Just when Barack Obama thought he was sailing on through to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, he is dogged by a former pastor who just doesn't get it.
The current drama playing out between Obama and Jeremiah Wright, Jr. is exactly the reason why no one drops out of the campaign till it is ABSOLUTELY CLEAR they have no chance.
Such is the reason why Hillary is still in it. She's been around politics long enough to know the trail to the White House is long and arduous with many pitfalls and potholes along the way.
Campaign 2008 is turning out to be better than the best suspense thriller. Who will win?
Stay tuned!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
No-Brainer
So, "W" has me actually thinking about using my economic stimulus check to go shopping! Even though my intuition tells me it's best to $ave it "for a rainy day" or pay down debt$.
Hhhmmm...What a dilemma!
Never before have we had such an open invitation to $pend frivolou$ly.
Tis not of my nature but I must admit, once I start dreaming about what nicety to buy, c'est tres facile (for the non-francs among us, that's: 'very easy') to think of a dozen things I'd like! With a little prodding from our government and a few extra bucks, I just might follow our Chief's command:
"Thou shalt shop to stimulate the economic engine that drives our country."
There's a pair of clogs I've had my eye on for some time. Infinitely cheaper than designer Mahlano Blahniks, I think I'll (let myself!) buy them.
When I consider the countle$$ hundred$ (er, thou$and$?) of "disposable income" that's been $quandered in ca$ino$ (and el$ewhere), this shoe purchase is pure "no brainer"...
...kinda like our "Gee, Whiz, Prez".
Hey, Thanks, "W" ;~ )
Hhhmmm...What a dilemma!
Never before have we had such an open invitation to $pend frivolou$ly.
Tis not of my nature but I must admit, once I start dreaming about what nicety to buy, c'est tres facile (for the non-francs among us, that's: 'very easy') to think of a dozen things I'd like! With a little prodding from our government and a few extra bucks, I just might follow our Chief's command:
"Thou shalt shop to stimulate the economic engine that drives our country."
There's a pair of clogs I've had my eye on for some time. Infinitely cheaper than designer Mahlano Blahniks, I think I'll (let myself!) buy them.
When I consider the countle$$ hundred$ (er, thou$and$?) of "disposable income" that's been $quandered in ca$ino$ (and el$ewhere), this shoe purchase is pure "no brainer"...
...kinda like our "Gee, Whiz, Prez".
Hey, Thanks, "W" ;~ )
Big Deal? NOT!
How sad and pathetic!
When so many people are atwitter over the photograph of a 15-year old celebrity, Disney's money machine, Miley Cyrus, whose upcoming feature in Vanity Fair is deemed too sexy, there is something seriously wrong!
For God's sake, the girl's back is showing! This uproar, over such a tame photo validates, once again, America's reputation for being prudish!
When so many people are atwitter over the photograph of a 15-year old celebrity, Disney's money machine, Miley Cyrus, whose upcoming feature in Vanity Fair is deemed too sexy, there is something seriously wrong!
For God's sake, the girl's back is showing! This uproar, over such a tame photo validates, once again, America's reputation for being prudish!
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Old School
I'm one of a rare few who don't own a cell phone. Why? By design. Do you know how liberating it is to be unavailable?
For those who really need to get a hold of me, there's a land line at home. Caller I.D.? Not me! An answering machine takes care of that!
Being 'unplugged' makes life a whole lot simpler!
Sure, there are times when having a cell phone would be convenient like when one is detained or running late for a meeting. Or when one gets separated from their party in a large crowd.
This is just what happened to me recently. Suddenly, I felt so disconnected! No one could ring me up to ask where I was. It was up to me to find them.
So, I asked around for the closest public phone. The looks I got were ones of utter speechlessness and confusion. One young woman looked like she'd never heard of such a thing!
But alas, I managed to find one. Fortunately, public phones do still exist.
At least for the time being!
For those who really need to get a hold of me, there's a land line at home. Caller I.D.? Not me! An answering machine takes care of that!
Being 'unplugged' makes life a whole lot simpler!
Sure, there are times when having a cell phone would be convenient like when one is detained or running late for a meeting. Or when one gets separated from their party in a large crowd.
This is just what happened to me recently. Suddenly, I felt so disconnected! No one could ring me up to ask where I was. It was up to me to find them.
So, I asked around for the closest public phone. The looks I got were ones of utter speechlessness and confusion. One young woman looked like she'd never heard of such a thing!
But alas, I managed to find one. Fortunately, public phones do still exist.
At least for the time being!
Neighbor Lady
My neighbor is O.C. about her lawn. Obsessive/Compulsive.
It's actually become a source of great amusement for me. She barely lets a few days goes by without firing up her mower again.
I could probably use a little of her compulsiveness when it comes to lawn care. So over-grown is ours, that she--and all the neighbors--probably have a pool going as to when our lawn will get its first 'haircut'.
Twas supposed to be yesterday but instead I weeded, pruned and hacked in preparation for mowing. You see, we have more plants and shrubs than actual grass, so it seems more important to improve the landscape than the lawn.
Does that make sense? The neighbors may not think so either. At any rate, the lawn will get cut; the bamboo will get thinned; the roses will bloom. And the world will keep turning...
