So we try a variety of ways to keep Loki active.
Yoga:
Aerobics:
Diet:
Loki sez: This diet food tastes like dead mouse butt. Can I have some gravy?
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Loki Sunday
Loki isn't overweight, but at his last check up, my vet cautioned me to not let him gain any more weight.
So we try a variety of ways to keep Loki active.
Yoga:
Aerobics:
Diet:
Loki sez: This diet food tastes like dead mouse butt. Can I have some gravy?
So we try a variety of ways to keep Loki active.
Yoga:
Aerobics:
Diet:
Loki sez: This diet food tastes like dead mouse butt. Can I have some gravy?
Saturday, November 29, 2008
An Even Blacker Friday
I don't do the after Thanksgiving insanity. I was talked into it once many years ago and was disgusted way back then with the greed and meanness I saw displayed in what is supposed to be a season of love and caring.
And it isn't even as if you save much money. It's called bait and switch people. Stores put up a few items at incredible prices, but only a limited number of them because then, once you are there and the item you wanted is sold out, you'll buy something else that isn't such a bargain.
But what happened yesterday in a New York state WalMart is beyond the pale of human avarice and American obsession with material gain.
I can understand the initial incident. I can see the crowd pushing forward from the back as the doors opened and the people in front being knocked into the man, causing him to fall.
What I can't see is why the other employees had to try for "minutes" to fight the crowd to try to reach the man.
What I can't see is how multitudes of people stepped on a human being as they rushed into a store to buy a piece of shit THING for a few bucks off.
Didn't they feel his broken body under their feet? Didn't anyone glance down and see his bloody face?
Did anyone care or did they continue to rush in, afraid they might miss their sale, dismissing him from their mind as unimportant and in the way? Not wanting to help a human being murdered beneath their feet and maybe miss out on getting that perfect present?
What infuriated me was that after the police arrived and were attempting to render first aid, the crowd was rushing over the police, knocking them around while they were trying to help this poor man.
Now he is dead.
For nothing more than greed and a total perversion of what the Christmas season is supposed to be about.
Stores need to stop doing this. The media needs to stop hyping up as free advertising for the stores.
And the American public needs to stop following lemming-like after whatever the media tells us that we "have" to do.
This attitude that allows a human being to be trampled to death in the name of a good deal on a flat screen TV shines a bright light on much of the economic woes of many Americans.
We want it all, we want it now, we'll put it on credit and we don't care how we'll pay for it, but damn it, we DESERVE everything we see on TV. Our children will be DEVASTATED if they don't get that expensive toy/gadget that they want.
Thor sez: And I'm the animal?
And it isn't even as if you save much money. It's called bait and switch people. Stores put up a few items at incredible prices, but only a limited number of them because then, once you are there and the item you wanted is sold out, you'll buy something else that isn't such a bargain.
But what happened yesterday in a New York state WalMart is beyond the pale of human avarice and American obsession with material gain.
I can understand the initial incident. I can see the crowd pushing forward from the back as the doors opened and the people in front being knocked into the man, causing him to fall.
What I can't see is why the other employees had to try for "minutes" to fight the crowd to try to reach the man.
What I can't see is how multitudes of people stepped on a human being as they rushed into a store to buy a piece of shit THING for a few bucks off.
Didn't they feel his broken body under their feet? Didn't anyone glance down and see his bloody face?
Did anyone care or did they continue to rush in, afraid they might miss their sale, dismissing him from their mind as unimportant and in the way? Not wanting to help a human being murdered beneath their feet and maybe miss out on getting that perfect present?
What infuriated me was that after the police arrived and were attempting to render first aid, the crowd was rushing over the police, knocking them around while they were trying to help this poor man.
Now he is dead.
For nothing more than greed and a total perversion of what the Christmas season is supposed to be about.
Stores need to stop doing this. The media needs to stop hyping up as free advertising for the stores.
And the American public needs to stop following lemming-like after whatever the media tells us that we "have" to do.
This attitude that allows a human being to be trampled to death in the name of a good deal on a flat screen TV shines a bright light on much of the economic woes of many Americans.
We want it all, we want it now, we'll put it on credit and we don't care how we'll pay for it, but damn it, we DESERVE everything we see on TV. Our children will be DEVASTATED if they don't get that expensive toy/gadget that they want.
Thor sez: And I'm the animal?
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Thor's Day!
Yes, I know it is also Thanksgiving Day, but ask Thor which he thinks is more important.
Thor sez: Me.
Thor learned a very important lesson last night: That as a cat, he is in possession of remarkable jumping and leaping skills. In the midst of the moth hunting frenzy that was taking place in the back room, a light bulb went off in his fuzzy head. He didn't have to climb down from one cat tree and climb up the other. He could leap the six feet between them!
Thor sez: Just call me Streaky the SuperCat from now on, please.
Thor sez: Cos I'm bad, oh yeah, I'm super bad.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Thor sez: Me.
Thor learned a very important lesson last night: That as a cat, he is in possession of remarkable jumping and leaping skills. In the midst of the moth hunting frenzy that was taking place in the back room, a light bulb went off in his fuzzy head. He didn't have to climb down from one cat tree and climb up the other. He could leap the six feet between them!
Thor sez: Just call me Streaky the SuperCat from now on, please.
Thor sez: Cos I'm bad, oh yeah, I'm super bad.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Not Just Talent - Ginormous Talent!
Last evening, we went downtown to the Gaillard to see a Fusion Show of Fletcher Crossman's art. (While you are scrolling through the gallery at his site, note the size of the paintings.)
They looked astonishing hanging in the upper gallery of the auditorium. I got to meet the artist (because I know people). HaHa. We talked about how to his eye, the paintings looked small in the great open space of the gallery. He is used to seeing them on the walls of his studio where they (sized up to 12 feet tall) take up an entire wall.
But the Fusion program was very interesting. Some of his paintings were displayed at the Academic Magnet High School and the Language Arts students studied them and created a "fused image" of their literary analysis of a painting and a traditional fairy tale. As I've said before, I am an absolute sucker for talent and to see these young people so involved in the arts, both visual and literary, was very exciting.
