the advisability of the bailout. They are both from the NYT's editorial pages.
Op-Ed Columnist: Save the Fat Cats
Editorial: Show Us the Hope
To keep me from tearing out my hair, the latest polls show Obama with a 9 point lead. We all know anything negative about him can cause that lead to evaporate like steam. The undecided can sway the election at the last minute.
The elephant in the room is the dirty tricks that are being waged in some key states. Cards were sent to students telling them they couldn't vote if their parents voted in another state. Dispossessed homeowner's were told they couldn't vote because their address didn't match their driver's license. And then there are still those electonic voting machines that can be manipulated to change the results. Unless I am missing something, it appears that all of these dirty tricks are being initiated ala 'Karl Rove style' by Republicans. It makes me want to vomit. Please click on the following link for more on that subject :
http://www.truthout.org/article/red-flag-purging-voter-rolls
Stay tuned to see if my blood pressure rises to the boiling point.
Monday, September 29, 2008
The 65th Reunion
Ronni, of TIME GOES BY asked me if I was going to write about my High School 65th reunion and I told her that I wasn't. However, since I really need a break from politics for at least one day I think I will ruminate on it. After all, this is a hodgepodge.
As I usually do, I left Tucson sleep deprived. I am always afraid that I may have set my alarm clock wrong and won't wake up in time to leave. Add that to the stress I always experience before I travel and I am lucky to get in three hours.
This is the first time I have flown since the plastic bag rule was installed so I made a list of items I thought I needed to put in it. I ended up with the quart bag full of cosmetics, perfume and meds. I hoped that none of them would leak and spoil the others. I sealed my perfume so tight I had trouble getting it open when I needed it.
I had to change planes in Phoenix and that was not the problem that I anticipated. (I now get a wheel chair every time I board or disembark the plane to avoid standing in line.) Even so, I managed to fall down and bruise my ego on the plane. I was trying to stand from a very limited space and found there wasn't enough room to do my 'bend over and lurch" movement to achieve an upright position. I then tried using the arm rests on each side of the narrow aisle to gain leverage and ended up on my well padded rear. The flight attendant was a man and I was facing another kind man and between the two of them they helped me achieve my goal of being able to walk to the rear of the plane to the only facility.
That, unfortunately, was not the end of my embarrassing experiences. I fell outside at my friends house and discovered to my horror that I can no longer get myself up. You remember that commercial "Help! I've fallen and I can't get up." Well, that was me and my friend had to call 911 for assistance. Mercifully, it was dark so the neighbors couldn't see me; at least until the paramedics arrived. Again, the only thing bruised was my ego. It was a wake-up call and I am now researching medical alert devices.
My hostess met me in Colorado Springs and there was a mix-up in my arrival time and I had to wait an hour wondering what might have happened. It is still in the high 90's in Tucson and I think the Colorado temperature was around 68*. My coat, which I wisely took, was packed and the 'chair pusher' left me outside so I was cold. I guess I should have enjoyed that as I returned to Arizona extreme heat.
Our reunion was held at three wonderful clubs, plus a brunch at the High School we graduated from. The first night was a get-together in an old, but lovely, club. I had never been in it before and felt like I had stepped into an English movie - wood paneled walls, stained glass, comfortable leather chairs - the whole private club setting. Since my hostess was on the committee and had to stay at the sign-in table I decided to take photos of everyone as they entered.
Let me tell you, if you haven't seen someone for sixty or so years you sure find out how they have changed. You have probably heard the old joke about the two people who met and the first person said that the other person had gotten so old that she didn't recognize me. "Tain't funny, McGee." (And for all of you too young to recognize that quote, ask your mother.) White haired women and men (some with no hair) were in abundance. There were walkers, canes, and other aids used by we 83-84 year olds. Nonetheless, there were still those who could hop around like teenagers and those who could still 'cut a rug.' (Ask your mother). There were the usual success stories. One of our classmates was a retired Judge, another was a retired Oncologist and I am sure there were others that I didn't know about.
The following night was held at a golf course club house and was a dinner dance. I would like to think it was because I had a cane that no one asked me to dance, but I was probably a wallflower again. Some things never change.
If you read my previous blog on this you know my camera let me down that night. I did enjoy getting to chat with former classmates and renewing acquaintances. It is my hope that we continue our renewed friendship. I really was pleasantly surprised to find out how much we had matured and how comfortable we were with each other. Those teenaged clicques were missing, as was the tense competition of youth. Some things do change.
The next morning we had our last event. We were lucky that one of our fellow grads was a memeber of the Garden of the Gods Club and had reserved a room for our brunch. The view of the Kissing Camels (a red rock in one of my stories) was magnificent and I viewed it from an angle that couldn't be seen when I lived there. The fact that I couldn't photograph it was disappointing, but it was beautiful and I hold it in my memory.
We said our fond goodbyes and promised to meet again there in five years. Now that's optomism.
My sister picked me up after the reunion for a family mini-reunion. I am glad I went in spite of the mishaps.
