Feed the Homeless. I got this gentleman from a Feed the Homeless ad on the web.
These type of drawings take too long. I get impatient and want to be done with it.
Well, its Halloween. All Hallowed Eve... or something like that. I broke down and got some candy to give out. I needed some cash and I didn't want to go to the bank so I went to a store to pick up something and then get cash back there. Candy was on sale. I got some of my favorite, of course. I'm no dummy. Usually.
And I did have to check out the freshness. I'm not sure how fresh it is but I'm betting this candy is from their new recipe. It doesn't taste as good.... which is good for me. Less likely to munch on it.
It was raining today until around 2pm... now the sun is out. Looks like the kids will have a dry evening.
Is this not a perfect description of how it feels sometimes:
"I am trying to figure out who to blame this one on. Blame is truly the eagle of the soul, soaring high out of your cloud of fuming anger and landing squarely on someone else's shoulder, then pooping."
Yeah! This was coined by Crazy Aunt Purl from today's post. She's such a great writer!
Guess where we spent the day. Its hard to see the sign, but the boys and I waiting in the emergency waiting room for four hours. After the first two hours things went down hill from there.
Hunger struck plus boredom. Vending machines were the only thing available. The munchkins didn't know how fortunate they were that gramma had some money on her. They filled up in over priced junk food.
Many visits outside, then inside, then back outside.... watching traffic, pushing buttons in the car, kicking metal posts, etc.
My daughter (aka 'mom') has been sick since Friday night. Lots of symptoms that accompany a lot of different ailments, mainly flu like symptoms. After four hours she was told she has a kidney infection. (I'm glad it wasn't anything contagious.) She came out with four prescriptions.
The boys, considering everything, were well behaved... but that fourth hour was tough to get through. All three of us were getting tired of waiting.
As soon as we were with half a mile of their house they both fell asleep.
I just viewed two videos that demonstrated how ignorant some people remain. Voters who sounded like they just climbed out of a cave and are getting ready to toss a virgin into the volcano to appease their gods. After listening to them talk I scanned the background to see if they had anyone hanging from a tree or if their white robes were hanging from the clothesline. Its just stunning to me how someone who has been around for 50 or 60 years still wallows in ignorance.
No wonder the GOP uses fear and hate in their campaigns. It would seem to be the only thing to get through to certain people. God help us. Please protect us from our ignorance. Its so sad.... just so damn sad. And plain stupidity just ticks me off!!
Nooding, doodling. The pictures wouldn't display properly the first go around, so I'm trying them again. Only this time I'm only posting the two that are semi decent. (the other two were just scratches on a blackboard. shudder.) Imagination doodling in a small 4x6 inch sketchbook.
Another perfect fall day. Beautiful colors floating with the breeze. Sunshine warming up the earth. Leaves tracked onto my rug!! What?
I've got both windows open and it feels wonderful. Soon it will cool off enough so that if one wanted comfort food for dinner, heating the stove will not matter.
Yesterday I visited my friend again. Lost Upwards again, but it was a close game all the way through. The pictures of the trees are in front of her house. It gets very colorful.
The pbs program had me sputtering like a merchant marine tonight, but to be honest the information was not shocking in and of itself. It was putting it all together and laying it out there and having someone say it out loud...to see how badly government has been raping and pillaging our country, our citizens, for their personal gain... them and their "cronies" as mccain likes to phrase it. I want to hit somebody. I want to take a bat and beat the crap outta someone. Bush. Chaney. Get up here!! You go first!!! And you know what else? I wanna take this information and cram it into Hasselbeck's tiny little pea sized brain... that's how angry I'm feeling.
I know you're tired of all this dirty politic-ing. I am too. So please don't read it if you don't feel like it ... why ruin a perfectly okay day. I just have to get it out here so I can walk away from it. Otherwise it will pester me and pester me.
(the whole transcript can be found here and you can also see the program instead. See 'watch & listen' tab. I would recommend watching it. Its easier than reading.)
