tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42830723927631637372024-03-07T07:54:41.755-08:00Coming to Terms...Hot Flashing My Way to an Uneasy Peace With the Years Behind...and AheadLisa :-]http://www.blogger.com/profile/02237889098638895390noreply@blogger.comBlogger1663125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283072392763163737.post-70493097953008917802024-03-04T11:00:00.000-08:002024-03-07T07:54:10.402-08:00Somewhere Out There<p><span style="font-size: large;"> Why do we cry when people we love die?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Most of the time, especially when we're talking about people in the age group I inhabit now, the person who has died has been released from suffering. Shed of a body that no longer served. Freed to go on to...whatever comes next.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">What is sad about that?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">What is sad is that WE no longer have that person. WE will miss them. We will have to go on with a loved-one-shaped hole in our hearts and lives.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So, in essence, we cry for ourselves.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Oh, it's not as if this philosophy has made me immune to crying when my loved ones leave.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I have shed many tears since I learned of Jackie's death. They just...come. Unbidden. But, I think, cleansing. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My dear friend. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The one who stuck with me for all these years. I was trying to think how many years it has been. More than thirty...less than forty. Thirty-five? Thirty-six?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We <i>got </i>each other in a way that no one else got either one of us. She was smart. She was bookish. She was a seeker. And I could appreciate that. And be so, too, though I think I had only a shadow of her intellect. But we both understood it was difficult to be smart and analytical in the minimum-wage world we inhabited. So we...attached to each other.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And when we no longer lived close enough to see each other face-to-face, we bonded in j-land. THAT was over 20 years ago. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">J-land and the blogging craze fell by the wayside...and all the "friends" I thought I had made in that ethereal place faded away.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Except Jackie. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">She stayed. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">She came.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">She left a word or two, just to let me know she had been by, if nothing else.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">That is what REAL friends do.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our interactions became more and more infrequent. But I always took comfort knowing she was out there, somewhere.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But knowing the state of her health, I was always aware/afraid that there would come a time when she WOULDN'T be out there.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And now that time has come.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But maybe...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, I think so.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">She IS out there.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Somewhere.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And I will let that comfort wash over me.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RkI-B2JWSZI" width="320" youtube-src-id="RkI-B2JWSZI"></iframe></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>So...That was it. 20 hits on the entry about Jackie even though I linked to it on Instagram. No comments or condolences left here...a couple on Instagram. Her family couldn't even be bothered to write a decent obituary for her, nor to allow my tribute to her on her "tribute wall" to be published. Only two weeks gone, and already mostly forgotten. How invisible our little lives are, hardly a speck in the cosmos. But perhaps if there's one person who remembers you and misses you, that's all we can ask for. I'm that person, for Jackie. And I'll wear that mantle proudly.</i></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p></p>Lisa :-]http://www.blogger.com/profile/02237889098638895390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283072392763163737.post-59277612851545086352024-03-02T11:25:00.000-08:002024-03-03T10:26:11.582-08:00My Dear Friend Jackie Has Walked On<p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4vl_kQbs3Mac_xMv-QYTSjJjrWied4AC1LGb3knQcJQZJzKVN-UYKY1zHgSpGu1STIDP8qoO9dcPeexXl8Q-RK2YE-D39OFT-swh01WQ66WFH1yUnzpgb4dn5A7RaRXaCGTZFbpV2OZ47w4jMzLJB6THpE2w41K8ahaGbvF_uaWYujqPH-vlhZClPpFt/s216/DF26CAB4-246F-4546-8398-AD7B8D928949.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="216" data-original-width="164" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4vl_kQbs3Mac_xMv-QYTSjJjrWied4AC1LGb3knQcJQZJzKVN-UYKY1zHgSpGu1STIDP8qoO9dcPeexXl8Q-RK2YE-D39OFT-swh01WQ66WFH1yUnzpgb4dn5A7RaRXaCGTZFbpV2OZ47w4jMzLJB6THpE2w41K8ahaGbvF_uaWYujqPH-vlhZClPpFt/s1600/DF26CAB4-246F-4546-8398-AD7B8D928949.jpeg" width="164" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqwDGzT6ChyphenhyphenAJWAgJG2Di17acqcVGEKcGBMyt-ICjbBEbQZtG8JzHgEIDWwGHmdmHI2G4tlDD_N5Rkl3QpL3m6L9AuMJGLbjdZPuoVZGE-ucOUY1RLV8teN50FBHgsPt2UH5d-u_Oe1Ff_QthwjQkTqskePRztuTOOWKS2gM0Wb9OZoqlEorAmLa8HMMOs/s789/6EEC9738-6198-406C-B6BB-0425A0CBDBD3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="777" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqwDGzT6ChyphenhyphenAJWAgJG2Di17acqcVGEKcGBMyt-ICjbBEbQZtG8JzHgEIDWwGHmdmHI2G4tlDD_N5Rkl3QpL3m6L9AuMJGLbjdZPuoVZGE-ucOUY1RLV8teN50FBHgsPt2UH5d-u_Oe1Ff_QthwjQkTqskePRztuTOOWKS2gM0Wb9OZoqlEorAmLa8HMMOs/s320/6EEC9738-6198-406C-B6BB-0425A0CBDBD3.jpeg" width="315" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Rest in power, my dearest friend! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">SO many other spirits joined to yours, with whom you are now reunited. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Have a blast among the stars!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjksUhZT2xnItyqzyXmc_lZPSTS7i_FL8hbmUHHqBYE-IjPhQRY8BurzewFkeBA1xyTEd9YaLHAmSQT5T3JNIagtZqyejLXAQddVsTi4SiSST0q3dYTKisqRt_FprVFh6w0RQMOMkH1kozVuGxl8o9OMGc3__Xryhqo9NtkQQFw8942Ks1oK9ls4P_t2gP6/s149/7EF2CA16-44D0-4571-A0C4-FD39F97423F3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="149" data-original-width="144" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjksUhZT2xnItyqzyXmc_lZPSTS7i_FL8hbmUHHqBYE-IjPhQRY8BurzewFkeBA1xyTEd9YaLHAmSQT5T3JNIagtZqyejLXAQddVsTi4SiSST0q3dYTKisqRt_FprVFh6w0RQMOMkH1kozVuGxl8o9OMGc3__Xryhqo9NtkQQFw8942Ks1oK9ls4P_t2gP6/w193-h200/7EF2CA16-44D0-4571-A0C4-FD39F97423F3.jpeg" width="193" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Here is a link to her last post at “Walking With Hope.” </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://jackie-thecottagebythehedge.blogspot.com/2023/11/promise-of-spring.html" target="_blank">The Promise of Spring.</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Spring has come early for you this year, Jackie!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8FUUQgO8jQkRZeSqeBDQGhcIFmAMU8AxfZfYyh9PxX1Uv-dJ_B99J6mkc5oxOcRrtHcyqX-K1wy9VZei4CzFDbR8fhR4Wba5poJ29777qsXpBZPUIeRpKGMPE0rZCuKFxn95uG_jn9D95H4c-KVn4gqu55JSER64W6srTk_JsqXhWeaompefMA31CXRmi/s403/00E839CE-7D7B-4C93-BF86-B893780E8113.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="318" data-original-width="403" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8FUUQgO8jQkRZeSqeBDQGhcIFmAMU8AxfZfYyh9PxX1Uv-dJ_B99J6mkc5oxOcRrtHcyqX-K1wy9VZei4CzFDbR8fhR4Wba5poJ29777qsXpBZPUIeRpKGMPE0rZCuKFxn95uG_jn9D95H4c-KVn4gqu55JSER64W6srTk_JsqXhWeaompefMA31CXRmi/s320/00E839CE-7D7B-4C93-BF86-B893780E8113.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p>Lisa :-]http://www.blogger.com/profile/02237889098638895390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283072392763163737.post-61056163433663739022024-03-01T11:09:00.000-08:002024-03-01T11:13:35.286-08:00More Wisdom From REAL Christians<p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Another Instagram gem: <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5zz8NAryDKZyXkRV9JmlIg5zUGiAcCYiQHK8kBYCkqXYCeJgndCalsC-kfsb-HWuPCSi2zKcztJ3JYOShkdh0_s-ACN7l4dWpv8sUMnqx4ODqQi70YFwWrJOJy6jPFCd1ypfEdQbCnC3J5WpVeISblzCUQJO7bh8O_nzydZSqZ1ohyphenhyphen_RVfF7AziZOr0TE/s1342/3471621A-8E51-4953-8285-5F908258764E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1342" data-original-width="1125" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5zz8NAryDKZyXkRV9JmlIg5zUGiAcCYiQHK8kBYCkqXYCeJgndCalsC-kfsb-HWuPCSi2zKcztJ3JYOShkdh0_s-ACN7l4dWpv8sUMnqx4ODqQi70YFwWrJOJy6jPFCd1ypfEdQbCnC3J5WpVeISblzCUQJO7bh8O_nzydZSqZ1ohyphenhyphen_RVfF7AziZOr0TE/s320/3471621A-8E51-4953-8285-5F908258764E.jpeg" width="268" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;">I have no way of knowing whether this was a photoshop job. Could be, I suppose.</span><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">But the thing that spoke loudest to me was that this wisdom was posted on the reader board of a Christian church.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Though I personally no longer adhere to Christian beliefs, I have to remind myself constantly that Christianity is NOT all about the hatred and exclusion, greed, fear and anger preached by the Evangelical MAGA right.