Big surprise, but I was a voracious reader as a kid. I got to thinking this morning about books I loved. My favorite book was "Highland Rebel" by Sally Watson. The little girl in it was just so different, quite a tomboy and she got into and out of trouble because of it. I loved the Caroline Haywood "Betsy" books. I read all the "Bucky Button's" I remember reading a series of books with a little girl who was oddly named Katie John- John was NOT her last name, as I recall.
I looked these books up on the internet to see if my childhood memory of them was true. For the most part, it was. The thing that got me was all of these people who talked about how kids shouldn't read any of these books because they had the wrong "attitude" about things; in essence, they were not politically correct. Excuse me? I think books open up a whole window to the past. Have views of things changed? Yes they have, but we cannot whitewash the past or erase it. Do we tell young adults not to read "Uncle Tom's Cabin" or "Huckleberry Finn" because the attitudes expressed in those books do not jibe with today's view of things? Do we eliminate all the things we don't want our children to know existed? It's a bit like the story of Sleeping Beauty. When the curse was laid about her pricking her finger on a spinning wheel, her parents banned all spinning wheels. Guess what? She found it anyway. Wouldn't it have been better if they had simply told her it was dangerous and WHY and talked to her about it? I suppose it would have been a very boring story if they had.
I doubt children are guided to these books, I found them on my own as a child. I rarely read what the librarians suggested anyway. I remember trying to read a book called "the Teddy Bear Habit" after one of the local librarians book-talked it. It was boring. Maybe someone else liked it, but it was not for me. That's what is so great about libraries; there is always something that speaks to you, informs you and nourishes your soul.
I am reading Michael Collins' memoir about his time at NASA. His views are "politically incorrect" but reflect the mindset of the 1960's Am I offended, do I think I should stop reading them? No. I just look at it and see not only how far we have come but how much further we still have to go.
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Monday, May 26, 2014
Memorial Day thoughts
Memorial Day. For some, it is the mark of the beginning of Summer, of barbecue season, if you will. As kid, I thought of it in those terms. Now as an adult, I am looking at it in other ways.
I woke up this morning thinking of the poem "In Flanders Fields, the poppies blow, between the crosses, row on row" It was written by a surgeon who was in the trenches of WWI, aka "the War to end all Wars", noble thought , that. Sadly we still have wars and WWII was even worse. The poppy became the symbol of veterans of those conflicts, you don't see them so much these days. The Viet Nam vets, in particular, don't wear their service as a badge of honor and it's a shame. I hated the war, but try to honor those who fought. They were not to blame for our involvement. Politics.
But as usual, I digress.
I want to think about those who fought for this country, who were wounded either physically or emotionally. You cannot see the terrible cost of war and not be changed. A lot of vets came home and tried to pretend like nothing happened, that they were tough. They were tough, but still it cannot be easy. My Dad was a veteran of the Battle of the Bulge. He was attached to the Medical Corps and he told me a few stories about that time. I remember he told me about a German soldier, a boy, he said about eighteen who had lost his arm and was in Allied custody. He said the boy was sitting, unmoving. My father gently told him that the war was over for him. Th boy looked at his missing arm and a tear slid down his face . My father told him "Das ist Kreig" ( That is war) My father also told me about not having enough blankets for the wounded and how they took the blankets covering the dead. He said at first it felt wrong, but then realized that the dead wouldn't care.
On this day, I will strive to remember the sacrifices made for me and for future generations, by those who fought and died and by those who fought and lived. I wonder if there is a place I can buy a paper remembrance poppy.
I woke up this morning thinking of the poem "In Flanders Fields, the poppies blow, between the crosses, row on row" It was written by a surgeon who was in the trenches of WWI, aka "the War to end all Wars", noble thought , that. Sadly we still have wars and WWII was even worse. The poppy became the symbol of veterans of those conflicts, you don't see them so much these days. The Viet Nam vets, in particular, don't wear their service as a badge of honor and it's a shame. I hated the war, but try to honor those who fought. They were not to blame for our involvement. Politics.
But as usual, I digress.