James Galbraith is an economist and his current book is titled The Predator State... no shit, Sherlock.
Here's an excerpt of the program transcript:
BILL MOYERS: You call your book THE PREDATOR STATE, what do you mean predator?
JAMES GALBRAITH: What I mean is the people who took over the government were not interested in reducing the government and having a small government, the conservative principle. They were interested in using these great institutions for private benefit, to place them in the control of their friends and to put them to the use of their clients. They wanted to privatize Social Security. They created a Medicare drug benefit in such a way as to create the maximum profit for pharmaceutical companies.
They used trade agreements to extend patent protections for various interests or to promote the expansion of the corporate agriculture's markets in the third world. A whole range of things that were basically political and clientelistic. That's the predator state.
BILL MOYERS: You call it a corporate republic.
JAMES GALBRAITH: It is a corporate republic.
BILL MOYERS: Which means that the purpose of government is to divert funds from the public sector to the private sector?
JAMES GALBRAITH: I think it's very clear. They also turned over the regulatory apparatus to the regulated industries. They turned over the henhouse to the foxes in every single case. And that is the source of the decline in, the abandonment of environmental responsibility, the source of the collapse of consumer protection, and the source of the collapse of the financial system, all trace back to a common root, which is the failure to maintain a public sector that works in the public interest, that provides discipline and standards, a framework within which the private sector can operate and compete. That's been abandoned.
The introduction to the show pointed out that the United States is fourth in the world for having the largest span between the Haves and the Have Nots...we even beat out Mexico and Turkey. Imagine that, she said sarcastically.
No, really... a shout out to Rosy. She had asked for captions for a cartoon she did and mine got selected. Check it out here. If you want to take a look at her entire art blog, just go to the address bar (Internet Explorer) and delete everything back to the .com and then hit enter. (I suspect everyone knows about doing this, but just in case.... )
(sigh... no, I'm not tooting my own horn. (00) Look at that face, that innocent face. Would I mislead you? Of course not.)
My muse is still missing. Its red with black spots and its shape keeps shifting on me. Say that five times real fast. Shape keeps shifting. Okay, don't say it. Its not that tough after all. Hope ya'll have a most excellent day. Perhaps a little surprise will delight you. Maybe you'll find a $20 in the bushes... someone unexpected gives you a call. Or, for no gosh darn reason, you will feel a sense of total contentness.
You do a repeat and hope the painting was posted so long ago that its not boring. This is a painting I did of my friend's granddaughters. She's currently 18 yrs old. I'm guessing she was around 10 yrs old in the photo.
Last night I thought I might have to turn on the heat for a minute (cha ching) but instead I put on a fleese jacket and covered my feet and legs with a blanket. Can you say 'old lady'? This afternoon I had to open the windows because it was too warm. I still have one window open, but not for long.
I can't find my camera. I've stood in the middle of the room and looked around, but I didn't see it. It didn't call out to me either.
I moved some of the magazines on the coffee table. Not there. I lifted up my straw hat. No luck. I even checked my purse twice and still no camera. I wonder where it is.
I know its somewhere around here because I used it yesterday. 'Mom' and the boys stopped by for a few minutes and I snapped a couple of pictures.... so I know the camera is here. Its just gotten up and walked away. (yes, things can just walk away and then show up later. I've experienced it.)
You know what this means, don't you? Its time to straighten up. To stack all the magazines and set neatly aside. Maybe putting the can goods away will help clear the space. While I'm at it perhaps I'll vaccumn. We'll see.
I wouldn't be surprised if I was looking right at the camera and not registering it. If it was a snake... you can bet your last dollar I wouldn't be looking for it, but nonetheless, do you have moments like this? You can't find something and then later its sitting on the counter mocking you? Its a mean mean trick to pull on an old lady. And I don't use lady lightly.
Update: I found it. I found my camera. It was crouching behind the coffee maker half hidden by a bread wrapper. The little dickens!