...while Neighbor Lady keeps mowing...
and mowing...
and mowing.
Perhaps it is Lawn Therapy.
It's actually become a source of great amusement for me. She barely lets a few days goes by without firing up her mower again.
I could probably use a little of her compulsiveness when it comes to lawn care. So over-grown is ours, that she--and all the neighbors--probably have a pool going as to when our lawn will get its first 'haircut'.
Twas supposed to be yesterday but instead I weeded, pruned and hacked in preparation for mowing. You see, we have more plants and shrubs than actual grass, so it seems more important to improve the landscape than the lawn.
Does that make sense? The neighbors may not think so either. At any rate, the lawn will get cut; the bamboo will get thinned; the roses will bloom. And the world will keep turning...
...while Neighbor Lady keeps mowing...
and mowing...
and mowing.
Perhaps it is Lawn Therapy.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Full Circle
"It's easy to make a buck. It's a lot tougher to make a difference." -Tom Brokaw
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"No one will ask on your death bed, how many hours you spent at the office but rather what kind of mark you made, what legacy you left behind."
This got me thinking about mine.
People who create, raise or nurture something, human or inanimate, have tangible evidence for their efforts. Work that is fulfilling has one common thread: as you clean up or close down, at the end of the day you leave with a smile inside. An honest day's work feels good.
But that should not be the only defining factor or criteria which constitutes a legacy.
Career alone does not a legacy make!
The physical remnants we leave behind for others to examine will speak volumes about the contribution we made but they are just that: things!
The truth of one's value lies not in things left to sift through. It is in the quiet everyday courtesies extended to others along the way, including to oneself. A life serving others may be noble but it serves no one if the individual burns out.
While it's true: "In giving, we receive", we must take care of ourselves in order to take care of others. Like good karma, it goes around and comes back full circle. Meditation, music or whatever brings a sense of calm and serenity is not only a nicety, it's a necessity in order to be healthy, to do our work.
A legacy amounts to more than a body of completed projects or doing a good job raising another human being. It is a culmination of many things, among them (yes!) good work and deeds but most importantly, having compassion and a good heart.
If, in the end, that's my legacy, my life will be complete.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"No one will ask on your death bed, how many hours you spent at the office but rather what kind of mark you made, what legacy you left behind."
This got me thinking about mine.
People who create, raise or nurture something, human or inanimate, have tangible evidence for their efforts. Work that is fulfilling has one common thread: as you clean up or close down, at the end of the day you leave with a smile inside. An honest day's work feels good.
But that should not be the only defining factor or criteria which constitutes a legacy.
Career alone does not a legacy make!
The physical remnants we leave behind for others to examine will speak volumes about the contribution we made but they are just that: things!
The truth of one's value lies not in things left to sift through. It is in the quiet everyday courtesies extended to others along the way, including to oneself. A life serving others may be noble but it serves no one if the individual burns out.
While it's true: "In giving, we receive", we must take care of ourselves in order to take care of others. Like good karma, it goes around and comes back full circle. Meditation, music or whatever brings a sense of calm and serenity is not only a nicety, it's a necessity in order to be healthy, to do our work.
A legacy amounts to more than a body of completed projects or doing a good job raising another human being. It is a culmination of many things, among them (yes!) good work and deeds but most importantly, having compassion and a good heart.
If, in the end, that's my legacy, my life will be complete.
Pure Bliss
La Nina. El Nino. Global warming. Whatever you want to call it, our weather sucks.
By now, Oregon is usually basking in the glow of warm, sunshine but NOT this year! It's been unseasonably cold and wet. I can take the damp, cool weather for most of the winter, but come Spring, I need the sun on my face to get rid of that deep chill in my bones.
Today we are blessed with beautiful weather, but it will likely be short-lived. Earlier, predictions were for two nice days in a row (Imagine!) but now the next 6 show more precipitation. Ach!
At least I understand, this is not the norm. But those who just moved to Oregon are the ones for whom I feel the most empathy. What they've no doubt heard so often about Oregon is proving true. Incessant rain!
But what they may not get yet, is that once the sun and warm weather do arrive, it will be pure bliss. No humidity. No mosquitoes. No matter how high the mercury rises, there will always be a cool breeze! Ahhhh...
That's what makes it worth hangin' in there for we who have lived here long enough know, "This, too, shall pass".
By now, Oregon is usually basking in the glow of warm, sunshine but NOT this year! It's been unseasonably cold and wet. I can take the damp, cool weather for most of the winter, but come Spring, I need the sun on my face to get rid of that deep chill in my bones.
Today we are blessed with beautiful weather, but it will likely be short-lived. Earlier, predictions were for two nice days in a row (Imagine!) but now the next 6 show more precipitation. Ach!
At least I understand, this is not the norm. But those who just moved to Oregon are the ones for whom I feel the most empathy. What they've no doubt heard so often about Oregon is proving true. Incessant rain!
But what they may not get yet, is that once the sun and warm weather do arrive, it will be pure bliss. No humidity. No mosquitoes. No matter how high the mercury rises, there will always be a cool breeze! Ahhhh...
That's what makes it worth hangin' in there for we who have lived here long enough know, "This, too, shall pass".
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