.
As I usually do, I left Tucson sleep deprived. I am always afraid that I may have set my alarm clock wrong and won't wake up in time to leave. Add that to the stress I always experience before I travel and I am lucky to get in three hours.
This is the first time I have flown since the plastic bag rule was installed so I made a list of items I thought I needed to put in it. I ended up with the quart bag full of cosmetics, perfume and meds. I hoped that none of them would leak and spoil the others. I sealed my perfume so tight I had trouble getting it open when I needed it.
I had to change planes in Phoenix and that was not the problem that I anticipated. (I now get a wheel chair every time I board or disembark the plane to avoid standing in line.) Even so, I managed to fall down and bruise my ego on the plane. I was trying to stand from a very limited space and found there wasn't enough room to do my 'bend over and lurch" movement to achieve an upright position. I then tried using the arm rests on each side of the narrow aisle to gain leverage and ended up on my well padded rear. The flight attendant was a man and I was facing another kind man and between the two of them they helped me achieve my goal of being able to walk to the rear of the plane to the only facility.
That, unfortunately, was not the end of my embarrassing experiences. I fell outside at my friends house and discovered to my horror that I can no longer get myself up. You remember that commercial "Help! I've fallen and I can't get up." Well, that was me and my friend had to call 911 for assistance. Mercifully, it was dark so the neighbors couldn't see me; at least until the paramedics arrived. Again, the only thing bruised was my ego. It was a wake-up call and I am now researching medical alert devices.
My hostess met me in Colorado Springs and there was a mix-up in my arrival time and I had to wait an hour wondering what might have happened. It is still in the high 90's in Tucson and I think the Colorado temperature was around 68*. My coat, which I wisely took, was packed and the 'chair pusher' left me outside so I was cold. I guess I should have enjoyed that as I returned to Arizona extreme heat.
Our reunion was held at three wonderful clubs, plus a brunch at the High School we graduated from. The first night was a get-together in an old, but lovely, club. I had never been in it before and felt like I had stepped into an English movie - wood paneled walls, stained glass, comfortable leather chairs - the whole private club setting. Since my hostess was on the committee and had to stay at the sign-in table I decided to take photos of everyone as they entered.
Let me tell you, if you haven't seen someone for sixty or so years you sure find out how they have changed. You have probably heard the old joke about the two people who met and the first person said that the other person had gotten so old that she didn't recognize me. "Tain't funny, McGee." (And for all of you too young to recognize that quote, ask your mother.) White haired women and men (some with no hair) were in abundance. There were walkers, canes, and other aids used by we 83-84 year olds. Nonetheless, there were still those who could hop around like teenagers and those who could still 'cut a rug.' (Ask your mother). There were the usual success stories. One of our classmates was a retired Judge, another was a retired Oncologist and I am sure there were others that I didn't know about.
The following night was held at a golf course club house and was a dinner dance. I would like to think it was because I had a cane that no one asked me to dance, but I was probably a wallflower again. Some things never change.
If you read my previous blog on this you know my camera let me down that night. I did enjoy getting to chat with former classmates and renewing acquaintances. It is my hope that we continue our renewed friendship. I really was pleasantly surprised to find out how much we had matured and how comfortable we were with each other. Those teenaged clicques were missing, as was the tense competition of youth. Some things do change.
The next morning we had our last event. We were lucky that one of our fellow grads was a memeber of the Garden of the Gods Club and had reserved a room for our brunch. The view of the Kissing Camels (a red rock in one of my stories) was magnificent and I viewed it from an angle that couldn't be seen when I lived there. The fact that I couldn't photograph it was disappointing, but it was beautiful and I hold it in my memory.
We said our fond goodbyes and promised to meet again there in five years. Now that's optomism.
My sister picked me up after the reunion for a family mini-reunion. I am glad I went in spite of the mishaps.
.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Political Thoughts
Yesterday morning I followed my normal Sunday routine and watched the talking heads give their opinions on the current "mess of the day". It was baffling. On SUNDAY MORNING George Stephanopolos had an interview with McCain who proudly announced that he was going to give everyone a $5,000 tax credit to buy health insurance. On MEET THE PRESS his stooge (oops - I meant spokesperson), Schmidt, confidently changed that amount to $4,000. Doesn't the right side of the 'mouth' know what the left side of the 'mouth' is saying? Schmidt was falling all over himself trying to give McCain credit for the bailout. I don't know if it was hilarious or pathetic. It was almost as bad as Palin's interview with Katie Couric.
Sylvia, of THE VIEW FROM OVER THE HILL, had an excellent post on defining the satirical meaning of political beliefs and it started me thinking about the distortions that work their way into politics.
Name calling has been a part of politics since the first election of our first president. That doesn't make it right, but it has become an accepted fact. I tried to think of the current crop of labels that first surfaced with, I believe, Ronald Reagan. (I am relying on memory now so make no claims to accuracy.)