Oh my, Oh my. Powell's endorsement of Obama has me feeling surprised. Now there's a man of personal integrity. Powell's been a friend of McCain for 25 yrs, or so I've heard. He's a republican. He's not just endorsed a democrat... he stood up and ENDORSED Obama AND he laid out the whys of his decision. (all of which I agree with. He's a smart man.)
The Universe has been working on getting Obama elected for a while now. I had wondered what would be the next external thing to happen in Obama's favor... I didn't consider an endorsement from across the isle. Very well done, Universe.
I just got back from grocery shopping. I'm currently in the midst of my calming down mode. You know, the time it takes to get over the shock. I went over my budget, but I bought a few non-food items too. It pays to know the going price of things at various stores because even though I shop at a discount grocery store, not all items are the best price. Especially with non-food items.
Yesterday I visited my friend. This time I won the Upwards game, but just by the skin of my teeth. It was a good game... very close all the way through it. My friend gave me her copy of People magazine. The one with Paul Newman in his younger days on the cover. I believe this is the pose Sandy and Laura (cat's momma) used to do their drawing.
Fall is here now. It is not just cool at night. It is cold. Warm jacket cold. We're currently sitting in fog. It looks like it will take a bit longer to clear.
If I save a post in draft, then post another entry, when I go back and post the draft entry it shows up behind the other one. Why am I sharing this? Because there is a new post down one entry. See "Have You Seen This...." (If there's something I need to know about this situation (drafts), please let me know. Thx.)
I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be.. Oh, not my body! I sometimes despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror, but I don't agonize over those things for long. I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly.
As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie (or three), or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avant guard on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.
I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging. Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60&70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will. I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set. They, too, will get old.I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things. Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.
I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.
As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong. So, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day. (If I feel like it)
And a few more weeks of ads and then it will be over. The campaigning will be over. The politics will continue, but it won't be in our living rooms as much.
So... whadda think about the debate?
Now you Republicans, please don't hurt yourself if you should faint, but I thought McCain did very well. Much much better than the other two debates. However, I still prefer Obama. I thought Obama did better than McCain in the debate, provided more details, conducted himself well, and he holds the same opinions as I do on many many things.
Those who want McCain to be president probably feel the same way.... only the names were changed to protect the mistaken. hahahaha I'm just kidding. You probably feel McCain won the debate, that he conducted himself well, and that he holds the same opinions as you do on many many things. The only thing left to do is vote.
We're still friends, right?
Update: Public TV's Frontline is currently showing a program on Obama and McCain and their biographies. I found it very interesting. Check your local listings to see if/when it will show again in your area... or you can see it online here.
Most of the American populace thinks it improper to spank children, so I have tried other methods to control my kids when they have one of “those moments.” One that I found effective is for me to just take the child for a car ride and talk.
Some say it's the vibration from the car, others say it's the time away from any distractions such as TV, Video Games, Computer, IPod, etc. Either way, my kids usually calm down and stop misbehaving after our car ride together.
Eye to eye contact helps a lot too. I've included a photo below of one of my sessions with my son, in case you would like to use the technique.
The house across the way (and around the corner) is having their roof replaced. The guys have been working on it for several days now.
One of the guys is carrying up a pack of roofing materials. No conveyor belt for these studs.
I get nervous at the point they are transferring their body from the ladder to the roof.
They have a rope or something similar to hold onto and pull them up the slant of the roof.
I often turn the other way because I do not want to see someone fall off. Shudder.
I remember one time I went to a basketball game. One time? It was the only time, and our seats were close to the ceiling of this multi-leveled arena. You know, the nosebleed section. It wasn't so bad climbing up to the seats.... but OHMYGAWD, getting down was horrible. I thought for sure I was going to fall. It was like looking down the side of the cliff. A cliff several hundred feet high. I. WILL. NEVER. DO. THAT. AGAIN.
My Texas daughter mentioned that since the value of her home decreased she asked to have the property taxes decreased as well. The savings was impressive enough to make it worth while. (She didn't think they automatically did it, but would if asked to do so.) You may want to do the same.