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">It CAN be a peaceful, enriching, compassionate conduit to the Almighty.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">And it still IS that, for many.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">We on the left will do well to remember that.<br /></span><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p></div>Lisa :-]http://www.blogger.com/profile/02237889098638895390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283072392763163737.post-86655881084153418672024-02-29T10:24:00.000-08:002024-02-29T10:28:33.503-08:00Yes, Viginia…There ARE Still Christians Who Actually Follow Their Christ<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I maintain my gossamer-thin grip on social media, because I occasionally come across things that shine a tiny pinpoint of light into the bleakness of our American moral landscape.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This one appeared on Instagram today:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVH6q-QPCAjdiH4cyvGrFQ9HcgYG7CAn-JHFhsDzdstG6e93sEvdaJwx7na7rJGvGVtUbAeOBlsuktMyC-RxwYVzZfJYioJIjAoh3FziHbOrzVrRlj6JZWz75CtHn1F-U_MbBTr2uoHWJSNvpE0l8xc73nWRgt0V2dgOg3hmnAl70rm_KA8KkXiEE6RED2/s1309/818BA207-A26E-4D72-B0B9-215D61A40D89.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1309" data-original-width="1243" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVH6q-QPCAjdiH4cyvGrFQ9HcgYG7CAn-JHFhsDzdstG6e93sEvdaJwx7na7rJGvGVtUbAeOBlsuktMyC-RxwYVzZfJYioJIjAoh3FziHbOrzVrRlj6JZWz75CtHn1F-U_MbBTr2uoHWJSNvpE0l8xc73nWRgt0V2dgOg3hmnAl70rm_KA8KkXiEE6RED2/w608-h640/818BA207-A26E-4D72-B0B9-215D61A40D89.jpeg" width="608" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Pastor Dave, by the way, lives in Alabama… This maybe grants him more right than some to express outrage against the recent unbelievable Alabama Supreme Court ruling on human embryos.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">For more of Dave’s rebuttal of the ruling, I recommend going to his <a href="https://davebarnhart.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">blog</a> and perusing his entry of Feb 22–“Undelivered Mail and the Image of God.” The piece is clearly written by a person highly educated in Christian theology. And, unfortunately, it employs more rational reasoning than any MAGAt—and apparently, any poorly chosen supreme court judge in Alabama—could possibly assimilate.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But it gave ME a little ray of hope, anyway…</span></p>Lisa :-]http://www.blogger.com/profile/02237889098638895390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283072392763163737.post-7222906787939351742024-02-25T10:11:00.000-08:002024-02-25T10:11:59.459-08:00Strong Women Melting Snowflake Men<p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRt0vkNzGEB8fTMD9sgJAOJyze9FhCSlSjUP4OyKXqus-yxjpUmjs_aeE5jqBiN1m-VPVOgGfImPPpztdYIecFhte8V8j0a2uUY2HfmA8FDXFl-9UWdtLiyWqdg2T-NZWL84JQGZRq_2jzn0qvEZz0Uv9No6pdASDcDn6mXHqZw2ERKTq9rbKpnVf7LPGP/s1133/56C11ED4-E8BD-4039-AC0B-31B991EA88FB.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="1133" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRt0vkNzGEB8fTMD9sgJAOJyze9FhCSlSjUP4OyKXqus-yxjpUmjs_aeE5jqBiN1m-VPVOgGfImPPpztdYIecFhte8V8j0a2uUY2HfmA8FDXFl-9UWdtLiyWqdg2T-NZWL84JQGZRq_2jzn0qvEZz0Uv9No6pdASDcDn6mXHqZw2ERKTq9rbKpnVf7LPGP/w640-h422/56C11ED4-E8BD-4039-AC0B-31B991EA88FB.png" width="640" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">People seem to think the anti-Taylor-Swift grumbling is a 21st-century, social-media-generated phenomenon.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I...think not.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I think strong female celebrities have been suffering indignities from "fragile" men for...well, forever.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Certainly as far back as Elizabeth I of England. The internet figures in only marginally.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Consider what these women of the 20th century were subjected to:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Eleanor Roosevelt--</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">She was vilified for acting so un-first-lady-like as to actually contrive to use her platform as a way to contribute positively to society in her own right.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Nancy Pelosi--</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This woman has been made into the personification of everything evil that has befallen the USA in the past 20 years. Because she dares to be female and an adroit politician. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Barbra Streisand-- <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">She was consistently labeled controlling and perfectionist. In a man, those would be admirable qualities. But they made Barbra Streisand a "bitch."<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Jane Fonda--</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I know seventy-year-old men who STILL freak out at the mention of her name. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Martha Stewart--</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">They put Martha Stewart in jail, for god's sake. For having the extreme gall to do something that rich, powerful men had been getting away with forever. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> And the list goes on.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So, ladies...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We obviously still have A LOT of work to do.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Turn on the burners and let's work on those snowflakes. </span><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> <br /></p>Lisa :-]http://www.blogger.com/profile/02237889098638895390noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283072392763163737.post-56559606118033345342024-01-31T15:52:00.000-08:002024-01-31T22:27:50.160-08:00Never Too Old To Rock<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-544E9y-kzL_BqBPrn-JyHsFqce-J5OhEbCkSKTgD7Sn9cUmv3AKwyz-YvMdfjw8A2ux7SPchX9jigo1gP-GkilEFkcKXiVagZkT5YCzx2zpbO3sLef8RhcYsVDaZdTjizd5F3EV0E6PkFDFNue2JI6D7RozJhXjltgOhuz3XD396S8jDzGePMxxsWnd3/s377/old%20rocker.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="310" data-original-width="377" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-544E9y-kzL_BqBPrn-JyHsFqce-J5OhEbCkSKTgD7Sn9cUmv3AKwyz-YvMdfjw8A2ux7SPchX9jigo1gP-GkilEFkcKXiVagZkT5YCzx2zpbO3sLef8RhcYsVDaZdTjizd5F3EV0E6PkFDFNue2JI6D7RozJhXjltgOhuz3XD396S8jDzGePMxxsWnd3/w400-h329/old%20rocker.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">It has dawned on me (make that, I have been dragged kicking and screaming to the realization) that old age is not for sissies. Those of us of a certain age understand this clearly. Our aging bodies present us with difficulties we would not have dared (or cared) to imagine twenty years ago. If we were to wake up in the morning and nothing hurt, we would be certain that we had passed from this life in our sleep and were standing at the gates of the sweet hereafter. And we then entrust the care of these creaky yet venerable old vessels to a health "care" system that possesses neither the means nor the will to do them justice. But that is a different rant.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The manifestation of the perils of old age that I have lately been experiencing, to my utter chagrin and horror, is the rampant ageism that afflicts our society. Apparently, the only time those of us over 60 are thought of as sentient human beings at all, is when we are brought up on charges of being responsible for anything and everything that ails the world today. "Boomer" has become an epithet that is spat in our direction any time something evil, unpleasant or difficult vexes the younger generations. We are held in no regard at all. We are laughed at, sneered at, ranted at, blamed and scorned. If a millennial burns his toast in the morning, a boomer surely booby-trapped his toaster. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I don't know about anyone else, but I'm not enjoying being the object of derision one moment, and patronizing pap or even outright neglect the next. It doesn't set well with me at all.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">An article from <i>The Atlantic </i>curdled my coffee one fine morning a couple of weeks ago.<i> </i>One of their contributing journalists obviously sees himself as a Very Perceptive Music Critic. This little missive--<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2023/12/the-tubes-joy-geriatric-rock/676989/ " target="_blank">The Joys of Geriatric Rock</a>--caught my eye. For a hot minute, I thought perhaps some gen z reporter was going to serve up a tribute to the rockers whose music accompanied the coming of age of my generation. But, no. It turned out to be one of the most blatant, malignant pieces of ageism I have encountered in a long time.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">You see, this asshole had already penned an article about how "geriatric rockers" should just... retire. What business did they have filling huge stadiums with pathetic old fans willing to part with astronomical sums of money just to see a band of their youth onstage one more time? </span></p><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">"Last year, I <a data-event-element="inline link" href="https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2022/07/pretenders-nick-lowe-elvis-costello-rock-nostalgia/661477/">applauded</a>
rock artists who choose to age gracefully, mostly by exiting the stage.
