I used to read two or three books a week......for years. I've slowed down and now find that I'm lucky to finish the one I should be reading for my monthly book club. I'm not sure why, but I can't read as much or as fast as I used to. Probably aging eyeballs.....and a preference for sitting at my sewing machine.
But I did just finish the new book by Barbara Kingsolver, an author I do enjoy. I read her Poisonwood Bible years ago and liked it so much I read it twice. The newest novel, Unsheltered, was not an easy read.....but it was a thoughtful one. Chapters flip back and forth between two families living in Vineland, NJ. One in 2016 and one, generations prior, just after Charles Darwin published his faith-shattering work on evolution.
It's an effective writing technique, but took me several chapters to begin to sort out the characters and see the similarities in their lives. And now, after finishing, I will have much to ponder as I think about this novel and it's concerns about our earth's future.
Quotes from early Vineland struck a strange foreshadowing: "I suppose it is in our nature.....When men fear the loss of what they know, they will follow any tyrant who promises to restore the old order." That particular quote pertained to the man who founded Vineland as a sort of utopia.....one that benefitted the few over the many.
And then a quote from the today family: "....One percent of the brotherhood has their hands on most of the bread. They own the country, their god is the free market, and most people are so unhorrified they won't even question the system. If it makes a profit, that's the definition of good."
This book will stay with me for awhile....the story of two families, unrelated, but sharing so much in common. Relationships that don't work....economies that don't support the family....futures that are full of uncertainty.
Barbara Kingsolver makes me think.....and I think I'll go work on a quilt....
Saturday, December 29, 2018
Thursday, December 20, 2018
No Horizon and Thundering Protest....
Walking along "our" lake never gets old. It's a pretty grey and gloomy day in Port Washington this morning....a bit of a drizzle. So Fenway and I had to put on some rain gear for the important 9:00 Necessary Walk.
We went out walked behind the water treatment plant....looking out at the quiet water I could hardly see any horizon....grey "nothingness" stretched across the water. Even our lighthouse was "gone". I should have been able to see it sitting at the end of the breakwater. Nope.
This lake changes every day....from fierce raging surf to calm Carribbean blue. Watching Lake Michigan is one of our new favorite hobbies.
We continued on and went behind Newport Shores Restaurant....across the street from our condo building. The restaurant is next to the harbor and, this time of year, the harbor is home to lots of ducks and geese. I realized that none of them were in the quiet water, but many were standing in the parking lot. As we approached a few loud honks greeted our progress.....spreading throughout the flock as they slowly began to walk back toward the water.....until Fenway charged to the end of his leashe. The geese took off in protest....all in one huge burst of energy. The noise from the flapping wings surprised me! I guess I've never been that close to so many geese taking flight....it was loud!
Nature close to home....fascinating.....
We went out walked behind the water treatment plant....looking out at the quiet water I could hardly see any horizon....grey "nothingness" stretched across the water. Even our lighthouse was "gone". I should have been able to see it sitting at the end of the breakwater. Nope.
This lake changes every day....from fierce raging surf to calm Carribbean blue. Watching Lake Michigan is one of our new favorite hobbies.
We continued on and went behind Newport Shores Restaurant....across the street from our condo building. The restaurant is next to the harbor and, this time of year, the harbor is home to lots of ducks and geese. I realized that none of them were in the quiet water, but many were standing in the parking lot. As we approached a few loud honks greeted our progress.....spreading throughout the flock as they slowly began to walk back toward the water.....until Fenway charged to the end of his leashe. The geese took off in protest....all in one huge burst of energy. The noise from the flapping wings surprised me! I guess I've never been that close to so many geese taking flight....it was loud!
Nature close to home....fascinating.....
Tuesday, December 18, 2018
School Supplies......
The picture came across my internet feed a few weeks ago.....a photo to remind us of the anniversary of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School where twenty children were killed on December 14, 2012. The image stayed in my mind and floated to the surface every once in awhile. It just kept "nudging" me.
And then, this past week, two pre-schoolers in our way-extended family presented me with other opportunities to think about young children. One, at age 2 1/2, was busy learning to ski in Colorado! And the other, at age 7, faced a serious but happily fixable health challenge in California. So little kids were on my mind.
So I got to thinking about schools.....and getting kids ready to go to school. And the school shootings that have become all too sadly common in our America. Grade school students dead? Check. Middle school children killed? Check. High school students as victims? Check. College campus sites for mass shooting victims? Check.
And then my brain began to remember getting our two ready for that first exciting day of kindergarden.....years and years ago. For Todd, in New Jersey, the school was nearby, so we walked, his supplies in some sort of back pack. For Megan the school bus pulled up at the end of our driveway here in Nashotah and she smilingly climbed on carrying her crayons and pencils and whatever else she was supposed to bring to the classroom.
Then I began to imagine a soon-to-be first day at kindergarden. Eager or shy little children accompanied by proud but not-quite-ready parents greated by their first grade school teacher. With the teacher's welcome the parents slowly walk back down the hallway and out the door. And then the teacher gives the newbies a few instructions. She (or he) takes them all back to the hallway out side the classroom door and shows them their lockers. She explains that they should find the one with their name on the front and there is a whirl of activity as little ones look for their first names....some with a little more assistance than others. When they are each in front of their own locker the teacher explains they should open the locker and this is where they will stop first thing each school day to hang up their jackets, and in the winter store their boots in the bottom. So light jackets and sweaters are shrugged off little shoulders and hung on hooks inside the metal locker.
And then the teacher explains they should each take out the dark blue vest hanging inside and look at the back - again it has their name on it! A buzz of excitement as the children put on the vests and tried to zip their own zippers.....again some needing a little assistance. The teacher shows the children that each vest has a hood on the back that can be flipped up to cover their heads if needed.
Back in the classroom the teacher shows each child to their own desk....again with their name in bright letters....and everyone begins to settle in for the exciting first steps in learning. This is where they get lesson number one. The teacher says...."Girls and boys I am so happy you are going to be in my room this year! We are going to have so much fun and learn so many important things! I can't wait to get to know each and every one of you and lead you through this school year. One thing I must be sure you learn right away. Every day when you arrive, even if you are not wearing anything that has to go into your hall locker, you must stop there and put on your blue vest. This will be your first assignment for every day and will continue every day you are a student at this school! We will talk more about this in the weeks to come....but just know that I want you to be happy and safe here at school....and your bullet proof vest makes this possible." The teacher smiles.
Now.....on to the ABC's.....welcome to kindergarden in America.....
And then, this past week, two pre-schoolers in our way-extended family presented me with other opportunities to think about young children. One, at age 2 1/2, was busy learning to ski in Colorado! And the other, at age 7, faced a serious but happily fixable health challenge in California. So little kids were on my mind.
So I got to thinking about schools.....and getting kids ready to go to school. And the school shootings that have become all too sadly common in our America. Grade school students dead? Check. Middle school children killed? Check. High school students as victims? Check. College campus sites for mass shooting victims? Check.