Loki sez: Some day I'll have an art show. (Dramatic sigh)
They looked astonishing hanging in the upper gallery of the auditorium. I got to meet the artist (because I know people). HaHa. We talked about how to his eye, the paintings looked small in the great open space of the gallery. He is used to seeing them on the walls of his studio where they (sized up to 12 feet tall) take up an entire wall.
But the Fusion program was very interesting. Some of his paintings were displayed at the Academic Magnet High School and the Language Arts students studied them and created a "fused image" of their literary analysis of a painting and a traditional fairy tale. As I've said before, I am an absolute sucker for talent and to see these young people so involved in the arts, both visual and literary, was very exciting.
Loki sez: Some day I'll have an art show. (Dramatic sigh)
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Ready, Set, Eww Manual Labor
After attacking the wood around the addition with a screw driver this morning (the better to tell how far the rot goes), I decided it's probably best to replace it all. The rot is so spotty, I think it'd be easier to just rip it all out.
Now, I didn't build the addition so I wasn't quite sure how it was put together. The bottom from the ground to about two feet is brick, then there is some sort of not wood, siding stuff from the brick to the roof. It is along the seam between the brick and the siding that the wood has dry rot.
When I pulled it apart, it looks like a 1x2 wooden board and one of those half round interior base board thingies. Which seemed weird to me, but what do I know about building? Maybe it was for the aesthetics.
I, however, am a less fuss is best kind of gal. I returned to my local Lowe's and bought some 2x2 treated pine boards (hopefully enough, my math skills aren't the best and my measuring tape required addition and then there is the how many 8 foot boards do I need division stuff), some wood glue, some exterior sealer, some primer, some sandpaper, some wood filler, a couple of paint brushes.
I'm all ready to slap the new stuff up there.
Only problem?
I gotta yank all the old stuff off, clean it out, sand down where it needs sanding down.
You know, the not fun stuff.
I like the fun stuff, the building stuff.
I hate prep work.
The boyz say: How exciting. Not! We'll be napping, please don't forget to stop to feed us at the proper intervals.
Now, I didn't build the addition so I wasn't quite sure how it was put together. The bottom from the ground to about two feet is brick, then there is some sort of not wood, siding stuff from the brick to the roof. It is along the seam between the brick and the siding that the wood has dry rot.
When I pulled it apart, it looks like a 1x2 wooden board and one of those half round interior base board thingies. Which seemed weird to me, but what do I know about building? Maybe it was for the aesthetics.
I, however, am a less fuss is best kind of gal. I returned to my local Lowe's and bought some 2x2 treated pine boards (hopefully enough, my math skills aren't the best and my measuring tape required addition and then there is the how many 8 foot boards do I need division stuff), some wood glue, some exterior sealer, some primer, some sandpaper, some wood filler, a couple of paint brushes.
I'm all ready to slap the new stuff up there.
Only problem?
I gotta yank all the old stuff off, clean it out, sand down where it needs sanding down.
You know, the not fun stuff.
I like the fun stuff, the building stuff.
I hate prep work.
The boyz say: How exciting. Not! We'll be napping, please don't forget to stop to feed us at the proper intervals.
Monday, November 24, 2008
It's An Honor
Look over there --------->
I've been nominated for Cat Blog of the Month for December.
I'll have more information on how you can go vote for Thor and Loki when the contest is running.
In the meanwhile, if you love kittens, check out the site. Tons of good cat information and other kitty lovers.
The Cat Site.
The boyz say: Ah yes, our plans are coming together! First Charleston, then America. Soon we will dominate the globe with the power of our cuteness!
I've been nominated for Cat Blog of the Month for December.
I'll have more information on how you can go vote for Thor and Loki when the contest is running.
In the meanwhile, if you love kittens, check out the site. Tons of good cat information and other kitty lovers.
The Cat Site.
The boyz say: Ah yes, our plans are coming together! First Charleston, then America. Soon we will dominate the globe with the power of our cuteness!
Attention All You Renters Out There
Go kiss your landlord. Or the property manager.
Why?
This is why.
When the power washers come and ask you if you have seen all the dry rot in the wood along the house addition and you say yes, because you know about the three inches or so in the one board and they say, uh, no, you need to look at this.
And you schlep out there and low and behold, you're going to need to rip out the entire base where the wood attaches to the brick all the way around and up the one corner about a foot.
See, if you are a renter, this is when you call the landlord/property manager and dump the entire problem in their lap and you go back inside to the book you were reading.
You don't spend the whole next morning wandering around Lowe's with a calculator in one hand, enduring the patronizing 'can I help you's' from the employees who just can't for the life of them understand that some little old gray haired lady might actually be able to look at boards and sealants and wood patch kits all by her little self.
Thor sez: I can help! If I can rip open this wooden door, I can rip wood off a wall!
Why?
This is why.
When the power washers come and ask you if you have seen all the dry rot in the wood along the house addition and you say yes, because you know about the three inches or so in the one board and they say, uh, no, you need to look at this.
And you schlep out there and low and behold, you're going to need to rip out the entire base where the wood attaches to the brick all the way around and up the one corner about a foot.
See, if you are a renter, this is when you call the landlord/property manager and dump the entire problem in their lap and you go back inside to the book you were reading.
You don't spend the whole next morning wandering around Lowe's with a calculator in one hand, enduring the patronizing 'can I help you's' from the employees who just can't for the life of them understand that some little old gray haired lady might actually be able to look at boards and sealants and wood patch kits all by her little self.
Thor sez: I can help! If I can rip open this wooden door, I can rip wood off a wall!
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Loki Sunday
Loki was very brave yesterday. He didn't hide under the bed at all while the house was being power washed. He looked a little wide eyed at times, but I told him it was just a funny rain storm. He did, however, freak out and hide when our next door neighbor helped Jason carry in a file cabinet.
Poor Loki. He's just a big fat scaredy cat.
Loki sez: One day it will be the cat murdering monster, then you'll be sorry you didn't believe me!
Poor Loki. He's just a big fat scaredy cat.
Loki sez: One day it will be the cat murdering monster, then you'll be sorry you didn't believe me!