I deplored the acts who were trying to recapture their younger days
while cynically vacuuming their fans’ pockets."</span></blockquote><p><span style="font-size: large;">...is how he chose to describe his previous article. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Really?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Fuck you.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Who are you to say when an artist (and musicians ARE artists) needs to walk away from his art? As far as I know, there is no pull date on rock music of any decade. If people are willing to pay to see it performed by its originators, they have that right. If you think 70's and 80's rockers are too old to do the genre justice, that's your problem. These musicians...if they didn't invent the genre, they at the very least expanded, enhanced and progressed it...then handed it on to the next generation--a different and arguably more wonderful thing than when it was handed to them by the generation before. You venerate those people. You don't tell them to get the fuck offstage because rock is for the young. And you let them perform their craft for as long as they are able and willing. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The most ridiculous, to say nothing of hypocritical, aspect of this guy's point of view was what he featured in his second article. You see, he was somehow snookered into buying tickets to see one of HIS favorite bands of the 80's doing an emeritus concert...and, lo and behold, THIS concert was exactly right! THIS band did it perfectly! THIS was the ultimate celebration of who and what the band was 40 years ago, and a perfect gift to their fans. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Simply because it was a band he liked and he was, apparently, in a properly nostalgic frame of mind when he went to see them.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">What a load of crap. The article left me seething with righteous indignation at the affront to the artists who rocked my generation to adulthood. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And livid at the ageism that is so ubiquitously broadcast in our society. And at the millennials, gen-y, or z, or whatever the hell other little bastards who just eat this crap up with a spoon. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Talk about "cynically vacuuming....pockets..."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p>Lisa :-]http://www.blogger.com/profile/02237889098638895390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283072392763163737.post-44820876948399308702024-01-13T10:54:00.000-08:002024-01-13T10:54:20.267-08:00Powered by Estrogen<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlHnH1NMoRZLdzzoXHWUBLrtaQYAorKHU2U5pZMxDrGEvbWRyjvos7V-JUzQeMIO1Z51EOeGvvQSfds7rXzyF8jbAMzvrVjMK9KE3mwQl9RlkkxN6a25tLsfyvBdrF6FXu2S2HrLG_OYhNk93zGuLNArrEdgq267R6ybALO-d5-Te3_kukUbho3dysYlD8/s656/65BB2F87-E81C-4D12-AA0E-BBF4676CAF50.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="656" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlHnH1NMoRZLdzzoXHWUBLrtaQYAorKHU2U5pZMxDrGEvbWRyjvos7V-JUzQeMIO1Z51EOeGvvQSfds7rXzyF8jbAMzvrVjMK9KE3mwQl9RlkkxN6a25tLsfyvBdrF6FXu2S2HrLG_OYhNk93zGuLNArrEdgq267R6ybALO-d5-Te3_kukUbho3dysYlD8/w320-h248/65BB2F87-E81C-4D12-AA0E-BBF4676CAF50.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>…And the world had better figure it out.</p>Lisa :-]http://www.blogger.com/profile/02237889098638895390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283072392763163737.post-29784559800537852432023-12-31T11:50:00.000-08:002023-12-31T11:50:31.527-08:00Walking Into 2024<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNxXN8dqfxWwRNPPBzWe6RAF59zo2FmUsx3dNH_WDgLZ1XvStkgL3rV0qJjaYnmUUQmkFdto1Uq3fCts23ARB3tYm7dubKJrJObV1a4viq5ZXsAOo1E7ccwJT2LL6YuD481fMw1b8jsL7wnLGxveUN3WpXKiqzgaVOmnIygfJMwikxa1CMP3ghG4TqVmR/s773/56F65378-EA2D-4FFC-8A1F-378213452A12.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNxXN8dqfxWwRNPPBzWe6RAF59zo2FmUsx3dNH_WDgLZ1XvStkgL3rV0qJjaYnmUUQmkFdto1Uq3fCts23ARB3tYm7dubKJrJObV1a4viq5ZXsAOo1E7ccwJT2LL6YuD481fMw1b8jsL7wnLGxveUN3WpXKiqzgaVOmnIygfJMwikxa1CMP3ghG4TqVmR/w620-h640/56F65378-EA2D-4FFC-8A1F-378213452A12.jpeg" width="620" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Lisa :-]http://www.blogger.com/profile/02237889098638895390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283072392763163737.post-41358073665064729482023-12-21T19:05:00.000-08:002023-12-21T19:05:50.169-08:00Happy Solstice<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwbhrMkSGgzvPHOgyyVlVSWBLkOMN9Hg0_CIg-l2jei1101TPXoE6KryYuN8iBbsgo4ta4_EeDobtw5cprp5dBJstVe410ndkdKAcutCAxkIdCEH1HteE00pdzZYNtgpqD5BtYScloBhE9CHVu2Yv9pElls67gw8MJiIo7F5Hf0E4TqUlax7TqpTLMczOi/s1173/6CB0E313-9C61-4756-B706-FD672E54AC21.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="1173" height="618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwbhrMkSGgzvPHOgyyVlVSWBLkOMN9Hg0_CIg-l2jei1101TPXoE6KryYuN8iBbsgo4ta4_EeDobtw5cprp5dBJstVe410ndkdKAcutCAxkIdCEH1HteE00pdzZYNtgpqD5BtYScloBhE9CHVu2Yv9pElls67gw8MJiIo7F5Hf0E4TqUlax7TqpTLMczOi/w640-h618/6CB0E313-9C61-4756-B706-FD672E54AC21.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Lisa :-]http://www.blogger.com/profile/02237889098638895390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283072392763163737.post-14008343684137687442023-12-13T13:46:00.000-08:002023-12-16T08:21:41.838-08:00Grateful, Yet Still Pissed as Hell<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEdDr3A9a0c-UJHDv2x7wkPD6XndLHk5pq37vufKkjXnX2r07HERk5R4UWhqiSdGeu6UENn_quulCAdWBvfjZHci4JujZN9eg1vkT_5F65Ul0yYG7qds6XsZLHN8QObZL8fwRm9uV-5cfP1hLU_vRLrBQ8k6dYVi3UIjreasoJWGXv-OFbQYLTCsjRNl3/s1191/B71E8C7B-43D4-4E44-AE21-17465EA765ED.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1191" data-original-width="1165" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEdDr3A9a0c-UJHDv2x7wkPD6XndLHk5pq37vufKkjXnX2r07HERk5R4UWhqiSdGeu6UENn_quulCAdWBvfjZHci4JujZN9eg1vkT_5F65Ul0yYG7qds6XsZLHN8QObZL8fwRm9uV-5cfP1hLU_vRLrBQ8k6dYVi3UIjreasoJWGXv-OFbQYLTCsjRNl3/w391-h400/B71E8C7B-43D4-4E44-AE21-17465EA765ED.jpeg" width="391" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">These quaint little “be thankful for what you have” memes bother me.</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I can’t help but think they are planted by our corporate billionaire masters, who want us to feel guilty for believing we deserve better and demanding our fair share… </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">It’s like a thinly veiled threat: </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“Be happy with what we allow you to have. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">You COULD be cold, hungry, and living on the street. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">And we can make that happen…”</span></div>Lisa :-]http://www.blogger.com/profile/02237889098638895390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283072392763163737.post-1414581724140404122023-11-29T09:31:00.000-08:002023-11-29T09:31:42.131-08:00You Can't Lose What You Never Had<p><span style="font-size: large;">Lately, I've started to move in more politically-oriented circles on Instagram. I know...it was just a matter of time, wasn't it? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But it's just not possible to remain aloof, disconnected and silent when it comes to the disintegration of our public discourse and the existential threats to our form of government. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">(Notwithstanding the resultant migraines and ulcers, from even touching a toe into that cesspool again...)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday, I came across this little gem, and it really spoke to me:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_uVNL4-OeAYF7_6sq6yelsT0bAGAjbR-LQ0zfOvWPQ8xnLyCb5Ttfxx7UUN_ZBbnm5qNf3ZHJH0qAHdyic_M_pZYi9dA_2sYx0HVSjrCks9fRrnK6XFlsHffcQZd7TtLwYXgnOTZoCcoYp1Px0L46WqxeHw9TvBDYBDJhTr0St2mF08cWjuhi2Wi62enM/s772/9DF9511F-DE08-40CD-A02C-FF7AE222062C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="772" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_uVNL4-OeAYF7_6sq6yelsT0bAGAjbR-LQ0zfOvWPQ8xnLyCb5Ttfxx7UUN_ZBbnm5qNf3ZHJH0qAHdyic_M_pZYi9dA_2sYx0HVSjrCks9fRrnK6XFlsHffcQZd7TtLwYXgnOTZoCcoYp1Px0L46WqxeHw9TvBDYBDJhTr0St2mF08cWjuhi2Wi62enM/s320/9DF9511F-DE08-40CD-A02C-FF7AE222062C.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And almost as if the Universe was handing me a meatier argument on the subject, I came across a post that led me to this:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPIn0dYGy4fiS7euu9tZFDDs2wuWesEUSdUrVWThNh_rRFM2pp3iw5TwEEO36j4zNcsW2_-L1Pr0BG61Iqb4a48aaC1W8dgT8DnwVc9AMFdsTmNzv2m9evHLll0R0FtcEJvqkZDQmwUoNtZaiESo80n78ecj8rrZ1pG_Lor9u_ekGVMy8CZL-IfnSJLUqz/s679/losing%20our%20religion.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="423" data-original-width="679" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPIn0dYGy4fiS7euu9tZFDDs2wuWesEUSdUrVWThNh_rRFM2pp3iw5TwEEO36j4zNcsW2_-L1Pr0BG61Iqb4a48aaC1W8dgT8DnwVc9AMFdsTmNzv2m9evHLll0R0FtcEJvqkZDQmwUoNtZaiESo80n78ecj8rrZ1pG_Lor9u_ekGVMy8CZL-IfnSJLUqz/s16000/losing%20our%20religion.