For brevity I will use the following abbreviations: PD = perverted description. DD = dictionary description.
ELITIST
PD: Uppity (for a black person), snob (educated individual)or anyone who thinks
they are better than Joe Six Pack.
DD: The choice or select part of a group as a society.
INTELLECTUAL
PD: See PD for elitist
DD: Showing high intelligence
INTELLIGENCE
PD: See PD for Intellectual
DD: The ability to learn or understand. The ability to cope with a new situation.
LIBERAL
DD: Tax and spend individual. Bleeding Heart. Sometimes a Pinko Commie.
Sometimes a Socialist.
DD: Tolerant; broad minded. Favoring realism or progress.
DEMOCRAT
PD: See Liberal
DD: One who practices the principle of equality, of rights, etc.
DEMOCRATIC
PD: Conservatives
DD: Of and for the people.
When you read the Webster's New World Dictionary definition of the words you will note that they accurately describe Obama. Therefore, when someone sneeringly refers to Obama by any of those terms I will simply reply, "What a nice compliment. I am so glad that you realize what a smart, caring, and progressive individual he is. And that you realize that he will be able to cope with any situation."
Language aside, a more dangerous threat to our future is in the mishandling of the economy. Be sure to check out Paul Krugman's article in the NYT to see how dangerous to your future a McCain presidency would be.
The 3 A. M. Call
Sylvia, of THE VIEW FROM OVER THE HILL, had an excellent post on defining the satirical meaning of political beliefs and it started me thinking about the distortions that work their way into politics.
Name calling has been a part of politics since the first election of our first president. That doesn't make it right, but it has become an accepted fact. I tried to think of the current crop of labels that first surfaced with, I believe, Ronald Reagan. (I am relying on memory now so make no claims to accuracy.)
For brevity I will use the following abbreviations: PD = perverted description. DD = dictionary description.
ELITIST
PD: Uppity (for a black person), snob (educated individual)or anyone who thinks
they are better than Joe Six Pack.
DD: The choice or select part of a group as a society.
INTELLECTUAL
PD: See PD for elitist
DD: Showing high intelligence
INTELLIGENCE
PD: See PD for Intellectual
DD: The ability to learn or understand. The ability to cope with a new situation.
LIBERAL
DD: Tax and spend individual. Bleeding Heart. Sometimes a Pinko Commie.
Sometimes a Socialist.
DD: Tolerant; broad minded. Favoring realism or progress.
DEMOCRAT
PD: See Liberal
DD: One who practices the principle of equality, of rights, etc.
DEMOCRATIC
PD: Conservatives
DD: Of and for the people.
When you read the Webster's New World Dictionary definition of the words you will note that they accurately describe Obama. Therefore, when someone sneeringly refers to Obama by any of those terms I will simply reply, "What a nice compliment. I am so glad that you realize what a smart, caring, and progressive individual he is. And that you realize that he will be able to cope with any situation."
Language aside, a more dangerous threat to our future is in the mishandling of the economy. Be sure to check out Paul Krugman's article in the NYT to see how dangerous to your future a McCain presidency would be.
The 3 A. M. Call
Saturday, September 27, 2008
A Real Leader
While George Bush is using his usual scare tactics to stampede the nation into a bailout for his rich friends, we should look at what a real leader had to say at a time when the economic conditions paralleled today's crisis. Franklin Delano Roosevelt had a different approach. He showed true leadership during a crisis. He said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." But that was not all he said. The text below is the rest of his speech:
This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure, as it has endured, will revive and will prosper ...
http://www.truthout.org/092708Y
If ever this country needed a savior, the time is now. It is inconceivable to me that anyone who buys groceries, fills his gas tank, or watches his savings dwindle would vote for John McCain. Is half the country brain dead?
It was obvious that Obama showed better judgment in his debate answers, but I fear common sense does not sway voters. Critical thinking is sadly lacking in today's culture.
I wanted to have a stop-watch last night because I thought Jim Lehrer allowed McCain to ramble on way beyond the time limit. His constant repetitions grew tiresome, but I suppose he needed to drill, drill, drill them into the skulls of the non-thinkers as a necessary way to get his point across. I hope that some of the people understood that McShame (not a typo) was lying when Obama corrected his statements. I fear most of it was over the heads of the McCain believers.
Roosevelt was correct then and he is correct now. The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. And I have great fear that McCain's sleazy tactics might work.
This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure, as it has endured, will revive and will prosper ...
"In such a spirit on my part and on yours we face our common difficulties. They concern, thank God, only material things. Values have shrunk to fantastic levels; taxes have risen; our ability to pay has fallen; government of all kinds is faced by serious curtailment of income ... More important, a host of unemployed citizens face the grim problem of existence and an equally great number toil with little return. Only a foolish optimist can deny the dark realities of the moment ...
"The money changers have fled from their high seats in the temple of our civilization. We may now restore that temple to the ancient truths. The measure of that restoration lies in the extent to which we apply social values more noble than mere monetary profit ... If I read the temper of our people correctly, we now realize, as we have never realized before, our interdependence on each other; that we can not merely take, but we must give as well."