And then my brain began to remember getting our two ready for that first exciting day of kindergarden.....years and years ago. For Todd, in New Jersey, the school was nearby, so we walked, his supplies in some sort of back pack. For Megan the school bus pulled up at the end of our driveway here in Nashotah and she smilingly climbed on carrying her crayons and pencils and whatever else she was supposed to bring to the classroom.
Then I began to imagine a soon-to-be first day at kindergarden. Eager or shy little children accompanied by proud but not-quite-ready parents greated by their first grade school teacher. With the teacher's welcome the parents slowly walk back down the hallway and out the door. And then the teacher gives the newbies a few instructions. She (or he) takes them all back to the hallway out side the classroom door and shows them their lockers. She explains that they should find the one with their name on the front and there is a whirl of activity as little ones look for their first names....some with a little more assistance than others. When they are each in front of their own locker the teacher explains they should open the locker and this is where they will stop first thing each school day to hang up their jackets, and in the winter store their boots in the bottom. So light jackets and sweaters are shrugged off little shoulders and hung on hooks inside the metal locker.
And then the teacher explains they should each take out the dark blue vest hanging inside and look at the back - again it has their name on it! A buzz of excitement as the children put on the vests and tried to zip their own zippers.....again some needing a little assistance. The teacher shows the children that each vest has a hood on the back that can be flipped up to cover their heads if needed.
Back in the classroom the teacher shows each child to their own desk....again with their name in bright letters....and everyone begins to settle in for the exciting first steps in learning. This is where they get lesson number one. The teacher says...."Girls and boys I am so happy you are going to be in my room this year! We are going to have so much fun and learn so many important things! I can't wait to get to know each and every one of you and lead you through this school year. One thing I must be sure you learn right away. Every day when you arrive, even if you are not wearing anything that has to go into your hall locker, you must stop there and put on your blue vest. This will be your first assignment for every day and will continue every day you are a student at this school! We will talk more about this in the weeks to come....but just know that I want you to be happy and safe here at school....and your bullet proof vest makes this possible." The teacher smiles.
Now.....on to the ABC's.....welcome to kindergarden in America.....
Sunday, December 16, 2018
Beauty Is Wherever You Find It.....
Fenway and I went out for his morning walk this morning at 9:00.....a "necessary" trip around the water treatment plant and along the lake. The water was quite calm today....amazing how Lake Michigan changes from day to day....or moment to moment.
We circled back through our building's parking lot and down the back sidewalk. I noticed a planter with a very exotic winter display. I think it was some kind of summer fern or at least a green spot until recent frosts.....and now it sits in it's pot until someone pulls it out and tosses it in the trash. It is "dead"....but it's also a certain kind of ghostly pretty.
At least I think so.....
We circled back through our building's parking lot and down the back sidewalk. I noticed a planter with a very exotic winter display. I think it was some kind of summer fern or at least a green spot until recent frosts.....and now it sits in it's pot until someone pulls it out and tosses it in the trash. It is "dead"....but it's also a certain kind of ghostly pretty.
At least I think so.....
Friday, December 14, 2018
Surprises......
Hmmmmm.....seems there was a Secret Santa roaming around our condo building last night. He left little snacks ourside a number of doors. Part of the holiday fun and spirit I guess. This is what he left for the neighbors....
I must be on The Naughty List because this is what was left on MY kitchen counter....
I'll try to be good next year!
I must be on The Naughty List because this is what was left on MY kitchen counter....
I'll try to be good next year!
Monday, December 10, 2018
Dissonance......
Driving home from Milwaukee this afternoon I was listening to the radio - NPR (my choice if I'm not listening to country music). I was thinking about other things....so the interview floated in and out of my consiousness and I didn't process all of it. Basically it was a discussion about recent information coming from the Mueller investigation and the once-well-loved-45-staff members who "flipped" and were cooperating. The voices said recent facts indicate that 45 may well be facing jail time....if proved correct.
And the word "dissonance" popped into my mind. Getting home I googled it. One definition says the word means "a lack of agreement or harmony between things." That's what I'm feeling tonight....uncomfortable dissonance.
The words "President of the United States" and "jail" just don't/shouldn't be included in the same sentence.
Sigh.
And the word "dissonance" popped into my mind. Getting home I googled it. One definition says the word means "a lack of agreement or harmony between things." That's what I'm feeling tonight....uncomfortable dissonance.
The words "President of the United States" and "jail" just don't/shouldn't be included in the same sentence.
Sigh.
Thursday, December 6, 2018
Too Old? Never.....
When we moved back to Milwaukee we discovered a new December tradition. Downtown the BMO Harris Bank features a huge collection of Steiff animals - tiny and huge in a wonderful, annual display. Each year the theme is fresh and new....and when our local grandsons were little I took them every year to see the magic. And for them....it was magic.
There was a "no touching rule'' but that was very hard to follow....so we sometimes carefully and softly touched the animals, the snow, the fabrics. Each year the theme is new....one year we enjoyed King Arthur's Court, another year it was a Snow Queen palace or a candy factory....one time we went to space. The animals were the same, but the costuming and the staging was different each December and made the magic come alive once again.
But grandsons grow up....and as teenagers they no longer really want to trek to the city to see stuffed animals. So we go with our friends. One year friends from Madison went with us....this year it was friends who have lived in Milwaukee for years but had never been to see the display.
2018 - colorful Dr. Seuss! If you live near Milwaukee....no one's too old for that.......
There was a "no touching rule'' but that was very hard to follow....so we sometimes carefully and softly touched the animals, the snow, the fabrics. Each year the theme is new....one year we enjoyed King Arthur's Court, another year it was a Snow Queen palace or a candy factory....one time we went to space. The animals were the same, but the costuming and the staging was different each December and made the magic come alive once again.
But grandsons grow up....and as teenagers they no longer really want to trek to the city to see stuffed animals. So we go with our friends. One year friends from Madison went with us....this year it was friends who have lived in Milwaukee for years but had never been to see the display.
2018 - colorful Dr. Seuss! If you live near Milwaukee....no one's too old for that.......
Monday, December 3, 2018
It's That Time of Year....
This holiday season brings out the altruist in many of us.....something about decorating the house, gathering with family and celebrating together reminds us of all those who can't afford to do the same. And the pleas on TV and radio help us to think about where to contribute and just how to give back.
So our condo building is organizing a small effort to give toys to kids in our immediate area who, without the contribution, would wake up to an empty Christmas morning. One owner sent out an invitation to a Friday evening holiday gathering, another suggesting people could drop off an unwrapped toy, and my neighbor and I decorating a shopping cart to accept any donations. The cart already boasts a few teddy bears, Matchbox cars and some building blocks.
So our condo building is organizing a small effort to give toys to kids in our immediate area who, without the contribution, would wake up to an empty Christmas morning. One owner sent out an invitation to a Friday evening holiday gathering, another suggesting people could drop off an unwrapped toy, and my neighbor and I decorating a shopping cart to accept any donations. The cart already boasts a few teddy bears, Matchbox cars and some building blocks.