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">This is a screen shot from the August NPR interview with evangelical leader Russel Moore, on his book <i>Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call For Evangelical America. </i>You can find the entire article here:<i><br /></i></span><p></p><p><a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/08/05/1192374014/russell-moore-on-altar-call-for-evangelical-america" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Russell Moore on 'an altar call' for Evangelical America</span></a></p><p> <span style="font-size: large;">I've often said that I was an evangelical Christian for a short time in my young life (maybe five years, if that.) And while I have personally moved beyond (FAR beyond) that phase of my spiritual walk, I know and respect that there are sincere followers of the teachings of Jesus Christ. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And I also know that 90% of the Evangelical Christian Right are NOT that. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">They have no more connection to Christianity than the terrorists who blew up the twin towers had to Islam.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">They are folks with an agenda of hatred, violence and domination who use religion to conscript hordes of hapless adherents. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">NO different at all from Muslim extremists. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">THAT is who we have backing the Christian right, the GOP, and its evil, muddled puppet of a leader.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">That, and a bottomless treasure chest of funds, kept brimming full by forces diligently working for the cataclysmic failure of the Great Experiment. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">How did we get here?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And how do we get out?<br /></span></p>Lisa :-]http://www.blogger.com/profile/02237889098638895390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283072392763163737.post-33438351647000828112023-11-19T15:57:00.000-08:002023-11-19T15:57:58.607-08:00A Beautiful Soul Journeys On <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6w1FIm2Hlmb_RcIzYqhD9rpyOuLM9IwtICbQ9wym5td3Ed58g60Cvkrbo4nmZBtqESi80H0m9Ji0W81PAKm5mSyhfSrjP0g-xIZHXld4wb72s_pBvCGzAwYsbkveBBcerFW8K56d1PFEQOpC7gm4nJMQo2Ledjh49a_RagvR5qEebx-vh60_zS6SBWpC/s1486/FF820118-7F28-429B-A1EE-7D6A0DABA47C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1486" data-original-width="1057" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6w1FIm2Hlmb_RcIzYqhD9rpyOuLM9IwtICbQ9wym5td3Ed58g60Cvkrbo4nmZBtqESi80H0m9Ji0W81PAKm5mSyhfSrjP0g-xIZHXld4wb72s_pBvCGzAwYsbkveBBcerFW8K56d1PFEQOpC7gm4nJMQo2Ledjh49a_RagvR5qEebx-vh60_zS6SBWpC/s320/FF820118-7F28-429B-A1EE-7D6A0DABA47C.jpeg" width="228" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Rest in power, Rosalynn Carter. ❤️🕊🕊</p>Lisa :-]http://www.blogger.com/profile/02237889098638895390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283072392763163737.post-14849114969753833182023-11-13T09:10:00.000-08:002023-11-13T11:50:23.277-08:00By All Means…<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknyOItacJbJmZur6y1KWYhK35VnUW8D8bTsH1nT2SGAAhPtosWV8zaxYjN0FiiHHfCKKEYqUuUx4h3uQ1bL5pGBmEMFicKOZ3UfuPIa3qLWjj7xOD1s439TPJV736nOqqVNmD55NlmSdjXNUW6jMLZMagDJysed63MvzwnAcUICC92d5M5Nz8sEvWLDWo/s1000/F3424EE6-1CC4-4C36-8643-61F781778B78.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1000" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknyOItacJbJmZur6y1KWYhK35VnUW8D8bTsH1nT2SGAAhPtosWV8zaxYjN0FiiHHfCKKEYqUuUx4h3uQ1bL5pGBmEMFicKOZ3UfuPIa3qLWjj7xOD1s439TPJV736nOqqVNmD55NlmSdjXNUW6jMLZMagDJysed63MvzwnAcUICC92d5M5Nz8sEvWLDWo/s320/F3424EE6-1CC4-4C36-8643-61F781778B78.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: large;">Nor has a book killed 70 people at an outdoor concert.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Nor dozens…hundreds…of students in American schools. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Nor groups of people browsing through Walmart, or a shopping mall.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Nor spectators at a July Fourth parade.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Nor any unsuspecting folks, innocently going about their lives…</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">…lives that are suddenly, violently snatched away.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But, yeah.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Let’s ban books.</span></p><p><br /></p>Lisa :-]http://www.blogger.com/profile/02237889098638895390noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283072392763163737.post-55951064033992901082023-11-06T09:55:00.005-08:002023-11-06T09:55:49.672-08:00She Rests in Power<p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8rjo0kq0QoGVrvcinyyQDL9HRNlWexkjOAs09JMliONPPzU1iwsY2N8CfIvmHVkLYXu8mS4zD1pCYkRN2D036rIqK6BDgiVzoFXdSzXQcwyAjALRh-VHN1XFOcEZa1fjPx0d480zfEhdzF-l6umnHbyjdESJCvueAXxFZqWvac7x6ZdmTwan7sDOfQkv-/s870/RBG.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="870" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8rjo0kq0QoGVrvcinyyQDL9HRNlWexkjOAs09JMliONPPzU1iwsY2N8CfIvmHVkLYXu8mS4zD1pCYkRN2D036rIqK6BDgiVzoFXdSzXQcwyAjALRh-VHN1XFOcEZa1fjPx0d480zfEhdzF-l6umnHbyjdESJCvueAXxFZqWvac7x6ZdmTwan7sDOfQkv-/w552-h640/RBG.jpeg" width="552" /> </a></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">May she forever be our guiding spirit. </span><br /></div><p></p>Lisa :-]http://www.blogger.com/profile/02237889098638895390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283072392763163737.post-59759395574979931472023-11-02T12:25:00.002-07:002023-11-02T14:29:59.767-07:00Just Fulfilling Scripture<p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsHpjRIuLtg8hD95zVnSVXQbrqg-xrZlOmQ2ZMVGu_FTWovrwQWPnRuW33vCHOaSmbBJKNM3Qh39qxX3xt6X8XRlqjSXHwz2MYTqjfEMlaQJbLva9BowbTBr0P3KDRPxwviziL91Ga61lkhl7lktu6ZUbuCC4C79CRlRiJKaUKahk_yFvmpedHgHZ2zZM1/s1463/anti%20christ.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="1463" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsHpjRIuLtg8hD95zVnSVXQbrqg-xrZlOmQ2ZMVGu_FTWovrwQWPnRuW33vCHOaSmbBJKNM3Qh39qxX3xt6X8XRlqjSXHwz2MYTqjfEMlaQJbLva9BowbTBr0P3KDRPxwviziL91Ga61lkhl7lktu6ZUbuCC4C79CRlRiJKaUKahk_yFvmpedHgHZ2zZM1/w640-h280/anti%20christ.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Years ago, I was a "born again" Christian.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">One of the most popular obsessions of the bible-believers back then was the book of Revelation and predictions about the return of Jesus.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Even though their own holy book told them <span>"No one knows when that day or hour will come. Even the angels in heaven and the Son don't know. Only the Father knows</span>..." (Matthew 24:36)...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">They were determined to dig and delve and interpret and come up with the answer.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">One of the concepts they "interpreted" out of Revelation (because, as it happens, it isn't even mentioned in Revelation) is the appearance of "anti-Christ." There were all manner of tales and warnings about "the anti-Christ..."--this liar and false prophet, ally of Satan, who would rise up and believers would follow him...ostensibly because he would be so Christ-like that Christians would be fooled into thinking he was Christ.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Or, at least, that's what <b><i>I</i></b> thought.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">And I couldn't figure out how these pious, god-fearing, holy(-er than thou, as it turns out) folks who sat next to me at services could possibly be fooled into thinking some evil-doer was actually God...or God-like.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Well.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Now we know, don't we?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Because all this anti-Christ had to do was appeal to their basest natures...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Give his seal of approval to hatred, lies, greed, perversion, oppression, racism...name your sin... <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">And suddenly, <i><b>he was God</b></i>!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Who knew???!? </span><br /></p><p> <br /></p>Lisa :-]http://www.blogger.com/profile/02237889098638895390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283072392763163737.post-11481480414918589822023-10-30T13:49:00.003-07:002023-10-30T13:49:48.626-07:00Happy Halloween<p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFggyN9ygj-iIxCn9IIhMVfLMQV2w7L6Uey_NEVvSGvTpRignZY1AxilIobrYUdGyM-4RBHvC13u5FtHwNp1MLF9-JpBBznTq1RVTxTRo5al_fgz6o-d9r9aPZp8qr2MesgE29aeF4fywrsETeriwb1OgO0J1Wdf50SSAdiK2Tv5xn_u7A6_fFgiMXGMC/s442/trumpkin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="442" data-original-width="442" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFggyN9ygj-iIxCn9IIhMVfLMQV2w7L6Uey_NEVvSGvTpRignZY1AxilIobrYUdGyM-4RBHvC13u5FtHwNp1MLF9-JpBBznTq1RVTxTRo5al_fgz6o-d9r9aPZp8qr2MesgE29aeF4fywrsETeriwb1OgO0J1Wdf50SSAdiK2Tv5xn_u7A6_fFgiMXGMC/w400-h400/trumpkin.