Wednesday, July 30, 2008

My Single Entry for July (I've been busy)

Three contractors are bidding to fix the White House fence, one from New York, another from Tennessee, and the third from Florida. They go with a White House official to examine the fence.

The Florida contractor takes out a tape measure and does some measuring,then works some figures with a pencil. Well, he says 'I figure the job will run about $900: $400 for materials, $400 for my crew, and $100 profit for me.

The Tennessee contractor also does some measuring and figuring, then says,'I can do this job for $700: $300 for materials, $300 for my crew, and $100 profit for me.

The New York contractor doesn't measure or figure, but leans over to the White House official and whispers: '$2,700.

The official, incredulous, says, 'You didn't even measure like the other guys! How did you come up with such a high figure?

$1,000 for me, $1,000 for you, and we hire the guy from Tennessee.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Sex and the City

This is a tad late but some female friends and co-workers have now seen the movie and are urging me to also. Other than being a great excuse to drink Cosmos, the movie was a short topic on another (hi bob!) amazing blog I read religiously, and this was my response there:

"I never really watched the show, mainly because I don’t have HBO at home, but I did watch a couple episodes while traveling (hotels ALWAYS have HBO). Sex and the City may have been a great study of female friendship but like Miranda pointed out in one episode I did watch, “How does it happen that four such smart women have nothing to talk about but boyfriends?”

I’m not saying it wasn’t a good show since it dealt with many important topics like infertility, bereavement, ageing, single motherhood, sexual discrimination and divorce, to name a few. And the way they spoke, and the things they talked about, were (supposedly) very revolutionary

BUT

If I had been a loyal fan of the show, I think I would have been disappointed at the end. Why do they (and most all other networks) always have to go back to the “traditional view” that the future for (most) women means marriage and children?"

- - - - - - - - - -

I would add: why is it that otherwise intelligent women are not seen as "fulfilled" in our society until they are married and have produced children? The one network program I did enjoy watching every week was "Mad About You." At last, an obviously in love couple enjoying life together without children - - - until the final episode when "Mable" came into the world and ruined it all. She was given a god-awful name that was proof positive (at least to me) that Jamie & Paul really did not want children in the first place, else why would they name their child Mable???????

OK, for a slow day, that's my two-cents on Sex and the City.

Monday, June 09, 2008

Letter to the Editor

I am modestly famous for my "Letters to the Editor" of my local newspaper. This latest was written in response to 2 rampaging pit bulls in and around my neighborhood. A neighbor's kitty cat I was particularly fond of was killed by these dogs and I've written a response to the article that appeared last Friday. It makes me even more glad my 3 kitties stay inside at all times.
- - - - - - - - -

To the Editor:

Four neighborhoods were terrorized by two rampaging dogs on Friday and beloved family pets slaughtered yet witnesses to the carnage “requested their names be withheld for fear of retribution from the dogs’ owners.” What is going on here? The fact that these witnesses are afraid to be identified speaks volumes about how these unfortunate dogs were used as tools of intimidation and will (hopefully) attract the police attention so badly needed.

The irresponsible and ignorant dog owners in this case obviously lack morals and have no respect for how their actions affect the rest of society. They should face felony charges for recklessly allowing their dangerous dogs to run at-large. I've also noticed how many owners of attacking dogs (of any breed) share so many commonalities: they are often known criminals and have not properly raised or trained their animals. They use their aggressive dogs solely to intimidate and are generally cowards. I am outraged that any thought of these animals being allowed back into our community is being entertained, they should be destroyed at their unremorseful owners’ expense.

I know it's very hip nowadays to have a potentially deadly dog as a fashion accessory and it just goes to show how few brain cells some of these morons have. We’ve all seen them around town, walking around with the crotch of their pants hanging down to their ankles, hat on sideways, tight “wife-beater” tee shirt clinging to their scrawny chest holding a leash attached to a vicious looking pit bull breed with a spiked collar. It’s a laughable sight to see since we all know what “inadequacy” they really suffer from.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

The Sabres are Rattling...Again

Where there's smoke, there's fire. Although entirely within the realm of possibility since the Bush regime has shown that it will tell any lie and orchestrate any event in order to “finish the job” in the Middle East.

“Finishing the job” means to destroy the ability of Iraq, Iran, and Syria to provide support for the Palestinians and for Hezbollah in southern Lebanon against Israeli aggression. With Iraq and Iran in turmoil, Syria might simply give up and become another American client state. With Iraq and Iran in turmoil, Israel can steal the rest of the West Bank along with the water resources in southern Lebanon. That is what “the war on terror” is really about.

I hope I'm wrong.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Saudis say No More Oil

Guess holding hands with King Abdullah didn't do any good, Dubya was told to go pack sand. Not to mention another ass-kissing trip to Saudi Arabia -at taxpayer's expense- shot to hell!

Maybe he should try flowers. Yeah, "Say it" with a dozen roses. Or chocolates, just not Godiva cuz she rode around neckid as a jay bird and we wouldn't want to add insult to injury by offending those camel molesters.