And then later there was an evening knock on our door.....Fenway barked a greeting as always as I made my way down the hall. I opened the door to see my smiling friend who lives way up on the eighth floor....she extended her hand and gave me a box of Christmas cookies.
The season of giving....I love it....and the cookies are delicious!
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
160+......
Yesterday I spent the morning doing errands. I had a list and a "loop" route that would take me from the north side of town, southwest for a few more stops, then south, then east and then back home. In and out of the car.
I started at our local food pantry, dropping off several bags of groceries. We like to do this at least once a month just because our pantry is always full.....and many local families do not have the same experience. This is a small food pantry in the lower level of a church building and it's only open to it's clients on Tuesday mornings. So it's a busy place when I arrive and bring my four bags down the stairs and into the collection room.
While there I asked if they had room for a nice, gently used warm winter parka....and they said "Oh yes!" And then I asked if they were collecting any toys and had room for two teddy bears I purchased recently. The volunteers again said they would be more than happy to accept the gifts and one said "We have over 160 children who won't be getting anything for Christmas this year unless we get enough donations."
I drove away and that comment kept running through my head. More than 160 children waking up to a pretty bleak Christmas morning - at least from a child's point of view. So my errand route changed just a little bit....and included a stop at Marshall's.
It's a drop in just one bucket....and I will probably go again next week for a few more toys. But here's seven toys.....so now the food pantry is down to 150+. It's a start.....
I started at our local food pantry, dropping off several bags of groceries. We like to do this at least once a month just because our pantry is always full.....and many local families do not have the same experience. This is a small food pantry in the lower level of a church building and it's only open to it's clients on Tuesday mornings. So it's a busy place when I arrive and bring my four bags down the stairs and into the collection room.
While there I asked if they had room for a nice, gently used warm winter parka....and they said "Oh yes!" And then I asked if they were collecting any toys and had room for two teddy bears I purchased recently. The volunteers again said they would be more than happy to accept the gifts and one said "We have over 160 children who won't be getting anything for Christmas this year unless we get enough donations."
I drove away and that comment kept running through my head. More than 160 children waking up to a pretty bleak Christmas morning - at least from a child's point of view. So my errand route changed just a little bit....and included a stop at Marshall's.
It's a drop in just one bucket....and I will probably go again next week for a few more toys. But here's seven toys.....so now the food pantry is down to 150+. It's a start.....
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
And Some Blue....
The holiday "mood" in our family room is a little different than the red explosion in the main part of the condo. I decided that this would be our snow scene - white/blue/silver. Our TV cabinet makes a perfect home for the snow ladies I made a few years ago.
So there is a little blue and silver sparkle in this room. I love our Santas....but these ladies are fun too!
So there is a little blue and silver sparkle in this room. I love our Santas....but these ladies are fun too!
Sunday, November 25, 2018
What Goes Where......
Thanksgiving is in the rear view mirror.....so here comes Christmas. And it's time to decorate our condo. I love adding the holiday colors to our decor. The reds just brighten up the rooms....at least for a month or so.
Dave brought the big storage boxes up from the garage and I found the Santas that I cleaned and stored on shelves in my sewing room after the August flood. Everything else was un-packed and spread across the dining room table.
I began to realize that a few of my "standard" decorating items were missing....they must have been in the one storage box that filled with muddy water and could not be salvaged. Sigh. I'm glad so many of our favorites made it through.....but I do miss the items tossed in the trash. I guess it will mean a trip to the store for a new table runner and another trip for a big wreath for the wall.
Every year I spread the Santa collection around the rooms - but they never end up exactly where they sat last year. It's fun for me to partner new ones together. And it was fun to re-decorate the wreath we found down at Milager's....and I did find another table runner.
So our Santas, our wreath and our tree are up and ready for the holidays....now to share the atmosphere with friends and family......
Dave brought the big storage boxes up from the garage and I found the Santas that I cleaned and stored on shelves in my sewing room after the August flood. Everything else was un-packed and spread across the dining room table.
I began to realize that a few of my "standard" decorating items were missing....they must have been in the one storage box that filled with muddy water and could not be salvaged. Sigh. I'm glad so many of our favorites made it through.....but I do miss the items tossed in the trash. I guess it will mean a trip to the store for a new table runner and another trip for a big wreath for the wall.
Every year I spread the Santa collection around the rooms - but they never end up exactly where they sat last year. It's fun for me to partner new ones together. And it was fun to re-decorate the wreath we found down at Milager's....and I did find another table runner.
So our Santas, our wreath and our tree are up and ready for the holidays....now to share the atmosphere with friends and family......
Saturday, November 24, 2018
Leftovers......
Thanksgiving dinner at our daughter and son-in-laws was delicious - the buffet table was covered with choices. Turkey and gravy, stuffing, green beans, roasted brussel sprouts, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and home made popovers. There may have been more and I just can't remember. Then add the wine and the coffee with choice of pie after the meal.....groan. Food coma.
Friday night we were at home with leftovers.....I love not having to cook a meal! The news was on when I brought our plates into the family room - TV dinners. I handed Dave his meal, gave Fenway his treat and put my plate on my tray.
And as I sat, news running in the background, I couldn't help it....my eyes filled with tears. I looked down at this left-over meal....the bounty of it. And once again I recognized how fortunate I am.
.....as if I needed any reminders.....
Friday night we were at home with leftovers.....I love not having to cook a meal! The news was on when I brought our plates into the family room - TV dinners. I handed Dave his meal, gave Fenway his treat and put my plate on my tray.
And as I sat, news running in the background, I couldn't help it....my eyes filled with tears. I looked down at this left-over meal....the bounty of it. And once again I recognized how fortunate I am.
.....as if I needed any reminders.....
Friday, November 23, 2018
That Long Ago Familiar Feeling.....
Thanksgiving 2018 come and gone....a very busy few days. A drive to Chicago to spend the day with with family and then back up to Wisconsin on Thursday for dinner at our daughter and son-in-law's home reminded me, once again, of all my "thankfuls". Our small.....wide spread family....is so very fortunate in so many ways. Even though we couldn't all be together in one place to celebrate the holiday.....heart strings stretched far enough to include everyone.
And then, while down in Chicago, there was my introduction to the newest member of our extended family. Ten pounds, one month old.....a quiet, warm bundle deposited into my arms. And the memories flooded back....why is it that my arms can "feel" my almost-fifty-year old son and his younger sister, our accomplished adult daughter, in exactly the same way as this little one? The weight, the shape, the warmth, the stretches and small noises.....eyes open occasionally, but then right back to sleep in my arms.
It was a wonderful Thanksgiving.....and this was just one more example of the fact that life is good in the Woodard world!
And then, while down in Chicago, there was my introduction to the newest member of our extended family. Ten pounds, one month old.....a quiet, warm bundle deposited into my arms. And the memories flooded back....why is it that my arms can "feel" my almost-fifty-year old son and his younger sister, our accomplished adult daughter, in exactly the same way as this little one? The weight, the shape, the warmth, the stretches and small noises.....eyes open occasionally, but then right back to sleep in my arms.