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Do-Gooders
It was a bit of shock to read the headline that Jimmy Carter had been banned from Zimbabwe. I asked Jason, "Who could kick sweet old Jimmy out of their country?"
Then I answered my own question, "He must have been trying to do something good for poor people."
I like Jimmy Carter. For much the same reasons I like Barack Obama. I think he is a thoughtful, intelligent man. And I don't mean thoughtful in the sense that he thinks of others, but that he seeks out and considers new information and incorporates that knowledge into his life and his plans. And we need leaders like that.
Look what rigid devotion to ideology despite facts has gotten us thus far.
We must be flexible in this shrinking world.
And boy, oh boy, wasn't Mr. Carter correct all those years ago when he said we needed to start conserving and being energy efficient. When he said we needed to toss over the gas-guzzlers and start getting smart with our energy.
They laughed at him then. But he was right, wasn't he?
Americans say we love do-gooders, but we sure turn on them when they shine a light on our own evils instead the evils of "others" so we can feel superior.
Thor sez: I pity the fool who doesn't respect Mr. Jimmy!
Then I answered my own question, "He must have been trying to do something good for poor people."
I like Jimmy Carter. For much the same reasons I like Barack Obama. I think he is a thoughtful, intelligent man. And I don't mean thoughtful in the sense that he thinks of others, but that he seeks out and considers new information and incorporates that knowledge into his life and his plans. And we need leaders like that.
Look what rigid devotion to ideology despite facts has gotten us thus far.
We must be flexible in this shrinking world.
And boy, oh boy, wasn't Mr. Carter correct all those years ago when he said we needed to start conserving and being energy efficient. When he said we needed to toss over the gas-guzzlers and start getting smart with our energy.
They laughed at him then. But he was right, wasn't he?
Americans say we love do-gooders, but we sure turn on them when they shine a light on our own evils instead the evils of "others" so we can feel superior.
Thor sez: I pity the fool who doesn't respect Mr. Jimmy!
Friday, November 21, 2008
Insomnia No More?
One of the first bits of advice you will get when dealing with insomnia is to keep your bedtime routine as stable as possible.
Not an easy task when sometimes you sleep at night and sometimes you sleep during the day.
And as it became more difficult to flip my sleep cycle, resulting in days and days and nights and nights of three hours sleep time, I finally broke down and asked my doctor for Ambien.
What a fool I have been! Why did I suffer so long?
I've been taking it for a couple of weeks now. Just one on the first day I have to sleep during the day and one on the first night I have to sleep at night.
Completely resets my internal clock.
I hardly know what to do with myself after sleeping at least seven or eight hours (or like last night 12 hours - but I had worked six 12 hours shifts in seven days and had a sore throat and low grade fever - so the semi-coma was what I needed).
The only problem, if it is one, is I do feel groggy for several hours after I wake up. Not so much when I go to work, because being up and active clears up the grogginess right away, but like today when I don't have that much to do, eh, I just sort let stuff slide.
There's always, tomorrow, right?
And what's wrong with a cat nap anyway?
Loki sez: Do you mind? The flash is waking me up. I haven't slept in at least an hour!
Not an easy task when sometimes you sleep at night and sometimes you sleep during the day.
And as it became more difficult to flip my sleep cycle, resulting in days and days and nights and nights of three hours sleep time, I finally broke down and asked my doctor for Ambien.
What a fool I have been! Why did I suffer so long?
I've been taking it for a couple of weeks now. Just one on the first day I have to sleep during the day and one on the first night I have to sleep at night.
Completely resets my internal clock.
I hardly know what to do with myself after sleeping at least seven or eight hours (or like last night 12 hours - but I had worked six 12 hours shifts in seven days and had a sore throat and low grade fever - so the semi-coma was what I needed).
The only problem, if it is one, is I do feel groggy for several hours after I wake up. Not so much when I go to work, because being up and active clears up the grogginess right away, but like today when I don't have that much to do, eh, I just sort let stuff slide.
There's always, tomorrow, right?
And what's wrong with a cat nap anyway?
Loki sez: Do you mind? The flash is waking me up. I haven't slept in at least an hour!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Thor's Day!
Playful Thor (or how to lose a chunk of flesh by tossing toys at a ninja cat while your vision is obscured by a camera):
Thor sez: I dropped it. Pick it up human, you'll stop bleeding eventually.
Thor sez: I dropped it. Pick it up human, you'll stop bleeding eventually.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Crack Math
Good old AP was a crack head. He bought his crack from the corner dealer, BOC. And things were good. Crack rocks were $1 each and AP could get as many as he wanted.
One day, BOC started charging two dollars each for the crack rocks. And AP was a little mad, but being a crack head, he just rearranged his priorities and made do.
Then, BOC told him that crack was going to be three dollars a rock from now on. And AP said, "Say what? Why?" And BOC said, "Cos it's expensive to make." And AP thought that was a line of bull hockey because he'd seen how BOC had just bought a brand new Hummer, so he couldn't be hurting that bad. And AP grumbled and mumbled and cursed, but he dug a little deeper into his pocket and paid. Because he was, after all, a crack head.
Finally, BOC said crack was going to be FOUR dollars a rock. And AP said, "That's enough! I'm going to rehab."
And AP went on down to the rehab and asked if he could come in. And the rehab people said, "Well, we don't have any room for you right now, just try to stay away from the crack or not use as much and we'll get you fixed up in a couple of weeks."
AP tried very hard and he mostly stayed away from BOC, only slipping up a couple of times here and there.
And BOC got scared and very nervous. He had payments due on his Hummer, dontcha know. So he went to AP and said, "Okay, everything is cool now, no problems. Crack is going to be one dollar a rock now."
AP didn't even think about it! Hallelujah! He could do all the crack he ever wanted. To heck with rehab!
Moral of the story? Gas prices aren't down because Big Oil Companies feel sorry for the American public. They were terrified by serious renewable source talk.
Loki sez: It's true! I read in on the internet!
One day, BOC started charging two dollars each for the crack rocks. And AP was a little mad, but being a crack head, he just rearranged his priorities and made do.