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Lisa :-]http://www.blogger.com/profile/02237889098638895390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283072392763163737.post-34914061700089496662023-10-08T09:48:00.003-07:002023-10-08T10:12:15.809-07:00Unfathomable<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNFYL5YXPAgOTTr9O7qUeHGPHGyPuNhyphenhyphen8e0mhzqQgAy8Dw0k7mBBt7A-kxwgAmzSevxT8ilNEVdfqH_hQECpC7pQX1AZF2eMcYr7UcWQ7ZLEVZPLCbO7cBWDPpcgndnklzGuCQldh3NPoGSA-_PnczrwP0ZokVQCD7fCP1Hrdjam9ylDnMCEQCsFzG1NoM/s1168/94D1BAC0-B92F-4E14-9AEE-5AC8476FBE93.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1155" data-original-width="1168" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNFYL5YXPAgOTTr9O7qUeHGPHGyPuNhyphenhyphen8e0mhzqQgAy8Dw0k7mBBt7A-kxwgAmzSevxT8ilNEVdfqH_hQECpC7pQX1AZF2eMcYr7UcWQ7ZLEVZPLCbO7cBWDPpcgndnklzGuCQldh3NPoGSA-_PnczrwP0ZokVQCD7fCP1Hrdjam9ylDnMCEQCsFzG1NoM/s320/94D1BAC0-B92F-4E14-9AEE-5AC8476FBE93.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">…and that the majority of GOP lawmakers were so willing to acquiesce, affirm and enable it, as long as it meant more power for them.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">…AND that a majority of the evil-worshipping 40% identify themselves as “Christians.”</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">🙁☹️😫😠😡</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Five years ago, I posted this at<a href="https://betterterms.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> “Better Terms.”</a> In fact, it was my LAST post at “Better Terms.” </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2aiSoMbcCqF_XnJu2-gHiq-SM7gQE7YaBIutuiT36VCC0pAHWicJqZpStH6cVMVEoJ7THck3DZSk9jF25YEysGw3o5nVvafFX2YHYx98vny9iLyhwgMlHQ5MGPdSiiQgF3MoVwU3n1J60ei6mbwnhccwReaTVBY8t5S07fyFilllu0PQghDtm68Y8hcc/s1449/B84F7C6B-FC19-4BE5-869D-EC1A878C32F4.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1449" data-original-width="1449" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2aiSoMbcCqF_XnJu2-gHiq-SM7gQE7YaBIutuiT36VCC0pAHWicJqZpStH6cVMVEoJ7THck3DZSk9jF25YEysGw3o5nVvafFX2YHYx98vny9iLyhwgMlHQ5MGPdSiiQgF3MoVwU3n1J60ei6mbwnhccwReaTVBY8t5S07fyFilllu0PQghDtm68Y8hcc/w640-h640/B84F7C6B-FC19-4BE5-869D-EC1A878C32F4.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I think it ‘s indicative of the utter hopelessness that virtually stole my voice after the 2016 election.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">We can NOT let this happen again.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Lisa :-]http://www.blogger.com/profile/02237889098638895390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283072392763163737.post-37237289284748457672023-10-06T09:44:00.002-07:002023-10-06T09:56:40.802-07:00Selective Hearing<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSivRpaEZ-SAXuJN1uqOWm0I1PxYGmp2kXIxKNkianz2aWdk53HqQ4MpzmLTbrjxUw7Dy047dWZTj6sHXDg4j60F6yF5HsWqFwW_L9d-st12skemxvAhZxivB3S2bUc6pBZp6MPy0xjQRoQmUEmPUnDvcyOJ09h04aIz56gJM1ec0HWKY21y2kDpmTQENB/s1066/EC6357B0-AF5B-4F99-9B71-2FA4AF8C826E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="974" data-original-width="1066" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSivRpaEZ-SAXuJN1uqOWm0I1PxYGmp2kXIxKNkianz2aWdk53HqQ4MpzmLTbrjxUw7Dy047dWZTj6sHXDg4j60F6yF5HsWqFwW_L9d-st12skemxvAhZxivB3S2bUc6pBZp6MPy0xjQRoQmUEmPUnDvcyOJ09h04aIz56gJM1ec0HWKY21y2kDpmTQENB/s320/EC6357B0-AF5B-4F99-9B71-2FA4AF8C826E.jpeg" width="320" /> </a></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It took more than half my nearly-five-decade marriage for me to be smacked in the face with this reality. For some reason, I had it in my head for SO MANY years that ours was an extraordinary partnership that defied the status quo.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">As I finally, painfully figured out...not so much. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My husband can quote the most minute, random statistics from any sport in which he is interested: football, basketball, and baseball, primarily.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But he cannot for the life of him remember what I told him about making the bed or where to put dishes away--even though he uses these things every day and should know from simple observation how they go,.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I used to think he aggressively "forgot" or "didn't listen" simply because the information came from me. It used to make me crazy.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Actually, not much has changed on that front. I still think he doesn't hear me on purpose.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I just don't let it make me as crazy as it used to. This is something to which you apply the maxim: "You can't change the behavior of others, you can only change how you react to it." </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And, let's face it, I used to really take his selective deafness personally. Like, I must be a remarkably horrible harpy if my husband actively practices to "not hear" me. When I see memes like this posted by perfect strangers, I get it. It's not me, it's just...the species. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Too, by this stage of life, you just don't want to waste time and energy being upset about things you cannot change. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It is what it is. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Sigh! </i> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Lisa :-]http://www.blogger.com/profile/02237889098638895390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283072392763163737.post-10664109224968535942023-10-04T09:10:00.003-07:002023-10-04T09:10:45.173-07:00We Miss You, Jon Stewart<p><span style="font-size: large;">This man is so smart, so informed, so empathetic, so spot-on when he criticizes...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">How did he get to be a "comedian?"</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">For my money, he's the 21st-century Mark Twain.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And I would SO love for him to be somewhere we could hear/see him on a regular basis. </span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfL7-Ohf8lVaixXIz4F_YO8DFCgKkSK4uvR552hfpl9fnYthsyP5f12nKsRCjca3fenkQBUDPtmh139KoYgOR690PxJZPH_2Naa13Z3CxjSdRAftTrttKmC3FqR7CSqg7-HOV19DzmizXP3XrXtrrGFLabUFRbKEmFBbMMK98pFe7RTTDMEcfo3Zl6Cqx/s798/31E9E069-2414-421D-BB94-F6ACED34C077.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfL7-Ohf8lVaixXIz4F_YO8DFCgKkSK4uvR552hfpl9fnYthsyP5f12nKsRCjca3fenkQBUDPtmh139KoYgOR690PxJZPH_2Naa13Z3CxjSdRAftTrttKmC3FqR7CSqg7-HOV19DzmizXP3XrXtrrGFLabUFRbKEmFBbMMK98pFe7RTTDMEcfo3Zl6Cqx/s320/31E9E069-2414-421D-BB94-F6ACED34C077.jpeg" width="301" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Lisa :-]http://www.blogger.com/profile/02237889098638895390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283072392763163737.post-6969618388741159772023-10-01T10:38:00.001-07:002023-10-01T10:38:57.640-07:00My Hero Celebrates His Birthday Today<p> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cx3OKPluPJq/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" target="_blank">Happy 99th Birthday, President Carter!</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg592IuTdL20b6gL4tnrrNVEsGtUJ7G9S0IPg3p2SavkjHr8sJscl-6zJiBapDL4xYAcyHmm53ABDX7evYIQMBuRRGhdfkrrSftlRw31bkMJM4SCVZn8052OQ61fdT2AnlG_mRIwuGTbG2dROjco4_hwtlIuIJqPO5O8Py_P9X6FVhkmIWigAIitd3W6VBU/s1194/E6B7BE7D-5AD9-41A9-AB9C-274D451E21BC.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1173" data-original-width="1194" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg592IuTdL20b6gL4tnrrNVEsGtUJ7G9S0IPg3p2SavkjHr8sJscl-6zJiBapDL4xYAcyHmm53ABDX7evYIQMBuRRGhdfkrrSftlRw31bkMJM4SCVZn8052OQ61fdT2AnlG_mRIwuGTbG2dROjco4_hwtlIuIJqPO5O8Py_P9X6FVhkmIWigAIitd3W6VBU/s320/E6B7BE7D-5AD9-41A9-AB9C-274D451E21BC.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Lisa :-]http://www.blogger.com/profile/02237889098638895390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283072392763163737.post-67793490369671862822023-09-30T10:40:00.004-07:002023-09-30T14:58:28.187-07:00Cheato Fatigue<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZg-mNUip_4ViB_akRnyX1DSPiHY83ByiWr8vZccpLRX8ufh_30-6O7Yvab10ZvhP4bYXH9047w5ggfTM5nV0PpkKnzIfJ9-ZUAmY5KiYG_ciEnYc7tZLy8yfuFfzvpMxeLxjKRb0pfswFUuNwQlpM9Jz3TqDaALgKIyeucYSOpeRJOpsah2Xw5P6M0HPv/s419/cheato.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="419" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZg-mNUip_4ViB_akRnyX1DSPiHY83ByiWr8vZccpLRX8ufh_30-6O7Yvab10ZvhP4bYXH9047w5ggfTM5nV0PpkKnzIfJ9-ZUAmY5KiYG_ciEnYc7tZLy8yfuFfzvpMxeLxjKRb0pfswFUuNwQlpM9Jz3TqDaALgKIyeucYSOpeRJOpsah2Xw5P6M0HPv/s320/cheato.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Cheato Jesus is in a lot of big legal trouble. However, true to his evil-parallel-universe dynamic, this only seems to enhance his appeal in the eyes of his devil-worshipping cult. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But I wonder...how big actually IS the cult, at this point?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I have disengaged myself from almost all social media, but I realize the cacophonous die-hard MAGAt crowd is still out there. But that is the point. They ARE loud, obnoxious, and dedicated to the task of making themselves heard and seen. But are their numbers actually there anymore? AND are the folks on the other side of the political divide willing to sit back and be controlled by these loons forever? <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Are the legions of remaining MAGAts large enough to carry him back to the White House in a fair and unobstructed election (if such a thing is possible in the US at this point)? In 2016, it was not simply the 40% of true-believer MAGAts that swept 45 to victory. It was a combination of that, plus independent voters who saw him as a possible refreshing change from "career politicians," plus Russian interference, plus a candidate advanced by the "other side" who was all too easy to beat to a pulp, plus a last-minute gaffe by an FBI director that all but sealed the fate of that opposing candidate. And let us not forget the press. Primarily and overwhelmingly the press. Without whom the Perfect Orange Storm might very well never have come into being. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">To my mind, the single most insurmountable advantage enjoyed by Cheato in 2016 was the American press's extreme obsession with all things Wankmaggot. Cheato Jesus played them like Itzhak Perlman on a Stradivarius. He kept up a non-stop stream of vile, outrageous stunts and sound-bytes that the US press could not resist, thereby gaining for his campaign billions of dollars of free media coverage. Of all the entities responsible for turning the Wangmaggot into the evil juggernaut he became in 2016, the press was far and away at the top of the list. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">That dynamic alone might well be what tips the scales--or not--for Cheato Jesus in 2024.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Does the press understand and own its culpability in putting 45 in the White House to begin with? Will they make a concerted effort NOT to make the same mistake this time around? Or will the idea of viewers' eyeballs and profit numbers win out over the stability of our democracy--AGAIN? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The jury's out on that one. But I'm beginning to get a bit worried...especially since I came across this article in The Atlantic a couple of days ago: </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/09/trump-milley-execution-incitement-violence/675435/" target="_blank">Trump Floats The Idea Of Executing Joint Chiefs Chairman Milley.</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In which an earnest journalist warns that Americans are "distracted and dumb" when it comes to 45's continuing antics. The writer suggests that we have become desensitized and fatigued by the horrific things Cheato says and stands for, which makes his capacity to incite violence even more potentially explosive than it could be. The press should be watchful, on Trump all the time, and report every dangerous word that comes out of his mouth or social media account.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Really? To what end? What will it benefit for the press to follow 45 around like obedient puppy dogs again, this time around? We KNOW the magnitude of the damage this can do, that it DID in 2016. What demonstrable GOOD can come of it? Will we change the minds/votes of die-hard MAGAts? Dream on. Will we hold 45 accountable for his lies? He was in the White House for years before for the press could even sidle up to using the word "lie" when reporting on the outrageous crap that issued forth from the 45th president's mouth and thumbs. Will we somehow steer the hapless, sycophantic GOP away from their "dear leader" and back in the direction of a responsible, viable political party? Seriously...they have boarded that train, and will ride it till it crashes. Will it stop any outbursts of political violence spurred on by 45's continuing violent rhetoric? I have just 2 words in response to that: January 6.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And let me add that the press's constant and repeated declarations that Cheato is not only the front-running GOP candidate, but stands a good chance of returning to the White House in 2025 is NOT filling me with hope that they learned one damned thing from 2016. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It may actually be a GOOD thing that Americans are suffering from Cheato Fatigue. We know he hasn't gone away. We know he's dangerous. We wish to god he would just...disappear. (Maybe he could meet up with some Russian official and get a poison handshake or a radioactive Big Mac. From my monitor to god's ears...) </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But we also know that the best place--the only place, it appears--we can have any power over him is at the ballot box. We proved that in 2020. The fix was in for Trump to win, fabricate or steal 70 million votes in 2020. He was confident that number would put him easily over the top and secure him an additional 4 years to bleed America dry and possibly destroy it altogether. But he bargained without the 81 million + souls shocked into action by his horrendous dumpster fire of an administration, and determined to send him back to hell where he belonged. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We buried him four years ago. We'll by god do it again. Because we have to. And this time, we’ll see that he STAYS buried.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Just, for the love of god, keep him out of our faces until the actual time comes for us to grab the shovels. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span></p>Lisa :-]http://www.blogger.com/profile/02237889098638895390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283072392763163737.post-75451326676501878282023-09-29T13:02:00.002-07:002023-09-29T13:02:59.130-07:0020 Twenty 20 Twenty 20 Twenty 20<p><span style="font-size: large;">This post is to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the esteemed, dearly loved,cherished and sadly neglected "Coming to Terms..." </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I am posting snippets from each one of my anniversary entries, all the way back to the beginning.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Two things surprised me:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">1.) That I only completely spaced the anniversary once, in twenty years. Not <i>too</i> shoddy. </span><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">and...<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">2.) That I have actually done this before (in 2015.)</span></p><br /><p><span style="font-size: large;">2023--<i> </i> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYjZ0ml6zFG885JiL0cZw2EDaTxEnuhd864u3saWXz6quTkSnUiM6fdey1d3bsGn_sX2WFnbA_sn3eHUQzpDtkZ7ubap59zkTzYRnRdxcqk-iWyqDPUuqMW5dmTCu1eq6u9wEeRTzitB7nNx-yNmOwH31wm3FBb6KVUvr7LlIKYqY9r0geQdnhN9HtDV9/s1146/D9139D92-B0F8-4305-ADB1-8FDD3EA1AC4E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="1112" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYjZ0ml6zFG885JiL0cZw2EDaTxEnuhd864u3saWXz6quTkSnUiM6fdey1d3bsGn_sX2WFnbA_sn3eHUQzpDtkZ7ubap59zkTzYRnRdxcqk-iWyqDPUuqMW5dmTCu1eq6u9wEeRTzitB7nNx-yNmOwH31wm3FBb6KVUvr7LlIKYqY9r0geQdnhN9HtDV9/s320/D9139D92-B0F8-4305-ADB1-8FDD3EA1AC4E.jpeg" width="311" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">2022--</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibjRioQxmd99uE0dKOUbwpj_CX9CyHFleI47JjOD5witKCUvffiUWfzBp_qRYX0MbTVYp8Mme4MC-H3DBzYWWAhNvd5wwpXi4JYgKA3lvVFKaMWXqHfPf4ZvTt1aUDe_TKL10y92PXLbH-C2nroxInaFtE-JR8ZDbvBlE7pqjECg02y1RRfpgnwLmvf0y1/s639/nineteen.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="639" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibjRioQxmd99uE0dKOUbwpj_CX9CyHFleI47JjOD5witKCUvffiUWfzBp_qRYX0MbTVYp8Mme4MC-H3DBzYWWAhNvd5wwpXi4JYgKA3lvVFKaMWXqHfPf4ZvTt1aUDe_TKL10y92PXLbH-C2nroxInaFtE-JR8ZDbvBlE7pqjECg02y1RRfpgnwLmvf0y1/w162-h153/nineteen.jpg" width="162" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">2021--<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">For the NTH year in a row, I've completely spaced my blogoversary. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">On
September 25, 2003, I sat at the keyboard and clacked out my very first
post to the "new" AOL hometown construct-- "journal land."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Infant, yea, almost <i>embryonic </i>social media.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">2020--</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span>It's
all I can do just to get up in the morning and keep myself busy and
distracted for 16 hours, so I can go back to bed and slip into blessed