It was a wonderful Thanksgiving.....and this was just one more example of the fact that life is good in the Woodard world!
Monday, November 19, 2018
What A Good Idea.....
He never disappoints. He goes to the site of a natural disaster and helpfully flings paper towels....or now, tells the citizens of California that they could avoid these disasterous forest fires if only they'd grab a rake.
Really. A rake. I have to think that 45 has actually spent very little time exploring nature....unless it's on a golf cart. I can't even picture him hiking with the family through a dense woodland area. But yes, if everyone just grabbed a rake and ran off to the nearest forest California would not be on fire.
45 explained that he had a conversation with the President of Finland, Sauli Niinisto, and went on to pontificate that Finland had lots of forests and very few fires and raking helped. On Sunday, the Finnish president said he had discussed forest management with 45 during recent Armistice Day events in Paris. "We take care of our forests," Ninnisto told Trump, mentioning surveillance and other methods - but admitted he didn't know where Trump concocted the raking idea." Veli Pekka Kilimaki, a Finnish defense researcher, tweeted: "I perhaps wouldn't compare Finland and California climate-wise. And besides, 80% of the country is classified as forest land. We don't exactly manicure all of it." Oh...there's that climate idea again. The fact that it rains year round in Finland just might make their forests a little more "fire-resistant" than California.
I know where 45 got the idea....from his "very good brain"! (March 16, 20016)
So here's a suggestion.....let's let all the thousands in the caravan moving up from Guatemala to come across the border. Hand them each a rake and send them into the forests......why not? They want safety and would most likely rather work to prevent forest fires than face the violence they leave behind.
Rake the forests - wow. He never disappoints......
Really. A rake. I have to think that 45 has actually spent very little time exploring nature....unless it's on a golf cart. I can't even picture him hiking with the family through a dense woodland area. But yes, if everyone just grabbed a rake and ran off to the nearest forest California would not be on fire.
45 explained that he had a conversation with the President of Finland, Sauli Niinisto, and went on to pontificate that Finland had lots of forests and very few fires and raking helped. On Sunday, the Finnish president said he had discussed forest management with 45 during recent Armistice Day events in Paris. "We take care of our forests," Ninnisto told Trump, mentioning surveillance and other methods - but admitted he didn't know where Trump concocted the raking idea." Veli Pekka Kilimaki, a Finnish defense researcher, tweeted: "I perhaps wouldn't compare Finland and California climate-wise. And besides, 80% of the country is classified as forest land. We don't exactly manicure all of it." Oh...there's that climate idea again. The fact that it rains year round in Finland just might make their forests a little more "fire-resistant" than California.
I know where 45 got the idea....from his "very good brain"! (March 16, 20016)
So here's a suggestion.....let's let all the thousands in the caravan moving up from Guatemala to come across the border. Hand them each a rake and send them into the forests......why not? They want safety and would most likely rather work to prevent forest fires than face the violence they leave behind.
Rake the forests - wow. He never disappoints......
Friday, November 16, 2018
Someone Else's Memories.....
I just finished another special lap top quilt today.....and took it to its new owner.
I met a new friend at a Ozaukee County Newcomer's luncheon about three months ago. During the meal she mentioned that her husband had died recently. I don't know exactly what happened...but I remember her saying "I took him to the hospital but I thought I'd be bringing him home." Suddenly she was alone and seemingly "lost" without him.
So a few weeks later I told her that, if she wanted, I would be happy to make her a small quilt using some of his favorite garments. I suggested she take her time to think about it and there was no rush, but she quickly accepted my offer. She delivered his shirts along with one special tie that she really wanted me to include. Gulp. I'd never worked with a silk tie before!
I think I've made about six or seven of these memory quilts and each one is very special to me. As I work with the garments I get a "picture" of the person that I never knew.....a snapshot of his/her personality. It's not a sad task for me......I feel good being able to create a quilt that may provide a bit of warmth and comfort to a loved one left behind.
The only time it was really difficult to do was when, while working at VITAS Hospice, one of our social workers asked me to make a quilt for a friend of hers. In memory of her little boy....and when I got that bag full of a two year old's overalls and t-shirts it took me weeks to be able to begin. Every time I'd take the clothing out to begin I would think of my young grandsons, get completely weepy and have to put everything away again. But eventually I took a deep breath, started cutting with my fabric scissors and that little quilt was finished and given to his parents.
This quilt was not hard to make.....but it was memorable.....colors and patterns for a well-loved man who is missed every day. I always end up feeling a little like I knew the person as I work with the fabric.
So it's done.....and I was able to use the tie just as she hoped......
I met a new friend at a Ozaukee County Newcomer's luncheon about three months ago. During the meal she mentioned that her husband had died recently. I don't know exactly what happened...but I remember her saying "I took him to the hospital but I thought I'd be bringing him home." Suddenly she was alone and seemingly "lost" without him.
So a few weeks later I told her that, if she wanted, I would be happy to make her a small quilt using some of his favorite garments. I suggested she take her time to think about it and there was no rush, but she quickly accepted my offer. She delivered his shirts along with one special tie that she really wanted me to include. Gulp. I'd never worked with a silk tie before!
I think I've made about six or seven of these memory quilts and each one is very special to me. As I work with the garments I get a "picture" of the person that I never knew.....a snapshot of his/her personality. It's not a sad task for me......I feel good being able to create a quilt that may provide a bit of warmth and comfort to a loved one left behind.
The only time it was really difficult to do was when, while working at VITAS Hospice, one of our social workers asked me to make a quilt for a friend of hers. In memory of her little boy....and when I got that bag full of a two year old's overalls and t-shirts it took me weeks to be able to begin. Every time I'd take the clothing out to begin I would think of my young grandsons, get completely weepy and have to put everything away again. But eventually I took a deep breath, started cutting with my fabric scissors and that little quilt was finished and given to his parents.
This quilt was not hard to make.....but it was memorable.....colors and patterns for a well-loved man who is missed every day. I always end up feeling a little like I knew the person as I work with the fabric.
So it's done.....and I was able to use the tie just as she hoped......
Friday, November 9, 2018
Seasonal Panic....
Well the TV noise is a little less instrusive....I've stopped using the mute button. The day of the mid-term election I was in the kitchen and counted nine political point-your-finger-at-the-other-guy commercial announcements in a row. So the TV was muted for about five minutes! Now we're back to all the regular stuff.....plus a few post-election excitments. (Can you say strange, aggressive press conferences? Can you say freedom of the press? Can you say White House altering videos? Can you say that this bizarre behavior will be on the table for at least two more years? Sigh.)
And the newscasters in Milwaukee are now reporting the BIG news....our first SNOWFALL!
You'd think it was a blizzard with the amount of attention this cover-the-tree-branches-snowfall is getting. Reminders to drive safely, watch for slippery areas, reports of car accidents, reports on the fact that we may get a total of an inch on the roads before it stops....with a little more on the grass.