(The entire article can be found by clicking on the link.)http://www.truthout.org/092708Y
If ever this country needed a savior, the time is now. It is inconceivable to me that anyone who buys groceries, fills his gas tank, or watches his savings dwindle would vote for John McCain. Is half the country brain dead?
It was obvious that Obama showed better judgment in his debate answers, but I fear common sense does not sway voters. Critical thinking is sadly lacking in today's culture.
I wanted to have a stop-watch last night because I thought Jim Lehrer allowed McCain to ramble on way beyond the time limit. His constant repetitions grew tiresome, but I suppose he needed to drill, drill, drill them into the skulls of the non-thinkers as a necessary way to get his point across. I hope that some of the people understood that McShame (not a typo) was lying when Obama corrected his statements. I fear most of it was over the heads of the McCain believers.
Roosevelt was correct then and he is correct now. The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. And I have great fear that McCain's sleazy tactics might work.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
More Reasons
For now I will leave the posts on Paulson and Bernanke to those who are more knowledgeable than I. I do want to make a few comments on other subjects.
While others are covering the economy, and doing it very well, I just found another reason a McCain presidency would be a total disaster. It is diplomacy, or lack thereof.
Remember Bush making the absurd statement, "You are either for us or against us." And we know how that turned out -- with the exception of Tony Blair most countries were against us. Now McCain is proudly claiming that he will continue this idiotic policy. Did you notice that Palin is only meeting with the heads of friendly nations? She will meet with close allies of Colombia, Georgia, Ukraine, and Afghanistan.
I may not be the brightest bulb, but even I know that you must meet with unfriendly nations if anything is to be accomplished. It reminds me of what my late husband used to call a "Mother-in-law survey." If you poll 'like thinking' friends you will get the results you want. You need to poll a mixture of ages, demographics, and cultures to get a true reading.
It's a small world after all, to quote Disney, and McCain's policy is antediluvian and simply won't work in today's shrinking world.
While the world is focused on the economy a related issue is being shoved into the background. Privatization is one of the biggest factors causing the economic meltdown and I am including the link to a video by Keith Olbermann regarding John McCain's stand on Health Care. He would like to do to health care what he helped do to the investment community. Beware!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwy9UK9d9Ac
Please take the time to watch it. Keith nails it.
While others are covering the economy, and doing it very well, I just found another reason a McCain presidency would be a total disaster. It is diplomacy, or lack thereof.
Remember Bush making the absurd statement, "You are either for us or against us." And we know how that turned out -- with the exception of Tony Blair most countries were against us. Now McCain is proudly claiming that he will continue this idiotic policy. Did you notice that Palin is only meeting with the heads of friendly nations? She will meet with close allies of Colombia, Georgia, Ukraine, and Afghanistan.
I may not be the brightest bulb, but even I know that you must meet with unfriendly nations if anything is to be accomplished. It reminds me of what my late husband used to call a "Mother-in-law survey." If you poll 'like thinking' friends you will get the results you want. You need to poll a mixture of ages, demographics, and cultures to get a true reading.
It's a small world after all, to quote Disney, and McCain's policy is antediluvian and simply won't work in today's shrinking world.
While the world is focused on the economy a related issue is being shoved into the background. Privatization is one of the biggest factors causing the economic meltdown and I am including the link to a video by Keith Olbermann regarding John McCain's stand on Health Care. He would like to do to health care what he helped do to the investment community. Beware!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwy9UK9d9Ac
Please take the time to watch it. Keith nails it.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
I'm Back
Here I am - back in sunny (interpretation, hot) Arizona after being cold in Colorado.
On the previous post I promised to bring back photos. Sob, cry, rant and rave; I have no photos to show. My new Canon digital camera stopped functioning the second day. I spent the rest of the trip seeing opportunities for magnificent photos and feeling like weeping with each missed opportunity.
Someone suggested that I buy a disposable camera but forgot to get me to the store. One day we were driving in the foothills of Cheyenne Mountain and a black bear with her cub crossed the road in front of us. I almost wept with frustration at that missed shot. Another great scene that caused me endless frustration was at the Patty Jewett golf course club house. I stepped out on the balcony to view Pikes Peak centered and soaring above a long green fairway with trees flanking each side. It was breathtaking in it's beauty and my camera said "error 5".
Sorry, but I have no photos to show. Canon is on my bad list right now.
I guess it's really petty to gripe about such a trivial matter in the midst of the economic meltdown that happened while I was gone. I had over 500 e-mails to sort through and am still trying to read some of the political editorials so I can catch up on the bad news. I will be back with my rant on politics when I finally absorb it all.
On the previous post I promised to bring back photos. Sob, cry, rant and rave; I have no photos to show. My new Canon digital camera stopped functioning the second day. I spent the rest of the trip seeing opportunities for magnificent photos and feeling like weeping with each missed opportunity.