separation from all the crap that's going on in the world.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span>And I distracted myself SO much, I missed my own Blog-a-versary.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span>2019--</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It has been such a weird, mostly silent year... And a busy month.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So I almost forgot to note the anniversary of this, my own little space on the interweb.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">16 years.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">2018-</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">-</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As I've been ticking away at this post, it dawned on me that my "blog-a-versary" was 2 days ago. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fifteen years. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fifteen years I've carried on this love/hate relationship with the internet, its gifts and its poisons.</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I really don't know how to comment on that, just now. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2017--I posted a screen shot of my first blog entry in 2003.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyBnN5yjOu8NJOQbz2ffoC_Eejrt-S1ayjoaDMxlZk4SLLj6alha4BZNnvRJG80_Im2suXH7RC-uQd76dMS0XazeAMnu9vAlYTCKvMd5tdsSB1qzPzTU_QMsSnwJht9T-5Xz8unHaoUuQMqmgqO9Tm8Fc7PaphehOSz8FwC3us7zWIyTf9pfrCD41mvlu/s750/journal.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="750" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyBnN5yjOu8NJOQbz2ffoC_Eejrt-S1ayjoaDMxlZk4SLLj6alha4BZNnvRJG80_Im2suXH7RC-uQd76dMS0XazeAMnu9vAlYTCKvMd5tdsSB1qzPzTU_QMsSnwJht9T-5Xz8unHaoUuQMqmgqO9Tm8Fc7PaphehOSz8FwC3us7zWIyTf9pfrCD41mvlu/w263-h139/journal.jpg" width="263" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> <span> </span></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">2016--</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">...And speaking of still being able to write things that make sense...</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I've been doing this for thirteen years, now. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Not exactly going strong anymore, but still going.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">2015--</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">(I posted exactly as I'm doing now...didn't realize I'd done it before.) AND--</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: large;"><b>2015</b>--</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Twelve years</i>. I hardly know what to write. But I'll think of something.</span></span></p><p><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">2014--</span></span></p><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Eleven is the number of years I have
maintained this blog.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As of September 25, 2014,<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">
Coming to Terms</i></b> is eleven years old.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wow.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2013</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">--</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: large;">Missed the date entirely<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(??!?!)</span></p><p><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: large;">2012--</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SiXCZ-Ew0b0" width="320" youtube-src-id="SiXCZ-Ew0b0"></iframe></span></div><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: large;">2011--</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b> </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>Since September 25, 2003.<br />
<br />
</b>From famine through feast and back again.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2010--</span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://mlraminiakcomingtoterms.blogspot.com/2010/09/since-september-25th-2003.html"><span style="color: blue;">Since September 25th, 2003</span></a> </span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_O29PTG8KZUn8tA3RKU2yMC5aLDphgCo4gYIMDkfMQ7DyVutQPp0-a9-h_VxiOLPv0pzITmN9kQH54JSNBxuVnP9Ofz2_7zWeUYi1nIsni6g38_ZWh26p4Wmza_sRF3aKUw8XbXj-Qqt/s1600/bd+20102010-09-28.jpg"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="mso-ignore: vglayout;"><br /></span></span></a></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Seven years is a pretty long time to do <i>any</i>thing.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <br /></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 2009--</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Coming
To Terms is coming up on its sixth birthday. Six years. Wow.<br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<br />
I love this little blog. I do. It means so much more to me than anyone could
ever imagine. Even sans the readers and the community out of which it sprang
(or into which it sprang…)</span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: large;">2008--</span></p><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; mso-ascii-font-family: Garamond; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Garamond;">People
and things that have endured at least five years of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">me:</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; mso-ascii-font-family: Garamond; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Garamond;">My family (at least, most of them…)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; mso-ascii-font-family: Garamond; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Garamond;">My husband (31 years and counting…)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Garamond; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Garamond;">Eighteen</span></i></b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Garamond; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Garamond;">
pets…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large; mso-ascii-font-family: Garamond; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Garamond;">One or two friends…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three homes…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Two jobs…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p>
<span style="font-size: large; mso-ascii-font-family: Garamond; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Garamond;">…and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Coming to Terms…”</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large; mso-ascii-font-family: Garamond; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Garamond;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">2007--</i></b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Jester;">
</span></b></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Jester;">Happy Birthday,</span></b></span></p><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Jester;">
<p align="center">“Coming to Terms...”</p></span></b></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Jester;"><p align="center">2006--</p></span></b></span></div><p><span style="color: #ffd966; font-size: large;"><b>I just realized that I have passed the three-year mark on "Coming to Terms." And what a long strange trip it’s been…</b></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ffd966; font-size: large;"><b>Could it possibly be only three years that I have been chained to this love/hate relationship with the world of the blog?</b></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ffd966; font-size: large;"><b>Surely it is longer that three
years…decades, perhaps…that I have known and cherished my "friends of
the ether" out in journal land.</b></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ffd966; font-size: large;"><b>Mary. Christina. Cynthia. Robin. Robbie. Gigi. Jackie. Meredith. <span>Oh my god...and I forgot Kat! You've been with me <img align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgr0NWGXvzIY3yg2wmiKxwZyvao5tukk9idArQW9FZQ2FVT9UO8wfejaFANGktL3ZZXx8VxLW8xitM12NflqjA3CBqAW5WQPEFVTGfjr8qccM7WGdTeLWdMC0qBa83x8OUoCij_M1d2-SpQOVpKz5WSBTKEVG7gm3rkYF1Mo7JJd6wMPDecD5uPIJ0jM_MTfjBo1N8y5IAXohloJA=s0-d" />from almost the beginning! Augh!!! My brain is indeed fried.</span> </b></span><span style="color: #004000; font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></p><p><span style="color: #004000; font-size: large;"><b>2005--</b></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Jester;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span>Seven hundred thirty-one days ago
(that’s two years, including a leap-day), "Coming to Terms…" sprang
forth from my keyboard to the AOL ether-waves. Well, maybe "sprang"
isn’t exactly the word. More like clotted, chugged, and coughed. In
those early days, posting entries presented challenges—both electronic
and verbal—that are now the stuff of distant memory. For the first few
weeks, the words sputtered like rusty water from a long-disused faucet.