People....we live in WISCONSIN!!!! We get SNOW.......it must be a slow news day in our area.....
And the newscasters in Milwaukee are now reporting the BIG news....our first SNOWFALL!
You'd think it was a blizzard with the amount of attention this cover-the-tree-branches-snowfall is getting. Reminders to drive safely, watch for slippery areas, reports of car accidents, reports on the fact that we may get a total of an inch on the roads before it stops....with a little more on the grass.
People....we live in WISCONSIN!!!! We get SNOW.......it must be a slow news day in our area.....
Sunday, November 4, 2018
Going....Going....Gone.....
Yesterday was a beautiful day in Wisconsin. After a busy morning I walked into town and noticed the stand of trees on the corner by our gourmet popcorn stand. Every shade of gold with a lone pine tree providing contrast.....beautiful. The sun was highlighting the leaves and a slight breeze rippled through the branches. My phone shot does not do it justice.
I woke today to wind roaring out of the east....about 35+ miles per hour. The surf is pounding the shoreline.
I have a feeling if I braved the wind and walked the three blocks to town the trees would look very different today. Autumn in Wisconsin.....a short season before the cold and snow arrive.
Going....going....gone....
I woke today to wind roaring out of the east....about 35+ miles per hour. The surf is pounding the shoreline.
I have a feeling if I braved the wind and walked the three blocks to town the trees would look very different today. Autumn in Wisconsin.....a short season before the cold and snow arrive.
Going....going....gone....
Monday, October 29, 2018
Consider The Source.....
Driving home from my acupuncture appointment through Wisconsin's beautiful autumn countryside, listening to NPR "All Things Considered", I heard an interview with Professor Deborah Lipstadt about the rise of anti-semitism....not only in America, but around the world.
Obviously the interview was in response to the recent slaughter at the synagogue in Pittsburgh. The news filled with another list of innocents murdered and injured. The perpetrator now in custody. This man walked into the synagogue with one purpose - to kill Jews. Kill them with his automatic weapons.
The professor's thoughtful comments were measured and one or two sentences still stick in my mind. I may not have her quote exactly correct....but she said "Silence in the face of bigotry is acquiescence.....there is no neutrality....we cannot let it pass."
She also went on to say that this recent rise in anti-semitism did not start during 45's adminstration, but rather during President Obama's terms....perhaps because he was our first black President. But she did say that 45 and his adminstration have "lit a fire under it".
So her words of caution were that good people need to stand up and say..."No...that comment/joke/action is not acceptable to me."
Be brave....even if it's beloved Uncle Edgar who is known for his "outrageous" remarks....this year say no. I hope it doesn't ruin your Thanksgiving gathering....but say no.....
Obviously the interview was in response to the recent slaughter at the synagogue in Pittsburgh. The news filled with another list of innocents murdered and injured. The perpetrator now in custody. This man walked into the synagogue with one purpose - to kill Jews. Kill them with his automatic weapons.
The professor's thoughtful comments were measured and one or two sentences still stick in my mind. I may not have her quote exactly correct....but she said "Silence in the face of bigotry is acquiescence.....there is no neutrality....we cannot let it pass."
She also went on to say that this recent rise in anti-semitism did not start during 45's adminstration, but rather during President Obama's terms....perhaps because he was our first black President. But she did say that 45 and his adminstration have "lit a fire under it".
So her words of caution were that good people need to stand up and say..."No...that comment/joke/action is not acceptable to me."
Be brave....even if it's beloved Uncle Edgar who is known for his "outrageous" remarks....this year say no. I hope it doesn't ruin your Thanksgiving gathering....but say no.....
Sunday, October 28, 2018
A Cancer.....
Saturday morning was a very busy and good time - I was at helping write postcards to encourage District 60 voters to consider Democratic candidates running for office. Others were assembling informational packages, some were calling homeowners to encourage them to vote on November 6th. Still more volunteers were headed out the door....boots to the ground....to canvas neighborhoods. The place was buzzing with activity.
I left at noon.....and the first headline that scrolled across my phone as I waited in line for coffee was about the murders at the Pittsburgh synagogue. And the behind-the-eyes-tears that were haunting me several days ago were right back at the front again. Really? Again?
And then, much later that night was this information on the Chris Rahlf for State Assembly's (my candidate) Facebook page. She posted:
"Today someone called one of our phonebankers back, said he was a Republican and proud gun owner and fired his gun so she could hear. I'm not sure what he was trying to prove but this type of animosity and anger is not productive, especially today. My volunteer is an amazing lady, she is kind to everyone. Her husband is a Vietnam veteran. I wonder if her harasser knows that? I wonder if he would thank him for his service if he met him insteaad of firing a gun in his wife's ear? We are Americans, we are all humans - let's treat each other accordingly."
Chris is an excellent candidate, she is a Navy veteran, a business woman with years or organizational experience around the Country, she is a wife and mother. She has good, solid ideas to improve our roads, our schools, healthcare coverage.....she works with people to find solutions.
And here is a "proud Republican" calling back to shoot his gun close to a telephone.....in Ozaukee County Wisconsin.
There is a cancer growing in the United States.......I just hope it's not terminal......
I left at noon.....and the first headline that scrolled across my phone as I waited in line for coffee was about the murders at the Pittsburgh synagogue. And the behind-the-eyes-tears that were haunting me several days ago were right back at the front again. Really? Again?
And then, much later that night was this information on the Chris Rahlf for State Assembly's (my candidate) Facebook page. She posted:
"Today someone called one of our phonebankers back, said he was a Republican and proud gun owner and fired his gun so she could hear. I'm not sure what he was trying to prove but this type of animosity and anger is not productive, especially today. My volunteer is an amazing lady, she is kind to everyone. Her husband is a Vietnam veteran. I wonder if her harasser knows that? I wonder if he would thank him for his service if he met him insteaad of firing a gun in his wife's ear? We are Americans, we are all humans - let's treat each other accordingly."
Chris is an excellent candidate, she is a Navy veteran, a business woman with years or organizational experience around the Country, she is a wife and mother. She has good, solid ideas to improve our roads, our schools, healthcare coverage.....she works with people to find solutions.
And here is a "proud Republican" calling back to shoot his gun close to a telephone.....in Ozaukee County Wisconsin.
There is a cancer growing in the United States.......I just hope it's not terminal......
Friday, October 26, 2018
Happier Notes......
October is birthday month in our family - Dave first and then grandsons Evan and Alex. We see Evan frequently because he lives in West Bend and will be able to help him blow out the candles on his cake again this year. We send birthday gifts to college grandson Alex because he is across country at Whitman College in Washington State.
And then we add Halloween to the mix and the fun continues.
So we celebrate.....with cake and candles, with gifts and cards.....smiles and hugs (close by and long distance). October reminds me that Dave and I are very fortunate and happy to celebrate our little far-flung family.
Happy Birthday to some of "my" boys.......!
And then we add Halloween to the mix and the fun continues.