I want to think about those who fought for this country, who were wounded either physically or emotionally. You cannot see the terrible cost of war and not be changed. A lot of vets came home and tried to pretend like nothing happened, that they were tough. They were tough, but still it cannot be easy. My Dad was a veteran of the Battle of the Bulge. He was attached to the Medical Corps and he told me a few stories about that time. I remember he told me about a German soldier, a boy, he said about eighteen who had lost his arm and was in Allied custody. He said the boy was sitting, unmoving. My father gently told him that the war was over for him. Th boy looked at his missing arm and a tear slid down his face . My father told him "Das ist Kreig" ( That is war) My father also told me about not having enough blankets for the wounded and how they took the blankets covering the dead. He said at first it felt wrong, but then realized that the dead wouldn't care.
On this day, I will strive to remember the sacrifices made for me and for future generations, by those who fought and died and by those who fought and lived. I wonder if there is a place I can buy a paper remembrance poppy.
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Los Angeles, misunderstood.
There are many misconceptions about the city I call my home, the City of the Angels. I am a rarity, a native Angeleno. I was born at a hospital on Sunset Bl and raised a Valley Girl (without the snobby uninformed attitude portrayed in the song). I am proud to BE an Angeleno, prouder still to have worked for the City for almost 38 years. I love what I do. I get to see almost immediate results of my work. I am not saying it doesn't make me crazy sometimes, but it is a worthwhile career.
There are HUGE misconceptions, though, about living in Los Angeles, like:
Everyone is an actor or wants to be in "The Industry"
Funny, I never did. Oh sure working for the studios is a lucrative job IF you can get it. It's often feast or famine with those kinds of jobs, You work REALLY insane hours for a brief period of time, then... nothing. Sometimes very long stretches of nothing.
Most people who live here work in "normal" jobs you would find in any large city. I have lived here all my life and I know few people who make their living in "the Industry"
Everyone waiting tables is an actor
Actually, a fair amount of them are students or people who actually choose to work in the food service industry for reasons other than being "discovered"
You can be "discovered"and making millions right away
That only happens IN the movies. Sorry, most people who are working in "the Industry" have studied and "paid their dues" by putting in the work. Acting is an art and must be developed. It's not as easy as it looks.
You always run into George Clooney at the grocery store
It's possible that George may stop into Trader Joe's for some guac, but highly unlikely. Most "famous" people probably have staff that do their day-to-day stuff. Maybe it's just me but I almost never recognize "famous celebrities" anyway. My father always told me that acting was "just another job" I take that to heart.
Everyone works out and has a beach-ready body
I should post a picture of me. I haven't had a "Beach body" since the mid 1980's I know I need to exercise more, but I am not consumed with going to the gym. I don't know a lot of people who are, although I DID work with a woman who was ultra thin and overly concerned with not gaining a gram of fat. She would eat ONE Hershey's kiss and moan "Oh I am going to have to do an extra hour on the StairMaster to work off that yummy treat" She actually SAID "Yummy treat" She was forever offering me power bars to replace what I had for lunch ( she was especially offended by my pork chops) She used to wax rhapsodic about the fiber in them. I used to reply "I would rather eat the box it came in"
It never rains here or There are no seasons in LA
It rains. A lot. I live in the foothills. We get flood warnings and mudslides. Not too often, but we do get a good amount of rain in January and February. It also rains in August. Tourists who come in August are constantly amazed by that. It is not always sunny here, but the weather is not as extreme as it is in the rest of the country. There are no storms that try to kill you ( we have had a tornado or two , but that's rare) Winter is cold and we get some rain. Spring is warmer and we get some rain. Summer is HOT and sunny ( except for some days in August) September, aka "Indian Summer" can be even HOTTER than July. Autumn, when it comes is brief, crisp, clear and chilly. As a kid I loved Summer, but as an Adult, I look forward to Autumn.
I love living in Los Angeles. I can't really imagine living anywhere else. We have everything nearby; the beach ( although I rarely go there, as I am a pale blue person and I don't body surf anymore), the mountains ( I live on the edge of the forest) and the desert. We have music and theater and good food choices ( although not so much up here in S-T) We have a very diverse population and lively communities. I love that when you call into the City's main information number, the "hold" music is all LA themed. I heard "Nobody walks in LA" while waiting for the telephone services group the other day. Only in LA!