Then, BOC told him that crack was going to be three dollars a rock from now on. And AP said, "Say what? Why?" And BOC said, "Cos it's expensive to make." And AP thought that was a line of bull hockey because he'd seen how BOC had just bought a brand new Hummer, so he couldn't be hurting that bad. And AP grumbled and mumbled and cursed, but he dug a little deeper into his pocket and paid. Because he was, after all, a crack head.
Finally, BOC said crack was going to be FOUR dollars a rock. And AP said, "That's enough! I'm going to rehab."
And AP went on down to the rehab and asked if he could come in. And the rehab people said, "Well, we don't have any room for you right now, just try to stay away from the crack or not use as much and we'll get you fixed up in a couple of weeks."
AP tried very hard and he mostly stayed away from BOC, only slipping up a couple of times here and there.
And BOC got scared and very nervous. He had payments due on his Hummer, dontcha know. So he went to AP and said, "Okay, everything is cool now, no problems. Crack is going to be one dollar a rock now."
AP didn't even think about it! Hallelujah! He could do all the crack he ever wanted. To heck with rehab!
Moral of the story? Gas prices aren't down because Big Oil Companies feel sorry for the American public. They were terrified by serious renewable source talk.
Loki sez: It's true! I read in on the internet!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Twofer Tuesday
I'm exhausted y'all with two more nights to go. And you know what that means.....
Kittens:
Loki sez: Hey, there's my brother. Maybe I'll reach out and smack him.
Thor sez: What do you think you're doing?
Loki sez: Nuffin. Spoil sport.
Kittens:
Loki sez: Hey, there's my brother. Maybe I'll reach out and smack him.
Thor sez: What do you think you're doing?
Loki sez: Nuffin. Spoil sport.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Meh Monday
"Meh" is officially a word now. Let the apathetic rejoicing begin.
Meh.
Just so you know, yesterday's Loki Sunday was Loki approved:
Last night, we watched a documentary about the social/legal/personal impact of the movie Deep Throat.
When I wasn't laughing myself silly over some of the interviews. I can't even begin to describe how funny it was to watch a 70-something year old man wearing jeans and a silk shirt unbuttoned to his navel, one leg tossed over the arm of a chair (the better to see his unit, I suppose), smoking a cigarette while his long gray hair stands out in Bozo the Clown wings.
Or the guy who said "it'd take 5000 Viagra to get me hard now, but back then, I was virile". Thanks ever so much for sharing.
Oh but my wasn't it funny to watch Tricky Dick clamoring about morality. And a 60-something year old grandmother asserting that if she wanted to watch a dirty movie, she should be able to do so.
It was a bit difficult to watch the movie scenes because I ain't that liberal, thank you very much, and Linda Lovelace later claimed she was forced to act in the movie by her abusive husband and research has shown that many women who act in porn movies have been sexually abused/raped and are acting out their abuse, but the social/moral arguments pro and con and the feminist debate the movie sparked were very interesting.
Thor sez: Ceiling Cat saw you watching that!
Meh.
Just so you know, yesterday's Loki Sunday was Loki approved:
Last night, we watched a documentary about the social/legal/personal impact of the movie Deep Throat.
When I wasn't laughing myself silly over some of the interviews. I can't even begin to describe how funny it was to watch a 70-something year old man wearing jeans and a silk shirt unbuttoned to his navel, one leg tossed over the arm of a chair (the better to see his unit, I suppose), smoking a cigarette while his long gray hair stands out in Bozo the Clown wings.
Or the guy who said "it'd take 5000 Viagra to get me hard now, but back then, I was virile". Thanks ever so much for sharing.
Oh but my wasn't it funny to watch Tricky Dick clamoring about morality. And a 60-something year old grandmother asserting that if she wanted to watch a dirty movie, she should be able to do so.
It was a bit difficult to watch the movie scenes because I ain't that liberal, thank you very much, and Linda Lovelace later claimed she was forced to act in the movie by her abusive husband and research has shown that many women who act in porn movies have been sexually abused/raped and are acting out their abuse, but the social/moral arguments pro and con and the feminist debate the movie sparked were very interesting.
Thor sez: Ceiling Cat saw you watching that!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Loki Sunday
Okay, confession time. Know how all you mommies out there love your baby's feet? I love my Loki's toes. Yes, I know I'm weird, is it a surprise to you?
Loki sez: And they taste great too!
Loki sez: And they taste great too!
Saturday, November 15, 2008
And She'll Have Fun Fun Fun
Ever spend 13 hours with almost 20 screaming babies and a massive global migraine?
And go back for more?
Good times, good times.
Thor sez: If you'd stay home with me, I'd make it better with cuteness.
And go back for more?
Good times, good times.
Thor sez: If you'd stay home with me, I'd make it better with cuteness.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
For Real?
It's check up time. I've gotten everything done except the mammogram. So I found the order form my doc gave me and called the number listed to make the appointment.
And a pleasant recorded voice thanked me for calling the scheduling center for X, Y and Z places and told me that she wanted me to have a "pleasant scheduling experience."
For real?
I mean, I thought I was calling to make an appointment, I didn't realize I was having a scheduling EXPERIENCE.
I felt like perhaps I should hang up because I was still in my pajamas and I'm pretty sure I still had coffee breath and bed head. Certainly I wasn't prepared to have an experience.
And just how should one prepare for a scheduling experience? Are jeans and sweater okay? Should I put on slacks and a blouse? Or is it more formal? Should I have shaved my legs and worn a dress? With or without pearls?
I tried to remember all the Emily Post, Ann Landers and Heloise I had read over the years but I just couldn't remember anything about the proper etiquette for having a scheduling experience.
I was so disconcerted about the possibility that I might fail to have a pleasant scheduling experience that I almost missed the pre-recorded list of extension numbers I was to press to reach the proper person for my scheduling experience. Luckily it was right there on my doctor's order form.
And gosh darn it, I just made my mind up that I was going to have a pleasant scheduling experience no matter what! Coffee breath, bed head and all!
So I was all tingly with excitement while waiting on hold and when a human actually come on the line, I almost convulsed with joy.
She took my name, confirmed my address and gave me a date and time.
