Connect. Be friendly. For just that moment, be one with the world. Over time, especially on the trail, that moment becomes a smile that then becomes a comment, that then, sometimes, becomes an acquaintance that could become a friend, and all from eye contact.
Go For It!
Me, maybe, one of three.
I'm not sure, though, that I have a "deep hatred" of needless and repetitive movement and noise. It can get to me, and I do usually ask the person to stop or I walk away, but fidgeting being detested?
Nope. Just annoying and irksome.
There's a Word For It
After a day (you know the type I'm talking about), I go on Instagram reels, promising myself I'll only do ten minutes. Of course, 25 minutes later I'm pushing myself to get off the couch. It's so good for the soul, though - the humor, the creativity! What a great way to step out of my life for a bit.
Right now there are these Maximus and Jeff clips of two-dog households that I'm enjoying, especially the Jeff ones. Maximus is regal and Jeff is the goof. I've known both. This morning, on a bit of a more highbrow note, I enjoyed this comic from New Yorker. Made me think of them: A little Maximus, a little Jeff all in one.
A lot of fun.
When it was announced yesterday that the shooter of the CEO of United Health Care would be charged with terrorism, I wondered why. Of course he shouldn't have done it, no matter how awful the company was. We are, or were, a nation of laws and courts, and taking justice into his own hands wasn't right.
Now, though, is it right to call this terrorism just because he killed a leader of a company making millions? There are days now when I feel like we're living in The Hunger Games or Fahrenheit 451, where the masses are kept in check with poverty, screens and drugs and the rich are in charge, creating laws unto themselves, benefiting themselves while keeping all others in check.
The killer should be arrested, arraigned and put on trial, for murder. But if guns are legal when they're used to kill innocent children, I don't understand the difference when it's a CEO. It's not terrorism; it's what's it always been: a person cracking and using guns to kill.
Making guns scarce for all murders would be the just solution.
More Important than Children?
 |
| The Week Morning Report, 12/17 |
A sad, sad world we
have made.
Blood soaks the floor and
splatters the children
painting their world red
Creating nightmares
serenaded with screams
Closing their eyes
trying to forget
tragedy follows them
Our young are living with death.
Let That Soak In
Afterword, 12/19: It wasn't a student but a second grade teacher not a student who called it in.
to Country and Pop? I've written about this before, but the short answer: they keep me young. I listen and remember, or I listen and wish. The two this week are coming off my country station.
Country, at its worst, is awful, and I understand people who can't separate those songs from their politics. But, at its best, I am in my 20s and full of a life of possibilities... or if not me, it's nice to know there are some 22 year olds who are!
What Was and Wasn't: All Good
Last week I did a post on the cats and their personalities, comparing them to the porcelain ones I'd been given for Christmas this year. I've since realized I was missing a major part of it all from the perspective I'd used. I've now moved them so I can see not only the front but the back of them daily.
Biggie is the entertainer and has the big personality. Gus, the quieter and more worried one, is the lover. Considering how little anyone sees of these two, I am amazed at how well the gift fit them. Perfect.
But, I shouldn't be surprised. As another present I was given a deck of cards featuring, in fun, dogs. I've been given, in the past, a Charlie Brown Christmas tree and a monthly calendar of famous quotes by one very close relative, while the other very close relative has given me a Peace mug and Obama books. Miles and miles away, they know me and I love that, and them.
Love Them
I love doing jigsaw puzzles. In the quiet of the basement with nothing to distract me, it, well, distracts me from life, myself and all that that entails.
This past weekend I needed to start a puzzle, which is the toughest part. There's no thrill of discovery or victory of finding the right piece, just drudgery. It's all about turning over, say, 1000 pieces and separating the border ones from the rest. Sighing, I began.
With an hundred or so pieces left to go, I came back to it in the evening, thinking I'd just finish the separation. But, of course, I then decided to divide the four sides, as it was pretty easy to see where'd they go. Missing the start of the evening football game seemed a fair trade.
Soon, almost all four sides were done. Usually, that's when the fun really begins. The bones in place, tomorrow I'd be ready to put meat on those bones. But alas, there was a problem, a big one. Border pieces were missing!! Had I missed one? Maybe. But six? No way! 1000 (994) pieces turned, and now I would be doing a puzzle I couldn't finish. One or two inside pieces missing is one thing; I can live with that, but numerous border pieces?!?
I should have just thrown the whole damn thing out. Loving the visual, book blocks, and vintage to boot, I convinced myself I'd already done the hard part.
I will be doing the puzzle; that's in my DNA. Work (puzzle) started is work (puzzle) to finish. But then, at the end, I'll be tossing. No one deserves to pay for or do a puzzle like this!
Missing Pieces
Just yesterday I finally got rid of an email after two weeks of studiously ignoring it.
My record? About four months. I don't allow myself to get rid of or move a message until I've dealt with it.
It was a reminder of a relative's birthday. I was away on her date, then didn't get around to it for a week, which brought on the burden, and so I did nothing. I was saved by a phone call from the birthday girl, and my first reaction was, "I can delete that message now!" Telling her happy birthday as I explained that I'd seen her name every day for months and so thought of her, every day for months, we laughed (good lady that she is), and moved onto other topics.
Cheering Me
Working in the library yesterday, new books but never taken out were on the tops of shelves, the perfect browsing-for-books place.