Hold on, I've got it: offer the hand of daughter Barbara Jr. in marriage to the King's son. WOW, what an alliance THAT would be. Instead of giving up golf (for the troops) Little Boots could sacrifice his own flesh & blood.

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Just got my "stimulus" refund

Woop-de-freakin-do!

Money borrowed from CHINA so's we can all go out and spend it on CRAP made in CHINA to bolster the economy of CHINA (hope it's not in Yen).

Seriously, the only stimulus this will provide is additional income for the gas companies, as I continue to pay the gouging rates to go to my job to earn money for gas to go to my job to earn money for gas to go to my job to earn money for gas…

Thanks for nothing Uncle George, you shure is watchin out for us little guys.

See ya'll at WalMart!

Monday, April 07, 2008

The CSU is the Solution!

The California State University that is, but our illustrious Republican "No New Taxes" Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to cut $386 MILLION from the CSU budget. In a time of budget crisis there are MORE reasons to fund public higher education than not:

1) California's economy thrives on knowledge-based innovation; higher education is the key to a troubled economy; people with bachelor's degrees earn more and add more to the tax base

2) Every dollar the state invests in the CSU directly generates $4.41 in spending; add to this the higher earnings by CSU graduates, and the return increases to $17 for every dollar invested by the state

3) The CSU prepares the people who do exactly the type of work the Governor says we need - engineers, teachers, and nurses; of all degrees granted in CA, CSU awards 51% in engineering, 64% in nursing ad 65% in business. If too few Californians are earning four-year degrees, we will not be able to meet future trained workforce needs


In perspective, spending for the War in Iraq now costs $720 million per day, including deferred costs such as long-term care for the wounded and interest on our debt. According to the American Friends Services Committee, for just one day's funding for the war, we could provide health insurance for 424,000 children; put 35,000 students through a 4-year college; pay the annual salary of 12,500 new classroom teachers, or buy school lunches for 1.2 million needy kids.

And, imagine what $720 million would mean to the CSU?

(OK, off my soap-box)

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Just What I Needed

This past weekend was a three-dayer for many of us here on the Left Coast thanks to Caesar Chavez, so my husband and I took a 4th day and went to visit my younger sister and her family in Las Vegas, Nevada. This being our second trip there, we knew to stay somewhere off "The Strip" for a little more peace and quiet. We don't gamble or smoke either so there's really nothing attractive about The Strip for us and having already walked up and down both sides TWICE our first trip, we didn't even go there this time.

Besides seeing my sis and her family, the highlight was driving through the Mojave Desert and seeing Red Rock Canyon. Even better was being overtaken by an unexpected cloudburst with whipping winds and big fat rain drops falling from the sky. We rolled down the windows to catch the wet, sharp freshness that touches the soul and literally takes your breath away. Being an artist, the colors of the desert are like nothing else I've seen after such a rainstorm and I've already begun a new painting in my mind's eye. The various shades of pink, red, brown and white are amazing as are the desert plants: lupine, Indian paintbrush, sand verbena, sages & Joshua trees. We also saw a few Hawks & falcons patrolling the canyons and cliffs.

This is just what I needed. Quiet. Solitude. Sanctuary.

Monday, March 24, 2008

4,000

The lives of 4,000 U.S. soldiers and 1,033,000 innocent Iraqi civilians have been wasted on Little Boots’ deceitful and failed war, not to mention the 5-6 million Iraqi’s internally and externally displaced.

$13,000,000,000,000 that could have satisfied immense humanitarian and social needs have been squandered on the reckless Iraq military fiasco.

What will Clinton or Obama REALLY do when elected?

Monday, March 17, 2008

In Honor of St. Paddy's Day

The Leprachaun
by Robert Dwyer Joyce (1830-83)

In a shady nook one moonlit night,
A leprachaun I spied
In scarlet coat and cap of green,
A cruiskeen by his side.

'Twas tick, tack, tick, his hammer went,
Upon a weeny shoe,
And I laughed to think of a purse of gold,
But the fairy was laughing too.

With tip-toe step and beating heart,
Quite softly I drew night.
There was mischief in his merry face,
A twinkle in his eye;

He hammered and sang with tiny voice,
And sipped the mountain dew;
Oh! I laughed to think he was caught at last,
But the fairy was laughing, too.

As quick as thought I grasped the elf,
"Your fairy purse," I cried,
"My purse?" said he, "'tis in her hand,
That lady by your side."

I turned to look, the elf was off,
And what was I to do?
Oh! I laughed to think what a fool I'd been,
And, the fairy was laughing too.

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

My Life (right now) as a Methaphor

"Screensaver mode" which doesn't actually save energy, or at least significantly. It is just designed to protect your monitor from getting an image burned into it permanently.

I'm thinking, I'm thinking...

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Happy "Hallmark" Holiday!

A quick story why I kinda, sorta dread Valentine's Day:

A few years ago, my husband was badgered by his female co-workers into getting me a Valentine's gift. None of these women could believe that I didn't want anything for Valentine's Day. He asked me one day if there was anything I wanted. "No, nothing," I said. He replied heatedly "You never want ANYTHING!" To which I replied "Oh, I'm sorry, perhaps you should find a wife who gets angry and pouts if you don't buy her diamonds, rubies, emeralds, or pearls. Poor you, you have a wife who doesn't think that love is measured by how much you spent on a Hallmark Holiday."