Someone suggested that I buy a disposable camera but forgot to get me to the store. One day we were driving in the foothills of Cheyenne Mountain and a black bear with her cub crossed the road in front of us. I almost wept with frustration at that missed shot. Another great scene that caused me endless frustration was at the Patty Jewett golf course club house. I stepped out on the balcony to view Pikes Peak centered and soaring above a long green fairway with trees flanking each side. It was breathtaking in it's beauty and my camera said "error 5".
Sorry, but I have no photos to show. Canon is on my bad list right now.
I guess it's really petty to gripe about such a trivial matter in the midst of the economic meltdown that happened while I was gone. I had over 500 e-mails to sort through and am still trying to read some of the political editorials so I can catch up on the bad news. I will be back with my rant on politics when I finally absorb it all.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Goodbye For Awhile
|
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Slash and Burn
Now I'm beginning to get it. Of course everyone knows about Karl Rove's slash and burn style of politics. Obama and the Democratic party expected it and thought they were prepared to fight it with rapid response. Its not working all that well, it turns out.
I may have hit on the reason. Obama just hasn't realized how devious Karl Rove really is. Rove knows that some of his smears won't stick, but that doesn't matter because Rive's real strategy is working like a charm. Subtly he is playing on emotions and not facts. Innuendos about Obama's middle name, Hussein, are sly messages that Obama is really a Muslim disguised as a Christian.
A comment made by Rep. Davis, (Republican, Kentucky) referred to Obama as that 'boy' and Rep. Westmoreland, (Republican, Georgia), referred to Michelle and Obama as "elitist class individuals that thinks that they're uppity." They can apologize to high heaven later, but the message has been delivered --- "You just can't trust Obama because he's so - well - different. He's not one of us - be warned."
But Karl Rove is clever and more subtle. He has his minions using the term 'elitist' endlessly and any Southerner knows thats code for 'uppity". The other term the Republicans use is 'The One' and we all know that means uppity.
Even a compliment about Obama's intelligence is disguised as a slur. Who does that elitist (uppity) guy think he is? And it speaks to the fears of many voters. The message is so subtle (or not) that it's like slippery Jello - it is impossible to counter.
Palin is as different from , say a Kansas housewife, as she is from me. But her image is, "She's one of us. She's tough, she won't take our guns away, and she will keep America strong. She's just an ordinary hockey mom like us." Of course that's utter nonsense, but emotions are 50% of what many voters base their choice on. And the religious right are delirious at her choice. She is anti gun control, anti choice, anti gays, and anti science. All issues important to them. Do you want creationism taught in your school? Elect McCain. Do you want anti-abortion judges who will overturn Roe vs Wade? Elect McCain. Do you want ideology over science? Elect McCain.
The Republicans don't have one single accomplishment they can point to so the strategy is to appeal to the emotions with smoke and mirrors. Factually, McCain and Palin are probably two of the worst choices anyone could make to run this country. McCain's judgement is so flawed that he has to run against himself. He has changed positions oftener than I have changed my linens. The few good things he did as a Senator are now the very things he is against. If it weren't so serious it would be laughable. He either can't remember vital and extremely important issues or he is lacking in knowledge. Palin is a loose cannon with absolutely no experience in foreign policy or issues vital to being President. She is a good showman and that's why she is being used. She fires up the base and appeals to them emotionally.
We can point out that Obama's experience as a community organizer helped 90,000 people as opposed to Palin's job as Mayor for under 7,000 residents. ( It must really take chutzpa to say she has more experience.) Facts don't matter in slash and burn politics. In fact they are a massive detriment to this crowd. They stand up and proudly say (with emphasis and a rah rah delivery) that she has more experience. Ridiculous as it is, those who vote with visceral feelings instead of their heads will believe it.
The Rove minions are told to keep the message short so that it will fit on a bumper sticker and then 'stick it to the Democrats'.
The Republican strategy is to appeal to veiled racism, the dislike of the wealthy elites (Never mind that Cindy and John McCain could buy the Obama's ten time over) and fear of the unknown. Then add the story of John McCain's prisoner of war status and repeat those messages over and over. Drill, drill, drill it into the skulls of the gullible. Make people afraid of Obama and obscure the facts with lies. Naturally the Fox bubble heads and Rush will help enormously.
I hate to tell you, folks, but it works. Now will someone explain how you fight a slippery emotional appeal with fire? I'm afraid the obvious way is to get down in the gutter with the opposition and Obama is trying very hard to avoid that. He truly wants to unite this country and not play into the Republican divisive culture wars.
I may have hit on the reason. Obama just hasn't realized how devious Karl Rove really is. Rove knows that some of his smears won't stick, but that doesn't matter because Rive's real strategy is working like a charm. Subtly he is playing on emotions and not facts. Innuendos about Obama's middle name, Hussein, are sly messages that Obama is really a Muslim disguised as a Christian.