There are HUGE misconceptions, though, about living in Los Angeles, like:
Everyone is an actor or wants to be in "The Industry"
Funny, I never did. Oh sure working for the studios is a lucrative job IF you can get it. It's often feast or famine with those kinds of jobs, You work REALLY insane hours for a brief period of time, then... nothing. Sometimes very long stretches of nothing.
Most people who live here work in "normal" jobs you would find in any large city. I have lived here all my life and I know few people who make their living in "the Industry"
Everyone waiting tables is an actor
Actually, a fair amount of them are students or people who actually choose to work in the food service industry for reasons other than being "discovered"
You can be "discovered"and making millions right away
That only happens IN the movies. Sorry, most people who are working in "the Industry" have studied and "paid their dues" by putting in the work. Acting is an art and must be developed. It's not as easy as it looks.
You always run into George Clooney at the grocery store
It's possible that George may stop into Trader Joe's for some guac, but highly unlikely. Most "famous" people probably have staff that do their day-to-day stuff. Maybe it's just me but I almost never recognize "famous celebrities" anyway. My father always told me that acting was "just another job" I take that to heart.
Everyone works out and has a beach-ready body
I should post a picture of me. I haven't had a "Beach body" since the mid 1980's I know I need to exercise more, but I am not consumed with going to the gym. I don't know a lot of people who are, although I DID work with a woman who was ultra thin and overly concerned with not gaining a gram of fat. She would eat ONE Hershey's kiss and moan "Oh I am going to have to do an extra hour on the StairMaster to work off that yummy treat" She actually SAID "Yummy treat" She was forever offering me power bars to replace what I had for lunch ( she was especially offended by my pork chops) She used to wax rhapsodic about the fiber in them. I used to reply "I would rather eat the box it came in"
It never rains here or There are no seasons in LA
It rains. A lot. I live in the foothills. We get flood warnings and mudslides. Not too often, but we do get a good amount of rain in January and February. It also rains in August. Tourists who come in August are constantly amazed by that. It is not always sunny here, but the weather is not as extreme as it is in the rest of the country. There are no storms that try to kill you ( we have had a tornado or two , but that's rare) Winter is cold and we get some rain. Spring is warmer and we get some rain. Summer is HOT and sunny ( except for some days in August) September, aka "Indian Summer" can be even HOTTER than July. Autumn, when it comes is brief, crisp, clear and chilly. As a kid I loved Summer, but as an Adult, I look forward to Autumn.
I love living in Los Angeles. I can't really imagine living anywhere else. We have everything nearby; the beach ( although I rarely go there, as I am a pale blue person and I don't body surf anymore), the mountains ( I live on the edge of the forest) and the desert. We have music and theater and good food choices ( although not so much up here in S-T) We have a very diverse population and lively communities. I love that when you call into the City's main information number, the "hold" music is all LA themed. I heard "Nobody walks in LA" while waiting for the telephone services group the other day. Only in LA!
Friday, May 23, 2014
Friday thoughts
It's going to be a long and rocky weekend , for reasons I will not go into here. Those of you who know me know I am facing an issue that is weighing on me. I am proceeding gently, but some things, no matter how gently you try to resolve them cannot be resolved without some kind of pain. Chris and I are solving this together- it's not a problem between US. My husband is my rock. Every day I am grateful for him and marvel that I found him and that he is in my life.
I was listening to Joni Mitchell yesterday on my way home. The song "Blue" came on. The opening line is "Blue, songs are like tattoos" I have heard that song countless times since the album came out in the 70's, but I guess I never really thought about that line. How IS a song like a tattoo? I guess that a really good song makes an indelible mark on us, that we draw something from it and it changes our thoughts or how we see something. Some songs come along and really make you think. I know that Peter Gabriel's "Solsbury Hill" gave me the push I needed to change jobs a number of years ago. I believe it was a song he wrote about leaving Genesis and striking out on his own. I love that song for the feelings of uncertainty that it addresses and the joy he expresses at the end about making the decision. I think I need to find a copy and listen to it today!
