If The Shoe Was On The Other Foot

Today's clouds: Altostratus opacus, or Nimbostratus

Think about this,
What would happen if Barack Obama:

Had a pregnant teenage daughter
Lied about accepting hundreds of millions of dollars in earmarks from Washington
Had a wife who belonged to a secessionist party
Was under two investigations for ethics and abuse of power charges
Thought that shooting wolves from low flying airplanes was good sport.
Said that we could never “second guess” an ally that attacked another country
Had a wife who was under subpoena
Did not know what the Bush Doctrine was
Had only left the country once
Said that Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac were taxpayer supported
Said that energy was key to Foreign Policy
Referred to himself as “pit bull” and a “barracuda”

????

Come on people! You know what would happen.

Break Through

Today's clouds: Altostratus opacus, or Nimbostratus

Praise the gods! The sweet boy has been up and eating and taking sips of water. I didn't mention how afraid I was for Gustav. I was in bit of a panic because he wasn't moving or opening his eyes unless I handled him. He still isn't 100% but I will take 40% over the way he looked the other day.

Update 9 /16 : Gus is almost 100%! He's close to his ole' kitty self. He's grooming, purring, eating and drinking regularly. He's run outside a few times and found his way back in again.

Mabeline, You Are A Beauty Queen

Today's clouds: Cumulus fractus; Cumulus humilis ('fair weather clouds')

"Yes, I am beautiful," she said to herself as she gazed into the mirror. The bow enhances the blue in my eyes and my long whiskers. I must tell Francoise to make a dozen more in shades of pink and blue. I think I should have some studded with Swarovski crystal sequins too! purrrrrrrr.... I love me!

Look over at my slideshow to see the real Mabeline. She is a beauty queen and the best cat in the whole wide world. I couldn't resist this poster when I saw it. It really does look like her.

Wasted

Today's clouds: Cumulus fractus; Cumulus humilis ('fair weather clouds')

I've spent my entire morning responding to political blogs on Blogher. Anyway, it all began so innocently. I dropped off my daughter at school at 7:30 - came home - made coffee and checked my email and one thing led to another. I accidentally stumbled upon the Blogher site and that was the end of my morning. I spent hours reading and responding to blogs about Sarah Palin. The whole thing is mind numbing.
I'm feeling incredibly guilty for skanking around in my pajamas for hours drinking coffee, typing and screaming out loud at people I don't know or care about. I could have sworn I was only doing this for maybe an hour - an hour and a half at most. It was like an out of body experience because the next thing I noticed it was 12:30 and my coffee is ice cold and I'VE GOT TO GET UP and do something productive. OK, OK, I'll make up for it. Here's my to do list or,
things I've should have done
laundry
dishes
litter box
vacuum
wash floors
make food for family

Oh Bliss! Yeah, this is satisfying.

Note to self: Remember, you're a multitask er. Don't sit at computer for hours upon hours talking shit about lame political leaders. Instead, turn on talk radio show (preferably left wing talk radio show) and get housework done whilst listening to others talk shit about lame political leaders.

Stage IV

Today's clouds: Cirrostratus nebulosus or cirrostratus fibratus invading the whole sky

My father has stage IV colon cancer. He was diagnosed in April - we (the children) learned the news on April 1. The news of this cancer was akin to a punch in the stomach. I sobbed and wretched and tried to compose myself enough to be able to go to my fathers side and be a calm supportive daughter and not a sniveling wreck of a person mourning his pending death.

That very day I arrived at the house and many of my siblings were there as well. We sat at the table looking like deer in the headlights unable to talk and make words out of feelings that made us want to puke. I kept checking my mothers' face - she had a fixed surprised look that frightened me. She said very little but the presence of shock was written in her body language. I worry for her.

My father sat in his room playing solitaire on the computer as though all was well and perfectly normal. When he noticed I was there he came out and greeted me. I immediately cried and wanted to kick myself in the shin for doing so, so much for being strong. Suddenly and amazingly my father started to comfort me. Telling me, "don't worry, I'm at peace with this news. We're all going to die sooner or later. I just happen to know it will be my turn, and more than likely this disease may take my life. I'm eighty-two years old, I can't live forever, Lor." His words stopped my crying temporarily. How could I cry when he is being to brave?

My life with dad growing up wasn't easy. It wasn't easy for any of us eight children, but we're a strong family that loves each other under all the dysfunction that marked our lives together. Dad is an intense, passionate man with his own familiar ghost he has had to live with, but he has asked forgiveness and has shown by example how he loves everyone of us unconditionally.

Focus

What is my focus here? I've been checking out blogs for the past 2 years and have always loved the idea of writing and keeping a journal. However, I'm one of those people who is afraid to make a mark. I love to make sketches and doodles but I have a hard time making that first mark on the paper, and I'm afraid I'm experiencing the same problem here.

I thought that I might want a one theme or just one focused area to write about but it won't happen. I'm too scattered a person to be so focused on one subject. So I've decided it will be anything and everything that moves me. Pictures, words, video clips - things that inspire me, anger me, make me laugh, make me sad, make me remember things here in my small life in my small town. Here goes nothing!

clouds

Clouds are beautiful.

Sarah Palin (god help us!)

Today's clouds: Cumulus fractus; Cumulus humilis ('fair weather clouds') look out a storm is coming!