A comment made by Rep. Davis, (Republican, Kentucky) referred to Obama as that 'boy' and Rep. Westmoreland, (Republican, Georgia), referred to Michelle and Obama as "elitist class individuals that thinks that they're uppity." They can apologize to high heaven later, but the message has been delivered --- "You just can't trust Obama because he's so - well - different. He's not one of us - be warned."
But Karl Rove is clever and more subtle. He has his minions using the term 'elitist' endlessly and any Southerner knows thats code for 'uppity". The other term the Republicans use is 'The One' and we all know that means uppity.
Even a compliment about Obama's intelligence is disguised as a slur. Who does that elitist (uppity) guy think he is? And it speaks to the fears of many voters. The message is so subtle (or not) that it's like slippery Jello - it is impossible to counter.
Palin is as different from , say a Kansas housewife, as she is from me. But her image is, "She's one of us. She's tough, she won't take our guns away, and she will keep America strong. She's just an ordinary hockey mom like us." Of course that's utter nonsense, but emotions are 50% of what many voters base their choice on. And the religious right are delirious at her choice. She is anti gun control, anti choice, anti gays, and anti science. All issues important to them. Do you want creationism taught in your school? Elect McCain. Do you want anti-abortion judges who will overturn Roe vs Wade? Elect McCain. Do you want ideology over science? Elect McCain.
The Republicans don't have one single accomplishment they can point to so the strategy is to appeal to the emotions with smoke and mirrors. Factually, McCain and Palin are probably two of the worst choices anyone could make to run this country. McCain's judgement is so flawed that he has to run against himself. He has changed positions oftener than I have changed my linens. The few good things he did as a Senator are now the very things he is against. If it weren't so serious it would be laughable. He either can't remember vital and extremely important issues or he is lacking in knowledge. Palin is a loose cannon with absolutely no experience in foreign policy or issues vital to being President. She is a good showman and that's why she is being used. She fires up the base and appeals to them emotionally.
We can point out that Obama's experience as a community organizer helped 90,000 people as opposed to Palin's job as Mayor for under 7,000 residents. ( It must really take chutzpa to say she has more experience.) Facts don't matter in slash and burn politics. In fact they are a massive detriment to this crowd. They stand up and proudly say (with emphasis and a rah rah delivery) that she has more experience. Ridiculous as it is, those who vote with visceral feelings instead of their heads will believe it.
The Rove minions are told to keep the message short so that it will fit on a bumper sticker and then 'stick it to the Democrats'.
The Republican strategy is to appeal to veiled racism, the dislike of the wealthy elites (Never mind that Cindy and John McCain could buy the Obama's ten time over) and fear of the unknown. Then add the story of John McCain's prisoner of war status and repeat those messages over and over. Drill, drill, drill it into the skulls of the gullible. Make people afraid of Obama and obscure the facts with lies. Naturally the Fox bubble heads and Rush will help enormously.
I hate to tell you, folks, but it works. Now will someone explain how you fight a slippery emotional appeal with fire? I'm afraid the obvious way is to get down in the gutter with the opposition and Obama is trying very hard to avoid that. He truly wants to unite this country and not play into the Republican divisive culture wars.
Friday, September 5, 2008
John McCain's Speech
I watched the entire Democrat's convention coverage on C-Span and in so doing missed the blather from the pundits. last night I chose PBS and heard some of the blather.
I couldn't bring myself to watch the Republican's convention because I knew it would make me mad and I would end up arguing with the TV. (How pathetic is that?) However, I did force myself to go to PBS and take in McCain's entire speech, including the well done video of his life. I pride myself on reading all editorials from the right and the left. How else can you discover what the opposition is thinking if you don't bother to find out? There have even been occasions (rare lately) when I agree with a position on the right.
The only good thing I found in my McCain viewing was when he ran down the steps of the stage without using a hand rail. Now that really impressed me!
I found McCain's speech to be a contradiction in terms. He seemed to be against everything he had voted for the past eight years. (I can't wait to see Jon Stewart's comedy routine on this travesty.) The bulk of McCain's speech sounded like every other political speech I have heard in my long lifetime - but from a Democrat. The irony is almost laughable.
Of course there were the Republican positions on 'every man for himself ', big corporations being the solutions, privatize, privatize, privatize and drill, drill, drill.
About half way through I was getting so bored because I had heard all of it before. He actually stole references from other convention speeches; all of them from Democrats. Kind of an "Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country." I wanted him to hurry and wrap it up so I could go to bed.
I stayed with the program long enough to hear Judy Woodruff, Michael Beschloss and another guy praise it to high heaven. I wondered if they heard the same speech that I did. Then my favorite two commentators came on. Mark Shields, from the left, agreed with me. David Brooks, from the right, found it hard to praise the speech. I felt vindicated. I guess beauty and politics are in the eye of the beholder.
What are your thoughts if you had the courage to listen?