And just like that, it was over.
Oh it was so quick, so brief. I'm glad I'd been pre-warned to enjoy this experience or I would have thought that I was just making an appointment.
Loki sez: This is not a pleasant petting experience!
And a pleasant recorded voice thanked me for calling the scheduling center for X, Y and Z places and told me that she wanted me to have a "pleasant scheduling experience."
For real?
I mean, I thought I was calling to make an appointment, I didn't realize I was having a scheduling EXPERIENCE.
I felt like perhaps I should hang up because I was still in my pajamas and I'm pretty sure I still had coffee breath and bed head. Certainly I wasn't prepared to have an experience.
And just how should one prepare for a scheduling experience? Are jeans and sweater okay? Should I put on slacks and a blouse? Or is it more formal? Should I have shaved my legs and worn a dress? With or without pearls?
I tried to remember all the Emily Post, Ann Landers and Heloise I had read over the years but I just couldn't remember anything about the proper etiquette for having a scheduling experience.
I was so disconcerted about the possibility that I might fail to have a pleasant scheduling experience that I almost missed the pre-recorded list of extension numbers I was to press to reach the proper person for my scheduling experience. Luckily it was right there on my doctor's order form.
And gosh darn it, I just made my mind up that I was going to have a pleasant scheduling experience no matter what! Coffee breath, bed head and all!
So I was all tingly with excitement while waiting on hold and when a human actually come on the line, I almost convulsed with joy.
She took my name, confirmed my address and gave me a date and time.
And just like that, it was over.
Oh it was so quick, so brief. I'm glad I'd been pre-warned to enjoy this experience or I would have thought that I was just making an appointment.
Loki sez: This is not a pleasant petting experience!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Thank You Veterans
To those who have served and are serving our nation, thank you.
I come from a military family. My father, my brothers, my uncles, my great-uncles, all served.
My son is currently serving in the Navy.
And here's a thank you to all the military brats out there, past and present. Thank you for your sacrifices. Thank you for enduring separations from your active duty parent. Thank you for switching schools every year.
Twice a year, today and Memorial Day, we pay tribute to our military.
But let's try in the coming year to make issues facing our vets and active duty men and women an every day awareness. Write to your representatives to tell them that you want our vets given the best care possible.
Here is how.
Thor sez: Cat salute!
I come from a military family. My father, my brothers, my uncles, my great-uncles, all served.
My son is currently serving in the Navy.
And here's a thank you to all the military brats out there, past and present. Thank you for your sacrifices. Thank you for enduring separations from your active duty parent. Thank you for switching schools every year.
Twice a year, today and Memorial Day, we pay tribute to our military.
But let's try in the coming year to make issues facing our vets and active duty men and women an every day awareness. Write to your representatives to tell them that you want our vets given the best care possible.
Here is how.
Thor sez: Cat salute!
Monday, November 10, 2008
Stop Ruining Christmas!
No, not you, but every store that has Christmas decorations up already.
Which is about all of them.
Last week, prior to election day, WalMart not only had decorations up and merchandise out, they were playing Christmas carols. When I finally recognized the muzak as "Here Comes Santa Claus", I said, "Oh, vo-mit!" and the lady next to me laughed and said, "I agree".
Yesterday I went to Publix and they had decorations and merchandise out. No Christmas music playing yet.
Today I have to go buy new work shoes. I shudder to think what I may find at the mall (hopefully I won't be too busy dodging bullets to notice).
I'm seriously thinking of boycotting every store that has Christmas decorations up before Thanksgiving. I'll do all my shopping on-line. I have plenty of wrapping paper stocked up.
There is no need for me to reward these businesses for making me tired of Christmas and want nothing more than for it to be over with simply because I've had to endure it for three months.
Everyone I know of hates that the advertising, decorations, and music all begin after Halloween now. So why do the stores continue to do it?
Because we haven't told them to stop it with the one most powerful voice we have: our money.
Today I may make my own little list of who is being naughty and email them that I will not be spending any of my Christmas dollars at their establishments because of their bum-rushing of the season.
Thor sez: Is Santa watching already?
Which is about all of them.
Last week, prior to election day, WalMart not only had decorations up and merchandise out, they were playing Christmas carols. When I finally recognized the muzak as "Here Comes Santa Claus", I said, "Oh, vo-mit!" and the lady next to me laughed and said, "I agree".
Yesterday I went to Publix and they had decorations and merchandise out. No Christmas music playing yet.
Today I have to go buy new work shoes. I shudder to think what I may find at the mall (hopefully I won't be too busy dodging bullets to notice).
I'm seriously thinking of boycotting every store that has Christmas decorations up before Thanksgiving. I'll do all my shopping on-line. I have plenty of wrapping paper stocked up.
There is no need for me to reward these businesses for making me tired of Christmas and want nothing more than for it to be over with simply because I've had to endure it for three months.
Everyone I know of hates that the advertising, decorations, and music all begin after Halloween now. So why do the stores continue to do it?
Because we haven't told them to stop it with the one most powerful voice we have: our money.
Today I may make my own little list of who is being naughty and email them that I will not be spending any of my Christmas dollars at their establishments because of their bum-rushing of the season.
Thor sez: Is Santa watching already?
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Remember the We!
I read an article about poor neighborhoods "looking to Obama for jobs and safety". I hope they are remembering the "we" in the yes, we can mantra.
Once Obama is sworn in, he will have a long, hard road before him. "We" can't sit back and wait for "them" to make it all better with the magic wand.
I think this was what made his campaign so electrifying. For too long, we have complained about "them". Why don't "they" do this, why did "they" do that. It had become the national past time to not vote and complain about the government.
Obama reminded us that the power is in our hands. We can do things. Big things, small things, something to help out one person or to help out hundreds of people.
But we have to do it.
Safety won't come to the neighborhood until people in high crime areas start working together with police against the criminal element.
Jobs won't come to the neighborhood until crime is lower and education is higher.
We can't sit back and wait for change. As President, Obama can't make your children learn, he can't make them not get into crime, he can't make some-one give them a job. He can't make the criminals and drug dealers vanish.
That is your job.