As a person who loves words, I find that lyrics often have the greater impact on me, but there are songs that improve or inform my mood with just a bass line, or a guitar lick or a drum beat. I heard "Tusk" the other day. The song was NOT one of my favorites when it came out, but hearing it the other day, I really got into the drumming. Intense! The song is still stupid, lyrically, but the drumming will bring me back for another listen.
I am at McGroarty this evening, tending bar at the Fourth Fridays Event. Come up and see me! The band is Tracy Newman and the Reinforcements. The songs are well written and funny from what I hear in the snippets I downloaded. I just hope it stops RAINING!!!!
I was listening to Joni Mitchell yesterday on my way home. The song "Blue" came on. The opening line is "Blue, songs are like tattoos" I have heard that song countless times since the album came out in the 70's, but I guess I never really thought about that line. How IS a song like a tattoo? I guess that a really good song makes an indelible mark on us, that we draw something from it and it changes our thoughts or how we see something. Some songs come along and really make you think. I know that Peter Gabriel's "Solsbury Hill" gave me the push I needed to change jobs a number of years ago. I believe it was a song he wrote about leaving Genesis and striking out on his own. I love that song for the feelings of uncertainty that it addresses and the joy he expresses at the end about making the decision. I think I need to find a copy and listen to it today!
As a person who loves words, I find that lyrics often have the greater impact on me, but there are songs that improve or inform my mood with just a bass line, or a guitar lick or a drum beat. I heard "Tusk" the other day. The song was NOT one of my favorites when it came out, but hearing it the other day, I really got into the drumming. Intense! The song is still stupid, lyrically, but the drumming will bring me back for another listen.
I am at McGroarty this evening, tending bar at the Fourth Fridays Event. Come up and see me! The band is Tracy Newman and the Reinforcements. The songs are well written and funny from what I hear in the snippets I downloaded. I just hope it stops RAINING!!!!
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Marriage is what brings us here today
I am attending the wedding of two dear friends this weekend and it got me thinking about how thing have changed in regard to the "institution" of marriage. It has changed from "when a man shall leave his mother and a woman leave her home" People are getting married later in life. It used to be, if you didn't have a boyfriend in high school and weren't married by 22 you were an old maid. I am glad THAT has changed! Women are now free to pursue degrees and careers. To be happy with who they are and not define themselves by the man in their lives.
Still, I am thinking of what "pearls of wisdom" I might impart to my soon-to-be-wed friends. I suppose the most important is to never forget why you fell in love in the first place. The second is that the only constant is change and we will grow and change, but try to grow in the same direction so you are not so far apart. Have goals and dreams together for your combined happiness. The time for thinking only of yourself has passed.
They always say "don't go to bed angry" well sometimes you should! Sometimes a good night's sleep is what you both need to put things in perspective. Sometimes, in my first marriage, I was too tired to keep arguing about things and if I could just go to sleep, I would have been calmer in the morning.
There is no "one size fits all" pattern for a happy marriage, but love and trust are the solid rock on which to build one. Once either of those are gone, nothing else matters. Love will change and become less the "butterflies in the stomach" ( although my husband can look at me and make my heart skip a beat) love becomes a warmth that you feel daily in a much softer way.
So Max and Christine, as you prepare to start this phase of your journey together, with your friends and family around you, I wish you love and laughter all the days of your lives.
Still, I am thinking of what "pearls of wisdom" I might impart to my soon-to-be-wed friends. I suppose the most important is to never forget why you fell in love in the first place. The second is that the only constant is change and we will grow and change, but try to grow in the same direction so you are not so far apart. Have goals and dreams together for your combined happiness. The time for thinking only of yourself has passed.
They always say "don't go to bed angry" well sometimes you should! Sometimes a good night's sleep is what you both need to put things in perspective. Sometimes, in my first marriage, I was too tired to keep arguing about things and if I could just go to sleep, I would have been calmer in the morning.
There is no "one size fits all" pattern for a happy marriage, but love and trust are the solid rock on which to build one. Once either of those are gone, nothing else matters. Love will change and become less the "butterflies in the stomach" ( although my husband can look at me and make my heart skip a beat) love becomes a warmth that you feel daily in a much softer way.
So Max and Christine, as you prepare to start this phase of your journey together, with your friends and family around you, I wish you love and laughter all the days of your lives.