I watched the Republican National Convention last week as I had watched the Democratic National Convention. I made myself watch the Republican's party every day it aired and as I watched I cringed and squirmed as I listened to every word that came out of every speakers mouth. It was also blatantly obvious that the Republicans didn't speak of or even mention some critical issues like unemployment (all time high this August 6.1% national average) disappearing jobs going overseas, healthcare, education, declining wages, the environment and alternative energy sources. What became clear to me very early on was that the old "culture war" is on. Leave it to the Repubs to pull out all their dirty tricks. Divide and conquer is their old stand by and it might just work again.
Instead of being on message ( Repub issues) every speaker seemed to be more interested in bashing Obama and the Democrates. So clearly, I was interested, as was most of the country, in hearing what the Republican Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin had to say on her behalf.

When John McCain announced his choice for Vice President I totally thought he was pandering to the women's' vote - I still think it so. I watched as he introduced her and instantly thought, who is she and where does she come from? Quite frankly, my first thought was, he's making a big mistake. Not that I care he makes mistakes, I want this to be a mistake. I know McCain is a fiscal conservative and not a social conservative and this will no doubt alienate moderate Republicans. Not only is he pandering to women he's pandering to the Christian Right voters and apparently Palin is pandering to parents with children with special needs as well. Shameless. I thought McCain would be the man to change the Republican party and not keep the status-quo. Yes, I was hoping for a fair fight from McCain but it's not going to happen. I'm all for change that will shake things up in a positive way - I see this move of McCain's as being more of the same and Obama as the true candidate for change in this country.

Getting back to Palin's speech I was appalled at her attack dog status and her empty vindictive words. She demonstrated to me that she is a religious conservative who backs big oil and someone who doesn't take climate change seriously (apparently she doesn't believe it's a man made crisis). There is also this little tidbit that came out as well and that is George Bush's speech writers wrote half of her speech which leads my suspicious mind to think that the current administration (Carl Rove) probably had a hand in picking this woman. Can you think of two big oil proponents in the White House? George W. and Dick Cheney. Disturbing. :::shiver:::

The whole scene was too surreal. Pretty lady (Phyllis Schlafly like lady) governor with five children (one pregnant 17 year old daughter, and a downs syndrome baby what a picture of regular American folks) barking it up for the right wing culture war. I think this is how the Republicans really like to talk. Rather than talk about real issues that affect real people they use scare tactics to frighten voters into thinking the Democrats will be raising taxes and spending all their hard earned money on "pork". If jilted Hillary supporters vote for McCain because his running mate has a vagina then they should stop calling themselves feminist.

One more item that disturbed me was Palin's attack on Obama's credentials as a community organizer and senator. Comparing herself - mayor of Whosville to Obama's community organizing was stupefying. What about his credentials as a very educated, intelligent person - graduated Harvard, made history at Harvard by becoming the first African American to head the prestigious Harvard Law Review. And finally a candidate who is very in touch with what everyday Americans need in these hard economic times.

I'll give Palin one thing, she's got balls and she's got a bite but does that make her vice presidential material? I don't think so, especially since she didn't have a clue to what a vice president did a few weeks ago.

"The object of the superior man is truth"

The Things We Do For Love

Today's clouds: Cumulus fractus; Cumulus humilis ('fair weather clouds')

I've been busy trying to manage my youngest daughters education by helping her chose courses that she needs and wants to get into the college she has in mind. She's entering her junior year in high school and it's a big year. She's a gifted student with a fierce work ethic and undying love to learn. Her interest are mainly in the sciences however, she is a well rounded student that not only loves the sciences she loves the arts as well. This year she is taking AP English, AP Calculus, Organic Chemistry and AP Chemistry as well as a history class on the Middle Ages at the local community college. Come Spring semester she will take Physics at the college level as well as take another Harvard course in French as she wasn't able to fit it into her schedule this Fall. Not being able to take French this Fall made her very unhappy as she loves the language and the culture. She has six years of French already and she wants to continue with it through out her college career as well.

Because Olivia is an insatiable learner, this summer she took a course in Shakespeare at Harvard's summer program. They read and studies 15 of the plays. It was well worth the expense as she enjoyed the experience immensely. I noticed she matured and became very self sufficient which was a huge relief for me as a parent. I didn't know how she would fare on her own and had some adjustment problems that kept me anxious and unfocused for four weeks. I'm OK now but at the time I was a wreck. I had some very strange fears that I dare not mention for I'm afraid most people would think that I needed medication to be able to function half normally.

Anyway, the last week she was at the Harvard program I got a call from the local news paper here in my town. The reported heard (through a politician friend) that Olivia was doing some great things and they wanted to interview her. In fact the premise was that citizens are tired of hearing about the bad things young people are doing and want to hear the great things that they are doing - which I agree with. There is this intense focus on juvenile violence, teen pregnancy and drugs use that overshadows the creative and vibrant energy of young people. I know there are millions of great stories out there and I'm proud that my daughter is one of them. It is the greatest source of my pleasure.

I know all this sounds like bragging but I can't help but gush. Please forgive me if it appears to be so I'm filled with gratitude.

I posted her 30 + word recitation of King Richard video that was taken by the reporter. The link to the article is below. There are a few technical errors in the article - thanks to Olivia's keen eye.

http://www.heraldnews.com/news/x1543321128/Young-scholar-studies-up-on-Shakespeare