That's what he has been telling you.
That is why you have that positive feeling within you.
Because you've been reminded that the power is yours.
So don't sit back and wait for Obama to change everything. He never said he alone could.
He said we could.
The boyz say: Yes, we can! Sleep in the bed with you tonight!
Once Obama is sworn in, he will have a long, hard road before him. "We" can't sit back and wait for "them" to make it all better with the magic wand.
I think this was what made his campaign so electrifying. For too long, we have complained about "them". Why don't "they" do this, why did "they" do that. It had become the national past time to not vote and complain about the government.
Obama reminded us that the power is in our hands. We can do things. Big things, small things, something to help out one person or to help out hundreds of people.
But we have to do it.
Safety won't come to the neighborhood until people in high crime areas start working together with police against the criminal element.
Jobs won't come to the neighborhood until crime is lower and education is higher.
We can't sit back and wait for change. As President, Obama can't make your children learn, he can't make them not get into crime, he can't make some-one give them a job. He can't make the criminals and drug dealers vanish.
That is your job.
That's what he has been telling you.
That is why you have that positive feeling within you.
Because you've been reminded that the power is yours.
So don't sit back and wait for Obama to change everything. He never said he alone could.
He said we could.
The boyz say: Yes, we can! Sleep in the bed with you tonight!
Friday, November 07, 2008
Yikes!
We have got to get the economy back under control!
With gas prices and everything else costing more and more, people can't afford to go out.
So they are staying home.
And making babies.
Lots and lots and lots of babies.
Loki sez: Where do babies come from, mommie?
With gas prices and everything else costing more and more, people can't afford to go out.
So they are staying home.
And making babies.
Lots and lots and lots of babies.
Loki sez: Where do babies come from, mommie?
Thursday, November 06, 2008
To: Christians in America
From: God
Re: American Election
What do I gotta do? You ask for rain on Obama, I sent beautiful sunshine. You prayed for my will to be done, now you bewail the election of Obama.
Have you ever stopped to consider that this is my will? That you've got it wrong?
If you believe it possible or even absolute that I will only allow my choice to be elected, why do you doubt me now?
Just because your choice was not elected does not mean that my choice was not.
Thank you.
P.S. To the woman in the Sunday school classroom last Sunday in West Ashley who said she was sure that I "didn't want a black man to be President", don't speak for me again thank you.
Re: American Election
What do I gotta do? You ask for rain on Obama, I sent beautiful sunshine. You prayed for my will to be done, now you bewail the election of Obama.
Have you ever stopped to consider that this is my will? That you've got it wrong?
If you believe it possible or even absolute that I will only allow my choice to be elected, why do you doubt me now?
Just because your choice was not elected does not mean that my choice was not.
Thank you.
P.S. To the woman in the Sunday school classroom last Sunday in West Ashley who said she was sure that I "didn't want a black man to be President", don't speak for me again thank you.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
There's Got to Be a Morning After...
Ms. Super Excitement that I am went to bed around 2100. My anxiety level was too high to keep watching. I hate exit polls. I hate the five jillion little "drawers" that the pundits have stuffed us into. I hate the constant speculation.
Just give the results as they come in.
I missed Tim Russert's smiling face.
So I went to bed with the hope that the world would still be here when I awoke.
I had hope for Linda Ketner and Barack Obama.
I was insulted by Linsday Graham. Yes. I felt he was waving a big, fat, insolent middle finger at his loyal constituents the entire election. Why he wasn't even in his own state! He was with his man-crush McCain in Arizona. Voted absentee ballot and off to Arizona to be with McCain instead of his supporters and the people he serves.
I mean, we all knew he was going to win because SC consistently votes red, but he didn't even feel like he had to thank his supporters in the state?
Whatever. I need to write him. I have a question. He promised in an interview that if Obama won, he would go to Washington and fight Obama "tooth and nail" on every issue that came his way. Even if it's something good for the country? And on his campaign ads, Graham bragged that he could "reach across the aisles to work together."
Which is it I would like to know?
When I woke up this morning, Jason was already awake and I asked him, "How is the world today?"
And the world was good. I was happy that my candidate, Barack Obama, has won. I was even more happy that he won by a good margin both in electoral votes and popular votes.
Our great nation does not need to continue to tear ourselves apart any more. I really hope we don't.
Here are some of the reasons I supported Obama:
I find him to be an intelligent, thoughtful, intuitive person, qualities I believe will serve us well in this complex world.
He is a self made man. America loves to tell people to pull themselves up from their bootstraps. Well, Obama did that. Perhaps it is because we are close in age, but I remember those times in the late 70's, early 80's when as teens, we just drifted along in the post-Vietnam, pre-Reagan era. Yes, he messed up as a teen. So did I. I smoked my share of pot under the senior oak tree at Middleton High School. And we both decided that doing that was stupid and not the path to a better life, so we stopped and began applying ourselves to building a positive, meaningful life.
I believe in social welfare. Sorry. I do. I do not believe in corporate welfare in the form of tax exemptions and subsidies. I just think we are doing social welfare very wrong in this nation and we make it easy to get on welfare, but very hard to get off. I like Obama's ideas on giving a helping hand to young mothers (and fathers) in a way that leads them into a better life, a way that doesn't just give them money and expect them to suddenly learn all the skills they need without guidance. People have heard me say this before about welfare in this country: we have wasted our ounce of prevention and the only thing left is the pound of cure. Yes, if we want to stop supporting all those poor people out there, we actually have to do something that costs some money.
And on a more ephemeral level. I think there is going to be a huge boost to youth in this nation. Young people who have been "told" all their lives that they can achieve, but grow up "seeing" that story very rarely happens in their experience. Now, they see. Mixed race kid whose dad put on his boogie shoes, raised mostly by grandparents, had pay for his own college, but worked hard, used his head, made a conscious decision that he would not give up.
I also think that Obama will help us with creating a more secure world simply because the leaders of other countries see him as someone who they can work with. We will not defeat terrorist with the cowboy-shoot-em-up attitude we have had. I know people who say they don't care what the rest of the world thinks of us. But it is important. More important now that ever before. We must work with the world to end terrorism. We must try to work against poverty and genocide and war. We can't do it alone. And I think Barack Obama is the man who can begin to rebuild the bridges we have burned these past eight years.