Sunday, May 11, 2014
An attitude.... of Gratitude!
Making coffee in my kitchen this morning, I was thinking about how people don't seem happy anymore. How people are always wishing for grander things and not looking at the little things in their lives that are really quite special when you think of them. I need to work on that myself, although every day I am thankful and try to put that out there in the world.
This morning, I was grateful for coffee and fresh water to make it with. It's a small thing, here in America, but there are people all over the world who don't have that. I am trying to remember that I have so much and to be content in the things I have; although working toward the things I realistically want is not out of my thoughts either.
I found out this morning that a local business, The Back Door Bakery, burned down. From the one photo I saw on line, it looks like a total loss. It's a shame. They had just expanded their businesses to the new store and were doing well. I hope they can rebuild. The owner is beloved in this community and I am certain they will rally around her to make it happen. I had been in the store early on, but due to my nut allergy, have never felt comfortable eating the beautiful pastries in the case. I was always going to go and get a meal there, the food looked very good, but never got there.
Every day, I am going to try to be grateful for small things in my life. I am always grateful for my home, my friends and my family. I am going to try to be grateful for a green light when I am late to work, for someone holding the elevator for me, for a sunny day. I am going to try to remeber it's the small blessings that make life sweet.
This morning, I was grateful for coffee and fresh water to make it with. It's a small thing, here in America, but there are people all over the world who don't have that. I am trying to remember that I have so much and to be content in the things I have; although working toward the things I realistically want is not out of my thoughts either.
I found out this morning that a local business, The Back Door Bakery, burned down. From the one photo I saw on line, it looks like a total loss. It's a shame. They had just expanded their businesses to the new store and were doing well. I hope they can rebuild. The owner is beloved in this community and I am certain they will rally around her to make it happen. I had been in the store early on, but due to my nut allergy, have never felt comfortable eating the beautiful pastries in the case. I was always going to go and get a meal there, the food looked very good, but never got there.
Every day, I am going to try to be grateful for small things in my life. I am always grateful for my home, my friends and my family. I am going to try to be grateful for a green light when I am late to work, for someone holding the elevator for me, for a sunny day. I am going to try to remeber it's the small blessings that make life sweet.
Friday, May 9, 2014
What I got from my Mother
I talk a lot about my Dad, I guess, but not so much about my Mom. As Mother's Day approaches and my daughter prepares to join the "Mother" group, I am thinking about my Mom.
I got her worry gene. I need to work on NOT worrying, but I can't seem to help it. She worried about everything. She once called the gas company to ask where the bill was. She was afraid she hadn't paid it and they were going to shut the gas off.
My mom was into sewing, I am not, but my daughter is. I can knit, crochet and needlepoint. I can embroider; but SEW? Not my favorite thing to do. I can mend a tear and hem my jeans- a skill learned in Jr. high, being so short it was a survival skill. In high school, my jeans and my denim shirts all has elaborate embroidery, long before they made machines that you could use, I was designing pictures on my clothes.
I got my love of family and holidays from my mom. She was never so happy as when the whole family was in the house for Christmas. She loved Christmas and spent a lot of time decorating the house. In the past few years, Christmas has kind of snuck up on me and the house is minimally decorated. I love Thanksgiving, with it's traditional food and the warm smells of a roasting turkey or a fresh-baked pie.
I got my love of reading from my mom. She and my grandmother read to me and I started reading early. I read constantly. It is one form of relaxation. If I can lose myself in a good book, it erases some of the stress my normal day to day activities bring to my life. I plan on reading to my grandson, just as I read to his mother and just as my mother read to me.
Still, I miss my mom. I missed her the day I married Chris, although I believe in my heart of hearts that she was there somehow. I will miss her when I cuddle my grandson in September for the first time. She would be so happy. I wonder who I will see in the boy when I look at him for the first time. The kids are naming him after my father. If the baby had been a girl, they would have named her after my mother.
So, Happy Mother's Day, Mom, and Happy Mother's day to all those moms out there. If you can still hug yours, hug her for me.
I got her worry gene. I need to work on NOT worrying, but I can't seem to help it. She worried about everything. She once called the gas company to ask where the bill was. She was afraid she hadn't paid it and they were going to shut the gas off.