So we celebrate.....with cake and candles, with gifts and cards.....smiles and hugs (close by and long distance). October reminds me that Dave and I are very fortunate and happy to celebrate our little far-flung family.
Happy Birthday to some of "my" boys.......!
Thursday, October 25, 2018
A Flip of the Switch.....
I woke at 4:00 this morning and made the mistake of checking my phone just to see what time it was. I was greeted by a headline scrolling across the screen: More pipe bombs delivered today - to several well known democrats and to news outlets. And 45 reacted quickly (through a variety of sources, radio, television and internet):
President Trump on Wednesday afternoon addressed the suspicious packages sent to former government officials and CNN’s New York offices, calling them “abhorrent to everything we hold dear.” The president said that he was briefed on the packages and confirmed that a “major federal investigation is now under way.” “We will spare no resources or expense in this effort, and I just want to tell you that in these times we have to unify,” he said. “We have to come together and send one very clear, strong, unmistakable message that acts or threats of political violence of any kind have no place in the United States of America.” He added that his administration was “angry, upset, unhappy about what witnessed this morning.” The president failed to mention by name the people and institutions targeted, including former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and CNN. Those targeted have often been subject to verbal attacks by Trump.
A good and measured and Presidential response. A flip of the switch to a totally different measured comment (not off the cuff....he had to read it.)
Sadly I was unable to fall back to sleep and the next hours were spent with thoughts whirling through my head....trying to balance the above statement with what I've witnessed with my own eyes and ears since the campaign that resulted in his election in 2016. I got up and did a quick google search just to find a few example of past Trumpisms.....
"Even in elementary school, I was a very assertive, aggressive kid," Trump wrote in his ghost written bestseller. "In the second grade I actually gave a teacher a black eye — I punched my music teacher because I didn't think he knew anything about music and I almost got expelled. I'm not proud of that but it's clear evidence that even early on I had a tendency to stand up and make my opinions known in a very forceful way. The difference now is that I like to use my brain instead of my fists."
I'm sorry.....I must have missed something. Suddenly violence is "abhorrent" versus "....next time we might have to kill him.".....I know I am not the only one who senses a complete disconnect, once again, between the leadership that should be emanating from the Oval Office and the actual speech and behavior of the man who now leads our Nation.
By the end of the day he was blaming the crooked media, the Democrats....anyone but himself and his own challenging/insiteful language and behavior. His spokespeople say his is not "responsible" for the pipebombs and the violence.....but I've always heard the phrase "The buck stops here," when it comes to the President. The good things that he can boast about and difficult things he must also see as part of the whole. This big buck stops and at his desk......as he incites his followers to greater and greater expressions of anger and mistrust and fear.
I'm not a media talking head....I'm not a political analyist....I'm just a retiree living in Wisconsin with two adult heads-of-household "children" and four grandsons. I'm just one voter who will make an infinitesible click in the mid-term elections. But I'm a frightened voter. I've never seen anything like this.....and I know that voters were tired of the "swamp" and the "inside the Beltway life-time politicians".....but this is better? This is what you got in by voting as you did in 2016? (You say you didn't vote for Trump but couldn't vote for Hillary becaue you hated her.....well, you voted for Trump.)
Pipe bombs? The kind of violence we see during elections in third world countries? Ugly rallies? A President who whips up the crowd to scream inane slogans like "Lock her up!" TWO YEARS AFTER THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION???
My friends say to turn off the news, stop listening, try not to let it get to me....but it's almost impossible. We really do rely on the remote button as fiver or six negative ads for local candidates follow each other during our evening TV shows. But part of me also thinks if good, thoughtful people don't SAY something about this then it will continue to grow. We have to say this is not and should not be our America.
Believe what you want, you have the power to vote for your candidate, you have the right to carry or post a sign, to gather with like minded people.....but do you have to hate the "other"? Do you have to believe statements that are simply and completely false and unsupportable?
I have a sign in my car supporting a local candidate for Wisconsin Assembly. Dave is concerned that someone may break our car window. Really? In Ozaukee County, Wisconsin? Really? I know it's "red" but isn't it filled with people who respect one another?
Really......OMG I can't even begin to anticipate 2020.
I will have to double up on the sleeping pill tonight because I am just exhausted.....and yet once again, tears are very close to the surface.....
President Trump on Wednesday afternoon addressed the suspicious packages sent to former government officials and CNN’s New York offices, calling them “abhorrent to everything we hold dear.” The president said that he was briefed on the packages and confirmed that a “major federal investigation is now under way.” “We will spare no resources or expense in this effort, and I just want to tell you that in these times we have to unify,” he said. “We have to come together and send one very clear, strong, unmistakable message that acts or threats of political violence of any kind have no place in the United States of America.” He added that his administration was “angry, upset, unhappy about what witnessed this morning.” The president failed to mention by name the people and institutions targeted, including former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and CNN. Those targeted have often been subject to verbal attacks by Trump.
A good and measured and Presidential response. A flip of the switch to a totally different measured comment (not off the cuff....he had to read it.)
Sadly I was unable to fall back to sleep and the next hours were spent with thoughts whirling through my head....trying to balance the above statement with what I've witnessed with my own eyes and ears since the campaign that resulted in his election in 2016. I got up and did a quick google search just to find a few example of past Trumpisms.....
"Even in elementary school, I was a very assertive, aggressive kid," Trump wrote in his ghost written bestseller. "In the second grade I actually gave a teacher a black eye — I punched my music teacher because I didn't think he knew anything about music and I almost got expelled. I'm not proud of that but it's clear evidence that even early on I had a tendency to stand up and make my opinions known in a very forceful way. The difference now is that I like to use my brain instead of my fists."
"If you see somebody getting ready to throw a tomato, knock the crap out of them, would you? Seriously, OK? Just knock the hell ... I promise you I will pay for the legal fees. I promise, I promise," he said on Feb. 1, 2016.
At a Las Vegas rally later that month, he said security guards were too gentle with a protester. "He's walking out with big high-fives, smiling, laughing," Trump said. "I'd like to punch him in the face, I'll tell you."
On March 9, 2016, as a protester was being escorted out of a rally in Fayetteville, North Carolina, he was sucker-punched by another attendee.
Three protesters who claim they were roughed up by Trump supporters at a March 1, 2016, rally in Louisville, Kentucky, have filed a federal suit against Trump, accusing him of inciting violence. (Suit was dismissed.)
"Please don't be too nice" to suspects, Trump tells police. Trump seemed to encourage police to be more violent in handling potential offenders during a speech to law enforcement officers in July 2017.
After a rally in Montana: "That was a tremendous success last night in Montana and Greg is a great person, he’s a tough cookie, and I’ll stay with that," Trump said, again offering praise for the congressman who body-slammed a reporter last year as he campaigned during a special election for Montana's at-large congressional seat. The incident was caught on audiotape. Gianforte went on to win the election and is now up for reelection. "Any guy that can do a body slam, he is my type!" Trump said to cheers Thursday night.