Do I think he can do everything he said during his campaign in the first year of his presidency? No. No president, Republican or Democrat has been able to do that. But his election changes the tone of government.
To me, the voice of the people has spoken clearly. Enough negativity. Enough hateful rhetoric, enough dividing us into bits and pieces of our lives. Work together.
We are America. The best damn country on the planet. We are generous, we are hard working, we are industrious and smart, we want better for all our children, we are faithful, we are kind.
We are not mean, angry, liars, ripping and snarling at each other.
We are not afraid.
And we will not allow others to make us afraid anymore.
Just give the results as they come in.
I missed Tim Russert's smiling face.
So I went to bed with the hope that the world would still be here when I awoke.
I had hope for Linda Ketner and Barack Obama.
I was insulted by Linsday Graham. Yes. I felt he was waving a big, fat, insolent middle finger at his loyal constituents the entire election. Why he wasn't even in his own state! He was with his man-crush McCain in Arizona. Voted absentee ballot and off to Arizona to be with McCain instead of his supporters and the people he serves.
I mean, we all knew he was going to win because SC consistently votes red, but he didn't even feel like he had to thank his supporters in the state?
Whatever. I need to write him. I have a question. He promised in an interview that if Obama won, he would go to Washington and fight Obama "tooth and nail" on every issue that came his way. Even if it's something good for the country? And on his campaign ads, Graham bragged that he could "reach across the aisles to work together."
Which is it I would like to know?
When I woke up this morning, Jason was already awake and I asked him, "How is the world today?"
And the world was good. I was happy that my candidate, Barack Obama, has won. I was even more happy that he won by a good margin both in electoral votes and popular votes.
Our great nation does not need to continue to tear ourselves apart any more. I really hope we don't.
Here are some of the reasons I supported Obama:
I find him to be an intelligent, thoughtful, intuitive person, qualities I believe will serve us well in this complex world.
He is a self made man. America loves to tell people to pull themselves up from their bootstraps. Well, Obama did that. Perhaps it is because we are close in age, but I remember those times in the late 70's, early 80's when as teens, we just drifted along in the post-Vietnam, pre-Reagan era. Yes, he messed up as a teen. So did I. I smoked my share of pot under the senior oak tree at Middleton High School. And we both decided that doing that was stupid and not the path to a better life, so we stopped and began applying ourselves to building a positive, meaningful life.
I believe in social welfare. Sorry. I do. I do not believe in corporate welfare in the form of tax exemptions and subsidies. I just think we are doing social welfare very wrong in this nation and we make it easy to get on welfare, but very hard to get off. I like Obama's ideas on giving a helping hand to young mothers (and fathers) in a way that leads them into a better life, a way that doesn't just give them money and expect them to suddenly learn all the skills they need without guidance. People have heard me say this before about welfare in this country: we have wasted our ounce of prevention and the only thing left is the pound of cure. Yes, if we want to stop supporting all those poor people out there, we actually have to do something that costs some money.
And on a more ephemeral level. I think there is going to be a huge boost to youth in this nation. Young people who have been "told" all their lives that they can achieve, but grow up "seeing" that story very rarely happens in their experience. Now, they see. Mixed race kid whose dad put on his boogie shoes, raised mostly by grandparents, had pay for his own college, but worked hard, used his head, made a conscious decision that he would not give up.
I also think that Obama will help us with creating a more secure world simply because the leaders of other countries see him as someone who they can work with. We will not defeat terrorist with the cowboy-shoot-em-up attitude we have had. I know people who say they don't care what the rest of the world thinks of us. But it is important. More important now that ever before. We must work with the world to end terrorism. We must try to work against poverty and genocide and war. We can't do it alone. And I think Barack Obama is the man who can begin to rebuild the bridges we have burned these past eight years.
Do I think he can do everything he said during his campaign in the first year of his presidency? No. No president, Republican or Democrat has been able to do that. But his election changes the tone of government.
To me, the voice of the people has spoken clearly. Enough negativity. Enough hateful rhetoric, enough dividing us into bits and pieces of our lives. Work together.
We are America. The best damn country on the planet. We are generous, we are hard working, we are industrious and smart, we want better for all our children, we are faithful, we are kind.
We are not mean, angry, liars, ripping and snarling at each other.
We are not afraid.
And we will not allow others to make us afraid anymore.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Done!
I left home a few minutes before 0600. It took me about 15 minutes to walk to the neighborhood elementary school where we vote. Saw one guy out getting his newspaper and hardly any lights on in any houses as I passed.
I started to feel a little silly about leaving so early, figuring I'd be sitting up there all alone, but there was already a line when I arrived. About 20 people were ahead of me.
Had a nice little chat with some neighbors and a co-worker about the school, the neighborhood and how great it was to grow up/raise children here.
Oh, and I don't think I was too obvious wearing my jeans and hiking boots, carrying my "Tree Hugger, Planet Lover" tote bag, my World Wild Life Federation umbrella and my novel about the reign of King Henry VII. At least the crowd didn't stone me.
I was done, finished, walking out the door at about 0745. No problems that I saw with checking in - the young man ahead of me had moved but not gotten a new registration card and they pulled him out of line to solve the problem without holding up the rest of us.
There were only three voting machines though. I was a bit surprised. I'm pretty sure there was at least four, possibly six the last presidential election. But I may be confusing that with voting at the primary, where there were more because several districts were voting in one place at that time.
I had no problems with the machine itself. The lady I was chatting with in line had told me she'd never used this type before. When I caught up with her on the walk home, she said the poll worker had explained it to her and she didn't have any problems either.
Please thank your poll workers for the work they do!
And just to act like a socialist since that's what some have been calling me lately, I offered my folding chair free to the crowd and told them to just leave it for whoever needs it.
Jason was behind me in line, I was leaving the house just when he got up. Perhaps 50/60 people ahead of him after I'd finished up. There was a good mix of people. Young, old, in-between, black, white.