My mom was into sewing, I am not, but my daughter is. I can knit, crochet and needlepoint. I can embroider; but SEW? Not my favorite thing to do. I can mend a tear and hem my jeans- a skill learned in Jr. high, being so short it was a survival skill. In high school, my jeans and my denim shirts all has elaborate embroidery, long before they made machines that you could use, I was designing pictures on my clothes.
I got my love of family and holidays from my mom. She was never so happy as when the whole family was in the house for Christmas. She loved Christmas and spent a lot of time decorating the house. In the past few years, Christmas has kind of snuck up on me and the house is minimally decorated. I love Thanksgiving, with it's traditional food and the warm smells of a roasting turkey or a fresh-baked pie.
I got my love of reading from my mom. She and my grandmother read to me and I started reading early. I read constantly. It is one form of relaxation. If I can lose myself in a good book, it erases some of the stress my normal day to day activities bring to my life. I plan on reading to my grandson, just as I read to his mother and just as my mother read to me.
Still, I miss my mom. I missed her the day I married Chris, although I believe in my heart of hearts that she was there somehow. I will miss her when I cuddle my grandson in September for the first time. She would be so happy. I wonder who I will see in the boy when I look at him for the first time. The kids are naming him after my father. If the baby had been a girl, they would have named her after my mother.
So, Happy Mother's Day, Mom, and Happy Mother's day to all those moms out there. If you can still hug yours, hug her for me.
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Don't piss me off
I saw a meme today that said something like "I don't need to work on my anger issues. People have to work at not pissing me off." I can relate. I need to relax a bit, but things are really hacking me off these days. Venting usually helps, so here goes.
Parking. People who take up two parking spaces. I live on a street with a lot of apartments and parking can be dicey. One woman in my building parks her POS Toyota in the middle space in front of the building, effectively taking the space which COULD have accommodated TWO cars. Every. Freaking. Day. Like it's HER space. GRRRR. There was a guy who parked in the parking garage where I work who took a space on the end but parked across it so that so car could possibly park next to him and ding the door on his new BMW. What this genius failed to realize was that the NOSE of the car was hanging out in the aisle. One a corner. Freaking BRILLIANT!
Two terms that should be banned from further usage in business discussions; "reaching out"and 'transparency". I am so SICK of hearing how a business or agency is "reaching out" to the community to find out what they need. It is SO overused. It is a sad attempt to make businesses seem all warm and fuzzy. STOP. Just STOP. As far as transparency, people only use that when they feel they are out of the loop. Demanding "transparency" just means that they feel they have the "right" to know all the intimate details of something. They probably don't really need to know, but they scream "where's the transparency?" at every opportunity.
Stupid thieves. Seriously, there has been a rash of plumbing thefts recently and I am flummoxed to figure out why. At one branch, they have stolen the pipe that connects the toilet to the wall TWICE. I have to wonder if someone is repairing a house. People steal the craziest things. I realize that SOME of the thefts have to do with the price of copper. What REALLY makes me crazy is the thought of all those unscrupulous recycling agencies. You HAVE to know that these people who come in with twelve newish back-flow devices aren't working for a construction company. I wonder about the people who were stealing manhole covers. Those are actually STAMPED City of Los Angeles!
As I go through my day today, I am going to work on my "attitude of gratitude" but some days are harder than others!
Parking. People who take up two parking spaces. I live on a street with a lot of apartments and parking can be dicey. One woman in my building parks her POS Toyota in the middle space in front of the building, effectively taking the space which COULD have accommodated TWO cars. Every. Freaking. Day. Like it's HER space. GRRRR. There was a guy who parked in the parking garage where I work who took a space on the end but parked across it so that so car could possibly park next to him and ding the door on his new BMW. What this genius failed to realize was that the NOSE of the car was hanging out in the aisle. One a corner. Freaking BRILLIANT!
Two terms that should be banned from further usage in business discussions; "reaching out"and 'transparency". I am so SICK of hearing how a business or agency is "reaching out" to the community to find out what they need. It is SO overused. It is a sad attempt to make businesses seem all warm and fuzzy. STOP. Just STOP. As far as transparency, people only use that when they feel they are out of the loop. Demanding "transparency" just means that they feel they have the "right" to know all the intimate details of something. They probably don't really need to know, but they scream "where's the transparency?" at every opportunity.