Racial slurs, nasty rhetoric and violence at Trump rallies have become commonplace against protesters, bystanders, and reporters. Assaults are committed not only by rowdy Trump fans, but by the staff he employs to keep the events safe. But rather than denounce these incidents, Trump is making them part of his brand, and uses them to rev up crowds.
“There may be somebody with tomatoes in the audience,” Trump warned people at a rally in Iowa last month. “If you see somebody getting ready to throw a tomato, knock the crap out of them, would you? Seriously. Okay? Just knock the hell — I promise you, I will pay for the legal fees.”
In December, multiple incidents of violence were reported at a Trump rally in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The next month, a Sikh protester was physically pushed out of a Trump rally in Iowa, while fans yelled, “Trump! Trump! Trump!” The protester described it later as “a fascist rally in a school gym.” Last week, yet another video emerged of grown men at an event in Kentucky forcibly shoving a young black woman. As long as Trump continues to encourage this violence, it’s not going to stop. The fan charged with assault for sucker-punching a black protester on Wednesday has reportedly expressed no regrets. “The next time we see him, we might have to kill him,” he said.
.............
By the end of the day he was blaming the crooked media, the Democrats....anyone but himself and his own challenging/insiteful language and behavior. His spokespeople say his is not "responsible" for the pipebombs and the violence.....but I've always heard the phrase "The buck stops here," when it comes to the President. The good things that he can boast about and difficult things he must also see as part of the whole. This big buck stops and at his desk......as he incites his followers to greater and greater expressions of anger and mistrust and fear.
I'm not a media talking head....I'm not a political analyist....I'm just a retiree living in Wisconsin with two adult heads-of-household "children" and four grandsons. I'm just one voter who will make an infinitesible click in the mid-term elections. But I'm a frightened voter. I've never seen anything like this.....and I know that voters were tired of the "swamp" and the "inside the Beltway life-time politicians".....but this is better? This is what you got in by voting as you did in 2016? (You say you didn't vote for Trump but couldn't vote for Hillary becaue you hated her.....well, you voted for Trump.)
Pipe bombs? The kind of violence we see during elections in third world countries? Ugly rallies? A President who whips up the crowd to scream inane slogans like "Lock her up!" TWO YEARS AFTER THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION???
My friends say to turn off the news, stop listening, try not to let it get to me....but it's almost impossible. We really do rely on the remote button as fiver or six negative ads for local candidates follow each other during our evening TV shows. But part of me also thinks if good, thoughtful people don't SAY something about this then it will continue to grow. We have to say this is not and should not be our America.
Believe what you want, you have the power to vote for your candidate, you have the right to carry or post a sign, to gather with like minded people.....but do you have to hate the "other"? Do you have to believe statements that are simply and completely false and unsupportable?
I have a sign in my car supporting a local candidate for Wisconsin Assembly. Dave is concerned that someone may break our car window. Really? In Ozaukee County, Wisconsin? Really? I know it's "red" but isn't it filled with people who respect one another?
Really......OMG I can't even begin to anticipate 2020.
I will have to double up on the sleeping pill tonight because I am just exhausted.....and yet once again, tears are very close to the surface.....
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
US.....this is Us?
It was a very busy morning....I was moving through my to-do list at a good pace. I found time to walk Fenway on a beautiful day and Dave and I went out again to stop at the post office and cast our votes in the mid-term election. Back at home I finished up a few more to-do's and headed off to my book club discussion. It was an absolutely beautiful Wisconsin day....the sky and clouds were gorgeous and temperature just perfect!
I was really soothed by the beauty around me as I drove to Cedarburg. Our book club discussion was interesting and lively....I will now finish the book! Leaving the group I headed into town for a quick visit with our daughter working at a gallery down the street. I shared a cup of coffee and some conversation with her and headed home about 4:00. What a nice retirement day!
I took time to walk Fenway before dinner to spend a little more time outside.....and then, while fixing our soup supper, I made the mistake of turning on the national news.
I was really soothed by the beauty around me as I drove to Cedarburg. Our book club discussion was interesting and lively....I will now finish the book! Leaving the group I headed into town for a quick visit with our daughter working at a gallery down the street. I shared a cup of coffee and some conversation with her and headed home about 4:00. What a nice retirement day!
I took time to walk Fenway before dinner to spend a little more time outside.....and then, while fixing our soup supper, I made the mistake of turning on the national news.
- Hand delivered pipe bomb left outside George Soros' home - I didn't even know who he was, but apparently he is a billionaire who contributes money to liberal causes.
- Nancy Pelosi cornered by a Florida mob yelling "Get the fuck out of here...you and your fucking Democrats!"
- Mitch McConnell and his wife at a restaurant in Louisville, KY for dinner when they are accosted...."Why don't you get out of here! Why don't you leave this entire country!"
I finished stirring the soup in tears....and Dave walked into the room. I tried to explain that this was all just so disturbing and so unlike any America I ever knew as "mine". What the hell is going on here....what happened to our ability to have a reasonable and civil disagreement? Who are all these people and where have they been hiding all this hate for all these years?
How has this kind of behavior been "whipped" into a frenzy until individuals feel it's OK to just use their free speech to rant and rave at the opposition.....no matter where they are....doing their job, or during their personal down time. Ahhhhh....I assume it's follow the leader.
America.......this is US?????
Saturday, October 20, 2018
Bicycles.....
Our recent exploration of the Rhine River from Basle, Switzerland north to Amsterdam was a real adventure. New territory for us, a beautiful river cruise ship, too much good food and wonderful excursions. A great time with Maryland friends we don't see often enough!
We really enjoyed exploring Amsterdam and Dave and I stayed an additional two days after the cruise ended. We visited the Van Gogh Museum, the Resistance Museum, The Canal Museum. We ate good food at outside sidewalk tables - beautiful weather! We went in and out of a few shops, walked along the canals and just throughly enjoyed this beautiful and historic city.
But the bicycles! Everyone uses this preferred method of transporation. There are about twice as many bicycles as residents because most people have more than one. And they are not the super fancy, super expensive American models....they are older and a bit warn and often bought resale. Why? Because people sometimes forget where they parked their bike, or sometimes a bike is stolen and shows up again at a resale shop. It's just part of the process and as our tour guide explained during our walking tour, it doesn't seem to bother anyone that much.
We saw lots of bicyclists with dogs riding in their baskets (little dogs and big dogs). We saw special front seats with windscreens for toddlers to ride in front of their parents. We saw wooden delivery carts attached to the back of some bikes. We saw one boy (about 11 years or so) with his younger brother (about 6) standing behind him....holding his shoulders with feet planted on some kind of short stand behind the pedals. A ride to school I guess. And we never saw a bike helmet.
Our tour guide explained that in Amsterdam bicycles have the right-of-way.....not the pedestrians. So she suggested we be very careful and look both ways before crossing any of the narrow streets. The bikes have their own lane and step off the sidewalk and cross that one first before worrying about any cars. And believe me....you do have to look more than once! We had some very narrow misses as a bike suddenly rounded the corner.