I couldn't bring myself to watch the Republican's convention because I knew it would make me mad and I would end up arguing with the TV. (How pathetic is that?) However, I did force myself to go to PBS and take in McCain's entire speech, including the well done video of his life. I pride myself on reading all editorials from the right and the left. How else can you discover what the opposition is thinking if you don't bother to find out? There have even been occasions (rare lately) when I agree with a position on the right.
The only good thing I found in my McCain viewing was when he ran down the steps of the stage without using a hand rail. Now that really impressed me!
I found McCain's speech to be a contradiction in terms. He seemed to be against everything he had voted for the past eight years. (I can't wait to see Jon Stewart's comedy routine on this travesty.) The bulk of McCain's speech sounded like every other political speech I have heard in my long lifetime - but from a Democrat. The irony is almost laughable.
Of course there were the Republican positions on 'every man for himself ', big corporations being the solutions, privatize, privatize, privatize and drill, drill, drill.
About half way through I was getting so bored because I had heard all of it before. He actually stole references from other convention speeches; all of them from Democrats. Kind of an "Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country." I wanted him to hurry and wrap it up so I could go to bed.
I stayed with the program long enough to hear Judy Woodruff, Michael Beschloss and another guy praise it to high heaven. I wondered if they heard the same speech that I did. Then my favorite two commentators came on. Mark Shields, from the left, agreed with me. David Brooks, from the right, found it hard to praise the speech. I felt vindicated. I guess beauty and politics are in the eye of the beholder.
What are your thoughts if you had the courage to listen?
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Oh No! More Sarah Palin.(Updated)
If you read my last post on the column by Bob Herbert you will remember it was about Republican's changing the subject. This next bit of garbage is along the same line.
Before Sarah Palin is history I will comment on the latest bump in the road.
It seems that the Palin family photos are disappearing from the Alaska government site and the Republican site. The conspiracy theory crowd are interpreting that to imply that Sarah is not the mother of Trig (the Down Syndrome baby) but that her (then 16 year old) daughter is. A family photo showing a 'baby bump' on the daughter and showing the adorable youngest girl to be much older than another photo (that was supposedly taken later) combined with a story of Sarah's activities on the day she was supposedly in labor are fueling the suspicions. This whole convoluted scenario gets weirder.
If the media would just ignore the whole thing, as they should, there would be no need for speculation or interest. Who cares? Well, unfortunately, the type of people who read the National Enquirer do.
The conspiracy theorists carry this further by wondering if, by fueling suspicion and creating a feeding frenzy of news, this is the object of the whole issue. They speculate that Karl Rove has masterminded this whole scenario to take the news away from Obama. Then at the last minute, Palin will resign and a more acceptable candidate will replace her. Talk about George Orwell!
I couldn't care less who the mother of the baby is and I sincerely wish no one else would. If rational people would ignore the whole issue and get down to what we should be talking about it would be a much more interesting and worthwhile election.
Having said all that, here I am fueling the controversy. I guess I'm as guilty as the next guy.
After I finished this more information came into my mail box on Sarah and I will share it with you now. Progressive Majority sent this.
Before Sarah Palin is history I will comment on the latest bump in the road.
It seems that the Palin family photos are disappearing from the Alaska government site and the Republican site. The conspiracy theory crowd are interpreting that to imply that Sarah is not the mother of Trig (the Down Syndrome baby) but that her (then 16 year old) daughter is. A family photo showing a 'baby bump' on the daughter and showing the adorable youngest girl to be much older than another photo (that was supposedly taken later) combined with a story of Sarah's activities on the day she was supposedly in labor are fueling the suspicions. This whole convoluted scenario gets weirder.
If the media would just ignore the whole thing, as they should, there would be no need for speculation or interest. Who cares? Well, unfortunately, the type of people who read the National Enquirer do.
The conspiracy theorists carry this further by wondering if, by fueling suspicion and creating a feeding frenzy of news, this is the object of the whole issue. They speculate that Karl Rove has masterminded this whole scenario to take the news away from Obama. Then at the last minute, Palin will resign and a more acceptable candidate will replace her. Talk about George Orwell!
I couldn't care less who the mother of the baby is and I sincerely wish no one else would. If rational people would ignore the whole issue and get down to what we should be talking about it would be a much more interesting and worthwhile election.
Having said all that, here I am fueling the controversy. I guess I'm as guilty as the next guy.
After I finished this more information came into my mail box on Sarah and I will share it with you now. Progressive Majority sent this.
Sarah Palin is a GOPAC graduate.
GOPAC was founded in 1978 by conservatives who knew they were going to have to work outside the Republican Party to take it over. They knew they would have to recruit their own kind to run to wrest control of government from the Democrats. They knew they needed a long-term plan to build their "farm team".
Newt Gingrich took over the organization in the 1980s. You see, Gingrich wasn't satisfied with the election of Ronald Reagan. He wanted to see conservatives in control at the local, state AND national levels - even if it took a generation. Under Gingrich's leadership, GOPAC stepped up its candidate recruitment efforts, sought out "movement conservatives" and taught them how to run campaigns and talk about issues in a way that galvanized the far right base while not completely alienating moderate voters.