Update: Just heard on the local news that the property tax bill you get today is for the property value of last year. Bummer. The economy has dropped to the bottom, but our property taxes are going up around 3%.
Have I mentioned before that I'm a big fan of Phoebe's music? Well, I'm a BIG fan of Phoebe's music and her.
Don't know why I ended up on CBS's web site this morning, but I did. And as I looked around I saw her name. Phoebe Snow. She was going to be on The Second Cup Cafe segment of the Early Show today. ohmygosh.... I am so glad I saw that. She's just sang one song and will be back in a few minutes to sing another. She has a unique sound all her own.
She started out in the 70s and was successful. Then she dropped out for about 20 years to care for her severly brain damaged child. I saw on Phoebe's web site that her girl, Valerie, died last year. Now Phoebe has come back to us. Her sound and her lyrics are soulful and touching. She's got a Live CD coming out in a few days. I'm not into music like I use to be, but I'll be checking this out.
Since we can't even find out what newspapers or magazines Palin reads (perhaps she doesn't read... I don't know) we need to try to find out about her in other ways.
Go here to see a video on the subject of Palin. About 9 minutes worth. Click on the "Congratulations" picture to start the video. At the end of it one of her supporters says he thinks God has put Palin on the ticket. You know what? I do too. Only I think she was put on the ticket to help make sure McCain is not elected.
Added later: I happened to see a clip of a Palin speech where she was again talking about Obama and a so called terrorist. From the audience comes a scream of "kill 'em"... it seemed to surprise Palin. She turned a moment to look at the audience, probably a little shaken, then she turned back and continued her speech. She said nothing. Her experience must not include knowledge of mob rule and how that comes into being. Its getting a little scary out there folks.
Troopergate: The results of the probe into Palin's possible abuse of power is due out today.
"ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Alaska lawmakers are meeting behind closed doors to discuss a politically charged ethics report into Gov. Sarah Palin's firing of her state public safety commissioner."
I say if it was a positive report (Palin didn't abuse power) they would have released the results without hesitation. Since they are meeting to discuss it, my bet goes with a guilty finding.
Pay It Forward: We have an anonymous gentleman who is hanging around gas stations and paying for people's gas. He just wants the people to "pay it forward" when they have an opportunity to do so. Reportedly the man came into an inheritance and he's just spreading things around just a little. Its averaging about $40 each. One woman was tearing up as she talked about it. Good news in the news.
Cutting corners: Our public schools are getting full. Seems a lot of people who normally send their kids to private schools are now enrolling them in public schools. Just interesting to note. They'll have to play with the peasants now, but that's usually a lot more fun.
I just read on a blog that the latest service pack update to Vista may bring your pc to its knees. If you have an option, you might not want to let it update.
What surprises the hell out of me is why this Microsoft hasn't totally recalled Vista. Once a lemon, always a lemon. You can make all the lemonade you want, it will never be apple juice. One decent thing that they did was, I think, is keep XP around so those fed up with Vista can reload XP.
Countrywide CEO Mozilo got $361.7 million dollars between 2005-2007.
Lehman Bros. CEO got $187.5 million in earnings for the previous three years and Lehman filed for bankruptcy.
And AIG... those arrogant bastards... AIG's chief, Martin Sullivan, collected $25.4 million over three years. AIG got a $85 million bailout in June and in Sept. the execs spent over $400,000 for a weeks retreat. The arrogance is mind boggling!! Take the frigging money back and if 'bastardy' was a crime, put them all away for 30 yrs.
(is this font color hard to see?) I wanted to get some art up but my focus was/is all over the place so I decided to just doodle. It takes any personal pressure off me... at least in my mind.
Puppy with a little colored pencil added.
I tried Vyron. The smudges on the paper don't show up (in person) as well as they do in the photograph. I wonder if its something on the paper or if its from my hand smudging things. I need to remember to use my other sketch book next time and see if the same thing occurs. (The one currently is a very cheap one and I think its using recycled paper.)