Stupid thieves. Seriously, there has been a rash of plumbing thefts recently and I am flummoxed to figure out why. At one branch, they have stolen the pipe that connects the toilet to the wall TWICE. I have to wonder if someone is repairing a house. People steal the craziest things. I realize that SOME of the thefts have to do with the price of copper. What REALLY makes me crazy is the thought of all those unscrupulous recycling agencies. You HAVE to know that these people who come in with twelve newish back-flow devices aren't working for a construction company. I wonder about the people who were stealing manhole covers. Those are actually STAMPED City of Los Angeles!
As I go through my day today, I am going to work on my "attitude of gratitude" but some days are harder than others!
Monday, May 5, 2014
I don't have much to say
"thought I'd call you up anyway" It's a line from an obscure James Taylor song. "Daddy's all Gone" about being on the road and on the phone with his kids. I love James, even in his worst moments ( Think"someone" from the "one Man Dog" album, where to my ear he goes horribly out of tune and soldiers on with it anyway.)
I've been busy, too busy to sit and think and collect my thoughts. Too much on my plate, as usual and I think I need to get SERIOUS about scaling down my commitments. I always seem to end one and begin another. I am getting tired of being the person in my volunteer organizations that everyone turns to when something needs doing. I don't mind DOING if everyone else is DOING as well. It gets old, seeing only the same people doing the "boots on the ground" work. isn't that the way it is everywhere though. A small handful work toward the goal while others sit back and talk about what needs to be done.
Rant over.
I did the "Relay for Life" this weekend. It was a smallish affair, but we raised over 7,000 for cancer research. It was fun and maybe next year I will do a bit more. It might be FUN to camp out and walk at three in the morning. You never know.
I have been thinking about the Clippers owner, and even though I truly believe he is a scum-weasel whose racist leanings should not win him any prizes, I think he was kind of set up with those recordings. NOT that I am defending him and he REALLY should have known better, but c'mon! Did he really think that woman was in love with him? He looks like the Crypt Keeper. I doubt they have anything in common but his money. They are both so not worth the time and ink it takes to print the story. Dirt and salacious gossip sell newspapers these days. It's a shame. Yellow journalism is the order of the day. Newspapers and television news are boiled down to soundbites and a fifth grade reading level.
It's a shame, really. We are educating our children to pass tests, not to think critically. We cannot expect them to learn if all they are doing is regurgitating facts to qualify their schools for more funds based on test scores. I fear for the next generation and what will happen to this country as we experience the "dumbing down" of our people.
I've been busy, too busy to sit and think and collect my thoughts. Too much on my plate, as usual and I think I need to get SERIOUS about scaling down my commitments. I always seem to end one and begin another. I am getting tired of being the person in my volunteer organizations that everyone turns to when something needs doing. I don't mind DOING if everyone else is DOING as well. It gets old, seeing only the same people doing the "boots on the ground" work. isn't that the way it is everywhere though. A small handful work toward the goal while others sit back and talk about what needs to be done.
Rant over.
I did the "Relay for Life" this weekend. It was a smallish affair, but we raised over 7,000 for cancer research. It was fun and maybe next year I will do a bit more. It might be FUN to camp out and walk at three in the morning. You never know.
I have been thinking about the Clippers owner, and even though I truly believe he is a scum-weasel whose racist leanings should not win him any prizes, I think he was kind of set up with those recordings. NOT that I am defending him and he REALLY should have known better, but c'mon! Did he really think that woman was in love with him? He looks like the Crypt Keeper. I doubt they have anything in common but his money. They are both so not worth the time and ink it takes to print the story. Dirt and salacious gossip sell newspapers these days. It's a shame. Yellow journalism is the order of the day. Newspapers and television news are boiled down to soundbites and a fifth grade reading level.
It's a shame, really. We are educating our children to pass tests, not to think critically. We cannot expect them to learn if all they are doing is regurgitating facts to qualify their schools for more funds based on test scores. I fear for the next generation and what will happen to this country as we experience the "dumbing down" of our people.
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