The female badgering at work won out however, and he presented me with a small diamond & ruby heart on a gold chain. It is beautiful (and thankfully not showy or flashy as I'm definitely not that kind of person) and I've worn it every Valentine's Day since but always with a stinging reminder of the brief argument.

This year we are going to the ballet to see Swan Lake and then out for dinner on Sunday, the 17th. Time spent together is better than any bouquet of roses or piece of jewelry. Whatever you do today, tell the people dearest to you that you love them.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

About that "Stimulus" Nonsense

Article from the Wall Street Journal and a reader's comment:

The logical extension of the stimulus nonsense described in the article reminded me of the aphorism spoken in Eastblock Czechoslovakia:

"Everyone has a job.
Everyone has a job, but nothing is produced.
Nothing is produced, but quotas are met.
Quotas are met, but nothing is available in stores.
Nothing is available in stores, but everyone has a job."

Couldn't have said it better myself!

Why it’s called “Berzerkeley”

On January 30, 2008, as a result of organized anti-war demonstrations, the Berkeley, California, City Council voted to rid the city of the Marine’s recruiting office. They even went as far as drafting a letter calling them “uninvited and unwelcome intruders” in the city.

“By taking a stand against recruitment we are protecting the health and safety of our youth,” said Phoebe Sorgen, a member of the Berkeley Peace and Justice Commission. “I see the protest as taking a proud and courageous stand.”

OF COURSE THE TOTAL IRONY IN THIS FASCIST STATEMENT is that without the military Ms. Sorgen, and "The People’s Republic of Berkeley" would not have the freedom of speech that is allowing them to be making such embarrassing asses of themselves!

Berkeley has always been known for its hyperbolic silliness but the sixties have long past, guys, and this schtick is really getting old.

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

The Hillary - Obama Dilemma

The problem with Obama is that I am not allowed to dislike him simply because I don't agree with him. If I say I don't like him, I'm called a racist. Even sadder is that if he loses it will be because he's black, not because he's boring, anti-Semitic, uninformed and inexperienced.

Hillary doesn't have the same advantage. Over the years people have gotten so used to finding her so dislikeable that it's pretty hard to attribute those negative feelings to her sex, but rather to her personality.

In a nutshell: Obama’s melanin does not make him a better choice any more than Clinton’s hormones.

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

My Mother Passed Away 1/3/08

My Mom passed away peacefully in her sleep after a lengthy battle with congestive heart failure. She was only 76 but she was tired and her body had worn out. I've spent the last couple weeks taking care of all the paperwork, i.e., notifying social security, Medicare, her pensions, her insurance, etc. All has gone fairly smoothly but is very time-consuming.

My family and I decided to have her cremated and will scatter her ashes here in the Monterey Bay when the weather gets better. Last Friday we had a beautiful Memorial Mass for her and it was comforting to have my entire family around me. I could even feel my late brother's presence and am convinced he and Mom are drinking margaritas every afternoon now that they are together again. I know she's in a much better place and that her suffering is over. I take comfort in knowing she was relatively happy and in no physical pain at the end of her life, just as she wished.

Still, it feels strange to have no living parents, I feel like an orphan.

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Best Quote of 2007

"the right wine in the right amount with the right food and right folks is about as right as i ever care to get."

(stolen with the permission of the author, thanks bob!)

New Laws for California in 2008

To name just a few…

#1: The Mel Gibson law. It’s now a misdemeanor for a peace officer or law enforcement employee to leak confidential information for financial gain.
This is silly. When was the last time a cop earned a thousand dollars for passing on a photo? Besides, Paris Hilton needed the publicity...

#2: It is now an infraction punishable by a $100 fine to smoke with a child under 18 in the car - whether the vehicle is in motion or not. Note: Traffic officers would not be able to stop a driver for the smoking violation alone but could tack it on to another infraction such as speeding.
OK, call this “Nanny Government” but it’s about time we start protecting kids from smokers.

#3: July 1st, it will be illegal for any driver to use a handheld phone except during emergencies. It will also be illegal for a driver under the age of 18 to use a wireless phone - even if it's hands-free - as well as other mobile devices like PDAs, laptops and pagers.
Ever seen someone text-messaging while driving 85 mph on the highway? My sister does it in Las Vegas (sorry Pudd!)

#4: Increase in the minimum wage: $8.00 per hour ties us with Massachusetts.
If you live here, you know why this is important

#5: New rebates will be available for homeowners and businesses that install solar water heaters.
I’m going to take advantage of this one this year

#6: The state's presidential primary has been moved to earlier in the campaign season.
Got my primary election voting material in the mail this past Saturday – can’t wait for February 5th!

#7: Sperm washing: this allows women to have healthy babies with partners who are HIV-positive.
… who may not live to see the child grow into adulthood?????????????????????????????

And my personal favorite…

#8: We now have a law that prohibits a person from being forced to have a radio frequency identification device implanted in his/her body.
OK for library books and pets, but not for humans, ROFLMAO!