Looking deeper the clerk realized a lot were from '20 and '21. Yet more residue from COVID - books lost, with incredible journeys and insights just waiting for a reader.
Doing my part, my first reads.
Treasures to be Found
Driving to work this morning in beautiful scenery but on slippery roads, I heard this new song. There's more to Akon's song than what I've got here, but wouldn't we all do well to remember this? It's a beautiful day is right - and that means every day.
That's what we forget so often. It's all ...
Part of the Game
Reading The Week the last couple of mornings, I came across a few thoughtful, meaning I agree with them, articles.
Then, later, one good quote. And, who knows. Maybe I'm wrong on that; maybe - and I sure hope that I'm wrong - just maybe this is only a pendulum swing, which is, of course, the way of the world, and we'll come out all right.
I have no faith, but I can certainly hope.
Now and Forever
Important to us, besides it being a terrific movie, was that when a friend, who turned us onto the movie, married, we gave them a Red Rider BB Gun as a wedding present. Seeing the looks on the faces of the other - older - guests was perfect. A gun for a present?!? The answer to that is, you bet, at least in our crowd.
It was a great holiday. Lounging and talking, eating out, seeing the traditional movie (Wicked), playing cards and, of course, eating our traditional turkey day dinner of beef brisket, biscuits, mashed potatoes and brussel sprouts all while the two pups played made for a relaxing and fun trip.
We made new memories even as we remembered other memories.
In Cleveland
Reading an article about a tattoo convention, I read this:
While I hesitate to believe it, I do love it. Humans came from apes via mushrooms. Works for me. As a person who believes in science but isn't enthralled with all its bits, seeing humans from this perspective is a fun idea that, frankly, makes sense to me and makes me smile.
I So Enjoy New Yorker
No.
Maybe I'm not reading politics but I'm not devolving to socks, not from a major newspaper.
How Silly
Mixed metaphor, but as one reminded me when we were talking about enjoying life when the world is on
fire (or, falling apart)....
Don't Forget To Sing In the Lifeboats
Ps: Four words. Matt Gaetz. Attorney General
Adding water to the flowers - still good after weeks of being inside - I noticed a white root. What I had cut to savor summer for just a few days more has become a chance to have summer all winter. I looked to the rest, still outside, and saw that maybe I could cut a couple more. What a wonderful way to begin my day!
Big Smiles
At the local level, we spend money on a paper owned by USA Today with a token view of Ithaca news. But, come on. On this past Monday they were headlining a fire... that took place last Wednesday. What?!?
And that's why I support an online-only paper, The Ithaca Voice. I get news about local politics, police actions, schools, and building and zoning prospects. In the first I read the comics and the advice column. (Okay, to be honest, during football season, I read the sports section too.) That's it.
At the national and world level, I read The New Yorker, The Week, Time magazine's online newsletters and The New York Times. I left my Time magazine subscription when the Koch brothers bought it, but not surprisingly in this world today, they're not the bad guys so much anymore. The brothers, only one now, have refrained from too much meddling. That's unlike the two tech billionaires who bought papers, The Washington Post and The LA Times, which have, this past week, refused to endorse any candidate for the president.
Did they do this out of a sense of moral responsibility to the public, believing the public should come to their own conclusions? No. Both papers had prepared, expected and were ready to endorse. What happened was that these tech bros* decided to play nice with the bully, hedge bets or hope for insider positions - whatever anyone wants to call it. But, it sure wasn't for any journalist reason.
Employees have resigned and subscribers have canceled at both papers.** Now, let's hope the owners' late-making decisions come back to bite them in the butt too. If America can be bought by spoiled billionaires spoiling for more of the pie, we truly are in trouble
What Can I Say?
*Tech bros are newer and younger and perhaps the richer relatives to the old white men I rail against. Sure of their opinions and wanting their way, there is no thought to values, others and what is best for the country. And, yes, I know not all white men and certainly not all tech people are in this group. But the ones I can't stand sure are.
Afterword. As of last night, two hundred thousand subscribers had canceled at the Washington Post. Previously, having read an oped on that very topic, that's not so good. It won't hurt Bezos but it will hurt all the people who work at the paper. The writer's opinion was that people should be canceling their Prime subscription instead. Makes sense, but it probably won't happen. Instead of hitting Bezos, the cancelations will be hurting the working class. How sad. These guys are so insulated regular Americans don't have much of a chance against them. Our best bet? Vote. Vote for people who will regulate them and work for the middle class.
Doing my part for America. Getting out the vote, I hope!
Makes Four Hundred and One.
We are less than two weeks away from the election, and every day it get harder to think about. I am working to remain hopeful, and yes, in my gut I think Harris will win, perhaps even win big, but it's hard.
Hard to be optimistic when we were shattered once before. Hard to believe that Americans can even contemplate a man monster such as he - he who is shameless. Palmer's penis size, one of the newest comes to mind. Hard to fathom a warped mess of a man such as he as the leader of this country. So, yes, it's hard.
Reading helps, or it can, if I'm careful. Silver's poll article on his gut - Trump - but his, then, analysis for others' on Harris winning worked, and hey, he's a pollster and while still fixating on them, I've sure learned their polls mean little. Think Biden in '20 and all the others in '22. Another was Carville's on his faith in Harris (both from NYT), and now, this one from Time. Feeling over facts.
Until otherwise, I'm sticking with hope.
Every Day