Edit: Jason called at 0845 to let me know he was finished and off to work.
I'm not very good at estimating numbers, but there was probably 100 total in line. Walking home, I was asked by four people how the lines were. A good, uneventful experience, but then, luckily, I've never experienced a problem.
I don't consider having to wait in line a problem.
Loki sez: Yippee!
I started to feel a little silly about leaving so early, figuring I'd be sitting up there all alone, but there was already a line when I arrived. About 20 people were ahead of me.
Had a nice little chat with some neighbors and a co-worker about the school, the neighborhood and how great it was to grow up/raise children here.
Oh, and I don't think I was too obvious wearing my jeans and hiking boots, carrying my "Tree Hugger, Planet Lover" tote bag, my World Wild Life Federation umbrella and my novel about the reign of King Henry VII. At least the crowd didn't stone me.
I was done, finished, walking out the door at about 0745. No problems that I saw with checking in - the young man ahead of me had moved but not gotten a new registration card and they pulled him out of line to solve the problem without holding up the rest of us.
There were only three voting machines though. I was a bit surprised. I'm pretty sure there was at least four, possibly six the last presidential election. But I may be confusing that with voting at the primary, where there were more because several districts were voting in one place at that time.
I had no problems with the machine itself. The lady I was chatting with in line had told me she'd never used this type before. When I caught up with her on the walk home, she said the poll worker had explained it to her and she didn't have any problems either.
Please thank your poll workers for the work they do!
And just to act like a socialist since that's what some have been calling me lately, I offered my folding chair free to the crowd and told them to just leave it for whoever needs it.
Jason was behind me in line, I was leaving the house just when he got up. Perhaps 50/60 people ahead of him after I'd finished up. There was a good mix of people. Young, old, in-between, black, white.
Edit: Jason called at 0845 to let me know he was finished and off to work.
I'm not very good at estimating numbers, but there was probably 100 total in line. Walking home, I was asked by four people how the lines were. A good, uneventful experience, but then, luckily, I've never experienced a problem.
I don't consider having to wait in line a problem.
Loki sez: Yippee!
Semi-Live Blogging
Ha-ha. Semi because I am a technology Luddite. I don't have anything that could remotely be called new technology. Jason forced me to get a cell phone but all it does is - gasp - make phone calls! I still don't know, after several "explanations", what the heck a Twitter is or does or why I should have/do it. Jason has a laptop but I'm pretty sure there is no Wi-Fi at the elementary school.
So, it is almost 5:00 a.m. Soon, I'll pack up my stuff and walk up to the school to get in line.
I can't even begin to say how sad I was to see that Obama's grandmother passed away yesterday. On the very eve of her grandson possibly making history. Tragically sad.
Thor sez: GO VOTE!
So, it is almost 5:00 a.m. Soon, I'll pack up my stuff and walk up to the school to get in line.
I can't even begin to say how sad I was to see that Obama's grandmother passed away yesterday. On the very eve of her grandson possibly making history. Tragically sad.
Thor sez: GO VOTE!
Monday, November 03, 2008
Planning Ahead
I bought a light weight, easy to carry, easy to open chair to take with me tomorrow. I can walk all day long if I have to, but I can't stand in one spot for more than 15 minutes without my back going into spasms.
I bought a new book to read.
I have an umbrella in case of rain.
I'll get up early enough to be at the school by 0530 or 0600. I'm going to walk, it's only a couple of blocks and will help with traffic/parking congestion.
Some water, some snacks for my weirding out pancreas which has apparently gotten into the election paranoia fever and sends out a ton of insulin whenever it detects a hint of sugar in my blood. (I think its new motto is "let's fight the glucose in the blood stream so we don't have to fight it in the fat cells!" and while a good idea, I sorta do need some of that sugar for things like staying conscious.)
I'll be there for the duration.
Then I get to come home and snuggle on the couch and watch election coverage until my head explodes.
Remember, if you don't vote, everything is all your fault. Things will not get better until all of America demands that improvements be made.
I made a comment to an acquaintance that hurt her feelings, although it wasn't my intent. I said that the "world is going to end soon any way, so why bother" excuse was a cop out so she didn't have to try to fix things.
I don't think what I said was wrong, I just think I said it a little too forcefully. And I wish I'd put more emphasis on my belief that while we, as Americans, have perfected the art of arguing over who has the "right" solution, none of us have been very good at applying our solutions.
My ideas might work for that person, her ideas would work for that one. If we all just got busy on a personal, local level and did what we could instead of standing around and screaming Liberal or Conservative at each other, perhaps we could break this paralysis we as a nation have been caught in and actually start seeing improvements.
Thor sez: Together, we can take on the world.
Loki sez: Maybe after lunch.
I bought a new book to read.
I have an umbrella in case of rain.
I'll get up early enough to be at the school by 0530 or 0600. I'm going to walk, it's only a couple of blocks and will help with traffic/parking congestion.
Some water, some snacks for my weirding out pancreas which has apparently gotten into the election paranoia fever and sends out a ton of insulin whenever it detects a hint of sugar in my blood. (I think its new motto is "let's fight the glucose in the blood stream so we don't have to fight it in the fat cells!" and while a good idea, I sorta do need some of that sugar for things like staying conscious.)
I'll be there for the duration.
Then I get to come home and snuggle on the couch and watch election coverage until my head explodes.
Remember, if you don't vote, everything is all your fault. Things will not get better until all of America demands that improvements be made.
I made a comment to an acquaintance that hurt her feelings, although it wasn't my intent. I said that the "world is going to end soon any way, so why bother" excuse was a cop out so she didn't have to try to fix things.
I don't think what I said was wrong, I just think I said it a little too forcefully. And I wish I'd put more emphasis on my belief that while we, as Americans, have perfected the art of arguing over who has the "right" solution, none of us have been very good at applying our solutions.
My ideas might work for that person, her ideas would work for that one. If we all just got busy on a personal, local level and did what we could instead of standing around and screaming Liberal or Conservative at each other, perhaps we could break this paralysis we as a nation have been caught in and actually start seeing improvements.
Thor sez: Together, we can take on the world.
Loki sez: Maybe after lunch.
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