It worked. During the next 20 years, they took over the majority of state legislatures and governors. They single handedly led the "Republican Revolution" that took over Congress in 1994. They elected George W. Bush.
And, yesterday, one of their own accepted the Republican nomination for vice president of the United States.
If you're a conservative, that's how you go from being mayor of a small town to governor to the very top of the ticket.
Don't think for a moment, despite Democratic victories in 2006 and a good climate for 2008, that they are finished.
Today, GOPAC is the sixth largest national political organization in the country. It is three times larger and 26 years older than Progressive Majority.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
More On Sarah Palin
Bob Herbert made an important point in his morning editorial. He reminded us that while we are talking about Sarah Pailn's 17 year old daughter, we are not talking about the crumbling infrastructure, the failing schools, the dismal economy, and the Iraq War. Mr. Herbert stated that the Republican party is very good at changing the subject. Remember Willie Horton, the Swift Boaters, etc.? When the Repubs are unable to win on their merit they change the subject. That is exactly what they have done in choosing a pretty, well spoken and controversial woman. While we are busy pointing out her obvious lack of qualifications and what a total disaster she is we are not talking about the real issues.
Perhaps it's time that we stay on the subject and keep reminding our readers what this election is really about. But before we do, I am adding some more information that I think is pertinent.
Elizaberth Burmiller fleshed out the one redeeming feature that Palin may have and shoots holes in that. Following is an excerpt from her article:
"Mrs Palin said: "I championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. In fact, I told Congress ... 'thanks, but no thanks' on that bridge to nowhere. If our state wanted a bridge, I said we'd build it ourselves."
Perhaps it's time that we stay on the subject and keep reminding our readers what this election is really about. But before we do, I am adding some more information that I think is pertinent.
Elizaberth Burmiller fleshed out the one redeeming feature that Palin may have and shoots holes in that. Following is an excerpt from her article:
"Mrs Palin said: "I championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. In fact, I told Congress ... 'thanks, but no thanks' on that bridge to nowhere. If our state wanted a bridge, I said we'd build it ourselves."
However it emerged that in a 2006 interview with the Anchorage Daily News during her gubernatorial campaign, Mrs Palin had a different view of the bridge.
Asked "would you continue state funding for the proposed Knik Arm and Gravina Island bridges?" she replied: "Yes. I would like to see Alaska's infrastructure projects built sooner rather than later. The window is now - while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist."
When Congressional funding was withdrawn because of an uproar in Washington about the expense of the project, she canceled it, but in a regretful tone.
"Despite the work of our congressional delegation, we are about $329 million short of full funding for the bridge project, and it's clear that Congress has little interest in spending any more money on a bridge between Ketchikan and Gravina Island."
However in 2007 her state received the highest per capita amount of federal funding, $253.16 ($506.34), according to Taxpayers for Common Sense, a watchdog group which tracks "earmark" spending.
She also supported multi-billion-dollar tax increase on Alaska's oil industry, and approved a $250 million state subsidy to a Canadian company wanting to build a natural gas pipeline through Alaska."
We must stay on message and not let the attack machine change the subject.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Castles In the Sand
Every year a competition is held for the best sand sculptures. They are all awesome and one can only imagine the tedious work that goes into them.I was taken back to my childhood when I viewed these two castle sculptures.
Until I was eleven years old I was an only child. I escaped from the adult world in books. I devoured every book I could get my hands on and I was especially fond of Fairy Tales. I think I must have read every fairy tale ever written. Of course, castles always loomed large in those stories, for what is a beautiful princess without a castle?
As I matured, I left the fairy tales behind but I never lost my fascination with castles and my fondest desire was to visit one someday. It took me many, many years to finally be able to go to Europe where the best castles are. As I chose my itinerary, the tour that included the most castles was the one I took.
Although it was a thrill to see those lavishly decorated rooms and be awed by the opulence of the castles, I felt a bit let down. I didn't experience the excitement over castles that I had felt when I read about them. When all was said and done, they were just lavish mansions.
It wasn't until I visited a castle in Switzerland that I experienced the romantic feelings of a time when the handsome prince and princess fell in love. My friend, Margrit, took me to Kyburg, a small and rather plain castle. The floors were of hand hewn planks and everything spoke of a time long gone by. The prisoners were kept in the attic. There was a torture room complete with an Iron Maiden that reminded me the suffering that must have occurred there. It felt authentic.
Perhaps because it was so different from today's mansions I could let my imagination run wild. I realized that living in this castle would not be as wonderful as I had thought. Isn't that a case of the grass being greener on the other side of the fence? Or perhaps, it makes the point that we should never envy someone else based on our preconceived ideas.
The last castle I visited was my favorite. Neuschwanstein, Von Ludvig's castle, is the one Disney used as a template for his Sleeping Beauty castle. I finally had my dreams fulfilled. It was everything I thought a castle should be.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)