Not too much different than the first debate, but enough for some people to make up their minds.
I appreciated Obama listing out what or how he plans on doing some of the things he spoke of... McCain kept saying he knew how to fix things, but apparently he's keeping it secret cause he didn't share with anyone. He also knows how to get Bin Laden. I kept wanting to scream out "then why haven't you done it yet!!" Some of the students watching also mentioned they appreciated Obama mentioning education because that's where they are right now. McCain didn't say anything about education.
Once again Obama had to explain how he would redistribute the tax burden to give middle class a break and to let the wealthier people (above a quarter of a million dollars) contribute their share. As much as its been explained, I would have thought McCain would have understood by now, but my bad. McCain wants to freeze the tax programs the way they are right now.
I did cringe when McCain referred to Obama as "that one". A slip of the tongue often shows the true character. I've heard that its the phrase that is used when one is somewhere that they can't use the N word. Not good. Not good at all. McCain also took a shot at the moderator that seemed to be totally from left field. What was that all about? A sad attempt at being funny?
As soon as the debate was over, McCain beat cheeks and left while Obama and wife talked with the "town hall" audience and took pictures and shook hands with them. I think McCain sees the writing on the wall. (McCain didn't shake hands with Obama after the debate, but let his wife do it for him. Was it because he was flustered or was it intentional. We little people may never know.... but McCain has been in politics long enough to know what is appropriate behavior and what isn't. Maybe its dementia. Who knows.)
There are still Republicans out there that believe McCain is the best candidate. They are probably the same Republicans who thought Bush was the best man for the job, too, and we all know how that's worked out.
Please feel free to leave your comments, even if you're still for McCain. Everyone has a voice. And everyone has a vote. Sometimes it works in your favor, sometimes it doesn't.
PS: During the night I had an aha moment of sorts. I'm not sure the term 'aha' is the correct phrase to use, but if not, its close enough. I was in the place between sleep and wakefulness, and I felt the concern people have about personal tax burdens. Getting an idea into a feeling makes it more understandable. I'm not sure why I'm sharing this, but to those who are concerned about taxes, I can better state "I hear ya." Its too bad we can't get rid of most of the waste and misuse of the taxes already being collected. I have no doubt that if we knew only part of what goes on behind closed doors, it would make the blood drain from our faces.
What if everyone associated with a political campaign had to take an oath of honesty. If found to have made a statement that wasn't true, it would result in a jail term. The possibility boggles the mind.
What if ethics became popular again. Or was it ever popular?
What if the general public actually began to use their own ability for critical thinking and could see past the bullshit.
What if manufactures stopped cutting corners by reducing the amount of material used for a product. For example, what if a bra had shoulder straps long enough that my tits didn't tickle my chins. (Now that's a short strap!!)
Considering how much the USA interfers in other countries ("Damnit, you're going to be a democracy whether you want to be or not!!") I found this poll very interesting. I wanted to see just how the world was voting. I wasn't sure what to expect when I clicked the "view results" button, but I was very surprised.
That's what Darius declared to me as he came running up to my car. "I'm five years old now!!" He was very proud of his new age.
A corner of the cake mom had made for him. D. is into all the usual super heros plus some that I've never heard of. Spiderman cake with web, a candle shaped in a number five, and some kind of "hero" throwing a punch.
I love the look Darius has on his face in this picture. He looks very proud of himself. The little sweetie!
Time to blow out the candle and everyone was willing to help.
Pizza and cake outside please.
Darius looked like he enjoyed his birthday, but his mom was a little ticked off and I don't blame her. No one else showed up for his party. There were the three kids of her friend's (where the party was being held) and me. I feel a little sad because of her disappointment, but there's nothing I can do about it. Next year Darius should have some classmates he can invite to his party.
"…the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy.All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” –Hermann Goering, Nazi Reichsmarschall
Feed the Homeless. I got this gentleman from a Feed the Homeless ad on the web. 