It took hours to compose a satisfactory work, hit the "save" button, and
then run smack into that "2500-word-limit" brick wall. Or hit the
"save" button and have the words disappear into cyber-limbo, never to be
seen again…</span></span></span></b></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Jester;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span>2004--</span></span><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Andy;"><span style="color: #ff0080;"> So, anyway, one year ago today, I opened the Pandora’s Box of AOL journals. LOL! I shouldn’t really call it that…nothing <i>bad</i>
has come out. Except maybe the guilty feeling that I’m spending too
much time here that could be better spent on something else; like
housework, WORK work, exercising, reading Shakespeare…all the
self-improvement crap you never do anyway. The wonderful things about
having this journal far outweigh the bad. As I’ve said several times,
the community aspect of journal land took me completely by surprise.</span></span></span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Jester;"><span style="font-family: Andy;">2003--</span></span></b></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Jester;"><span style="font-family: Andy;"> </span>So, this is my first "blog." I wonder how this will affect my writing,
knowing that someone might actually read it? I've been writing journals
since I was in high school. Always with the secret hope that someone
might read them, and get to know or care about my thoughts, confusions,
and yearnings.</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In closing,</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">let me paraphrase an observation I have made at least twice in the past: <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Twenty years <i>is</i> a long time to do <i>anything.</i></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Jester;"> <span style="font-family: Andy;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Jester;"> </span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvPxi4Gg5adigfFen-YYId_aOp6hEz0ZUAwJVRttv7xlNOYxOpT1M0mMRORqx1jvtHt8a7pPwBZ2DzwePMgzi2g2yP5jRigYRfnpaYXsalmNRzvPlP7T9Q0MOFgEFsBKq2Q2SQCg3NUsAv4N7XjlTLY3KfH34l57KYBR5HJo0vq7Slcgo2UPMKgiTQdaso/s1333/98BE5346-F000-4113-BF67-134E6F5C2CA8.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="948" data-original-width="1333" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvPxi4Gg5adigfFen-YYId_aOp6hEz0ZUAwJVRttv7xlNOYxOpT1M0mMRORqx1jvtHt8a7pPwBZ2DzwePMgzi2g2yP5jRigYRfnpaYXsalmNRzvPlP7T9Q0MOFgEFsBKq2Q2SQCg3NUsAv4N7XjlTLY3KfH34l57KYBR5HJo0vq7Slcgo2UPMKgiTQdaso/s320/98BE5346-F000-4113-BF67-134E6F5C2CA8.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Lisa :-]http://www.blogger.com/profile/02237889098638895390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283072392763163737.post-5050021215006060012023-09-27T09:37:00.002-07:002023-09-27T09:43:03.109-07:00Boobie<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwQmtDPxY1JQeYyQPsW6Ud6_CbP1a5gIg7h_Ih8IcQ9U45keC-y6o6h_Vj9HqZKAWQN8EtgaZTVGdJfKGccQQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> Yesterday, I went searching for some information in an old blog post. One of the posts that popped up in my search was a lament on how much I missed my dog. The dog in question was Lucy the Wonder Dog, who left us in 2014 after brightening our lives for a little over 13 years. I STILL miss her.</span><p><span style="font-size: large;">But this does not lessen our attachment to her successor, who joined our journey in 2017. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Josie is 6 1/2 years old, now, but it seems she hasn’t stopped growing and changing…I hesitate to call it “maturing,” because she’s anything but mature. She’s the polar opposite of Lucy. Where Lucy was reserved, quiet, obedient and eager to please, Josie is…well, none of those things. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It can be said that they each shared our home under completely opposite circumstances, and maybe that has caused the night and day differences between them. Lucy was with us during a time of our lives when we were working a jillion hours and were not home enough to really support having a dog. But she made do with half a dozen cats to keep her company, and with us lavishing attention on her when we were available. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Josie, on the other hand, spent 2 1/2 years of COVID lockdown with us. Thirty months where we basically went nowhere and were home ALL THE TIME. I guess we have to admit, this has “spoiled” her to the max. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Josie was never a “normal” dog. It took at least a year for her to decide she liked us well enough to actually integrate into the family. She’s never been food motivated, so she was very difficult to train. Treats didn’t appeal to her, and the “Mom voice” seemed to slip right over her head. There were times when I thought we had made a colossal mistake taking on a puppy at that time…I even briefly considered “re-homing” her. But, no. We stuck it out.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And now we have this funny, bossy companion who announces any and all delivery vehicles that so much as drive by the property. She fancies herself the Cat Police—any time a feline steps out of line, she is right in their face to give them what for. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Plus, she has become hilariously vocal. As the above video will attest.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When Josie first joined the family, the husband took to calling her “Jobu”—after some obscure voo-doo god that was featured in the movie “Major League.” “We’ll call her ‘Boobie’ for short!” he declared, to which I answered, “No. We will not have a dog named “Boobie.”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But, of course, that’s exactly what he calls her. And she answers to it. Luckily, she also answers to her actual name, so I have not had to stoop to calling her “Boobie.” </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But the fact is, she IS a boobie. As depicted in the video above.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And she brightens our lives every day.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJTlbgfnLxR9dzHqb5azT6Kz1OstrDHRD27hsu3-W0BNfn30IocOBECVdBDQYolPrYoRTedXeoJlthdC3KXrsRyXwlPqa7l8L7awgysxXICScgiXuj8lUagMbqp8zwrGsjYn4wosvUzHxAFmV1KZob7xwiWpijUqmZECUUZhelqPfzjdKRD8pf6DsMQBu/s3264/588C2BEE-AABF-4FB1-9A72-C0184624CE06.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJTlbgfnLxR9dzHqb5azT6Kz1OstrDHRD27hsu3-W0BNfn30IocOBECVdBDQYolPrYoRTedXeoJlthdC3KXrsRyXwlPqa7l8L7awgysxXICScgiXuj8lUagMbqp8zwrGsjYn4wosvUzHxAFmV1KZob7xwiWpijUqmZECUUZhelqPfzjdKRD8pf6DsMQBu/s320/588C2BEE-AABF-4FB1-9A72-C0184624CE06.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Lisa :-]http://www.blogger.com/profile/02237889098638895390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283072392763163737.post-80726825439725231342023-08-31T10:57:00.002-07:002023-08-31T10:57:21.929-07:00My Hero<p> LOVE this man. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQ4biigxUW9m8vxPPhsX15c4zltCQQAIHW549uaUeYz7x3b-AWeLTLt8Z3PmowrimDRC5Iga0KbMbW_667_KpYarLxgmRqEu3Jbim5FSSfEMhf2NrbyBuQ3XURpOJxw-gXBj6oQqFxPq435qmoFRgOVgu6XITfmiSQS9PxXqDuTrataNueutJTk-FBVnP/s1203/E0431DE8-AB12-403E-861F-1C6E7C33E007.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1102" height="413" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQ4biigxUW9m8vxPPhsX15c4zltCQQAIHW549uaUeYz7x3b-AWeLTLt8Z3PmowrimDRC5Iga0KbMbW_667_KpYarLxgmRqEu3Jbim5FSSfEMhf2NrbyBuQ3XURpOJxw-gXBj6oQqFxPq435qmoFRgOVgu6XITfmiSQS9PxXqDuTrataNueutJTk-FBVnP/w379-h413/E0431DE8-AB12-403E-861F-1C6E7C33E007.jpeg" width="379" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Lisa :-]http://www.blogger.com/profile/02237889098638895390noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283072392763163737.post-85318810484835199072023-08-30T08:56:00.003-07:002023-08-30T08:59:16.030-07:00A Bearable National Holiday<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMGgRGMXAWQMCMcG_SXSpqSUeZjz0RiUzIqQfDdR3es1tJej0dT7WvlXAlzi5ML85GY8G5tnF6SW6eW_OnM7j1tTVThSClguGYW3XP5Xyt47k9jiIr1nYAcPOJp2jLoy1j7FrAr1ItWr8JNwb1G6F9PAj9UXdYdcFnUIhZ_4WS2OXkb3oZX_xmJb7yqFC/s536/labor%20day%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="536" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMGgRGMXAWQMCMcG_SXSpqSUeZjz0RiUzIqQfDdR3es1tJej0dT7WvlXAlzi5ML85GY8G5tnF6SW6eW_OnM7j1tTVThSClguGYW3XP5Xyt47k9jiIr1nYAcPOJp2jLoy1j7FrAr1ItWr8JNwb1G6F9PAj9UXdYdcFnUIhZ_4WS2OXkb3oZX_xmJb7yqFC/w640-h418/labor%20day%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Labor Day.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">One of the few national holidays that can't be wrapped in the fascist flag or provide an excuse for in-your-face representations of caustic nationalism. And we won't be hearing empty exclamations of appreciation for laborers, or thanking them for...anything, really.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Labor Day is OUR holiday--the one for those hard-working, nose-to-the-grindstone folks who show up. We haven't let them plaster uniforms on us and send us off across the world to kill people for "freedom." We just...work. Every hour of every day, to keep the country running.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Honestly, given the tenor of national politics lately, I'm surprised Labor Day hasn't been canceled. Maybe the only reason it hasn't is that people have forgotten what we are actually supposed to be celebrating today (much like any other national holiday) and see it as the last frenetic weekend of the "lazy days of summer."<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">How about we pause for at least a few seconds to give a thought to the actual meaning of this holiday?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Let's hear it for the workers, people!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpnvjO69vM8ZosNgVSYHehfNOTwAIAtsFHRASFOeaOuuhiGAfPKq7ZaLbcz3232_4_dXAQdo7gJuvUfTkP4W2v4Mh1TKrBMfmZe8fmZ514g9XheeRAqi4CfDYrD7ZMber1NOgTsknYxQ6nsuO2NssRYHjAu7QZ4AaJJ8BjcZPN5Bs8hEDv3knH2MCsEA6/s268/thank%20a%20union.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="223" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpnvjO69vM8ZosNgVSYHehfNOTwAIAtsFHRASFOeaOuuhiGAfPKq7ZaLbcz3232_4_dXAQdo7gJuvUfTkP4W2v4Mh1TKrBMfmZe8fmZ514g9XheeRAqi4CfDYrD7ZMber1NOgTsknYxQ6nsuO2NssRYHjAu7QZ4AaJJ8BjcZPN5Bs8hEDv3knH2MCsEA6/w333-h400/thank%20a%20union.jpg" width="333" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /> </span><p></p>Lisa :-]http://www.blogger.com/profile/02237889098638895390noreply@blogger.com2