Before we arrived in Amsterdam our cruise social director told us that the Dutch were some of the tallest and slimmest people in the world. Apparently there have been scientific studies trying to determine why. He was right....it seemed everyone had skinny jeans on skinny legs.
I think it was all that pedaling........
We really enjoyed exploring Amsterdam and Dave and I stayed an additional two days after the cruise ended. We visited the Van Gogh Museum, the Resistance Museum, The Canal Museum. We ate good food at outside sidewalk tables - beautiful weather! We went in and out of a few shops, walked along the canals and just throughly enjoyed this beautiful and historic city.
But the bicycles! Everyone uses this preferred method of transporation. There are about twice as many bicycles as residents because most people have more than one. And they are not the super fancy, super expensive American models....they are older and a bit warn and often bought resale. Why? Because people sometimes forget where they parked their bike, or sometimes a bike is stolen and shows up again at a resale shop. It's just part of the process and as our tour guide explained during our walking tour, it doesn't seem to bother anyone that much.
We saw lots of bicyclists with dogs riding in their baskets (little dogs and big dogs). We saw special front seats with windscreens for toddlers to ride in front of their parents. We saw wooden delivery carts attached to the back of some bikes. We saw one boy (about 11 years or so) with his younger brother (about 6) standing behind him....holding his shoulders with feet planted on some kind of short stand behind the pedals. A ride to school I guess. And we never saw a bike helmet.
Our tour guide explained that in Amsterdam bicycles have the right-of-way.....not the pedestrians. So she suggested we be very careful and look both ways before crossing any of the narrow streets. The bikes have their own lane and step off the sidewalk and cross that one first before worrying about any cars. And believe me....you do have to look more than once! We had some very narrow misses as a bike suddenly rounded the corner.
Before we arrived in Amsterdam our cruise social director told us that the Dutch were some of the tallest and slimmest people in the world. Apparently there have been scientific studies trying to determine why. He was right....it seemed everyone had skinny jeans on skinny legs.
I think it was all that pedaling........
Thursday, October 18, 2018
A First at 71......
At our age “firsts” are hard to come by......but fun when they do.
This is the first election season that Dave and I have ever done anything other than discuss issues together, watch commercials and televised debates, listen to talking heads and walk into the voting booth to cast our ballots. Some years we’ve even cancelled each other out.
Not this year...we are pretty much on the same page. This year I walked in my first parade holding a sign and chanting along with 100 other progressives hoping for a blue wave in a red sea. We have some excellent candidates running against some questionable (or worse) incumbents.
Tonight we joined a sold out fund raising dinner for the Ozaukee Democratic Party held in Cedarburg....the room was filled with enthusiasm, hope and commitment. This event, held a few years ago might have attracted a few dozen people at a local pub. This year there were 100+ filling the Cedarburg Cultural Center. Again....we have some excellent candidates with impressive resumes and excellent and thoughtful goals for Wisconsin’s future.
These candidates may not all win their races this time....but they have already made a huge difference....lighting a blue flame in an area where progressives felt pretty lonely.
So it’s another first for us.....we are not knocking on doors as so many others are, but we are writing postcards, offering to drive people to the polls......trying to guarantee a better future for our grandshildren. After being so disgusted by the nasty rhetoric, divisiveness and policies of the present leaders we really hope to wake to a blue sky morning on November 7th.....or at least one filled with more hope......and probably Dave and I won’t cancel each other’s vote.
This is the first election season that Dave and I have ever done anything other than discuss issues together, watch commercials and televised debates, listen to talking heads and walk into the voting booth to cast our ballots. Some years we’ve even cancelled each other out.
Not this year...we are pretty much on the same page. This year I walked in my first parade holding a sign and chanting along with 100 other progressives hoping for a blue wave in a red sea. We have some excellent candidates running against some questionable (or worse) incumbents.
Tonight we joined a sold out fund raising dinner for the Ozaukee Democratic Party held in Cedarburg....the room was filled with enthusiasm, hope and commitment. This event, held a few years ago might have attracted a few dozen people at a local pub. This year there were 100+ filling the Cedarburg Cultural Center. Again....we have some excellent candidates with impressive resumes and excellent and thoughtful goals for Wisconsin’s future.
These candidates may not all win their races this time....but they have already made a huge difference....lighting a blue flame in an area where progressives felt pretty lonely.
So it’s another first for us.....we are not knocking on doors as so many others are, but we are writing postcards, offering to drive people to the polls......trying to guarantee a better future for our grandshildren. After being so disgusted by the nasty rhetoric, divisiveness and policies of the present leaders we really hope to wake to a blue sky morning on November 7th.....or at least one filled with more hope......and probably Dave and I won’t cancel each other’s vote.
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
Tribute to Much Better Writers....
I woke up early this morning with some wierd rhymes and phrases going through my head.....they reminded me of reading Dr. Suess, Shel Silverstein and other authors to our kids when they were growing up. A litany of phrases tripped, one after another, through my mind as I opened my eyes to start the day. It became obvious to me that the tensions in our today Country invade my subconscious when I sleep.....and they create their own kind of poetry.
It was almost like a song.......
What happened to the us, child.....what happened to the we?
When did the them take over.....and hide the best of me?
What happened to the leaders, child, who show us how to shine?
When did their examples turn to hate and anger all the time?
Who decided the other was bad and when?
Will our melting pot pride ever show up again?
What happened to the us, child.....what happened to the we?
Should the me stay silent and say nothing more?
Or should the me step out and try to even the score?
When did real become fake, child, when did this all start?
Who is at fault, child, and what’s in their heart?
What happened to the us, child, the we, the all?
This is often the way one of my little blogs start....a thought that rattles around in my brain until I decide to just put it down on paper. I have a small "following" and that's OK. I really do this because I've always loved to write.....and sometimes it starts with a dream....
It was almost like a song.......
What happened to the us, child.....what happened to the we?
When did the them take over.....and hide the best of me?
What happened to the leaders, child, who show us how to shine?
When did their examples turn to hate and anger all the time?
Who decided the other was bad and when?
Will our melting pot pride ever show up again?
What happened to the us, child.....what happened to the we?
Should the me stay silent and say nothing more?
Or should the me step out and try to even the score?
When did real become fake, child, when did this all start?
Who is at fault, child, and what’s in their heart?
What happened to the us, child, the we, the all?
This is often the way one of my little blogs start....a thought that rattles around in my brain until I decide to just put it down on paper. I have a small "following" and that's OK. I really do this because I've always loved to write.....and sometimes it starts with a dream....
Thursday, October 11, 2018
Burning Eyeballs.....
What do you do when you're "trapped" in a small space for about nine hours. A small, narrow spot where it's hard to move around, stretch your legs or sleep. You disturb your fellow traveler every time you need to get up to walk the aisles. What do you do in coach on an airplane moving from the USA to Europe. Well one thing I don't do is complain....after all I'm fortunate enough to be heading off for another travel adventure.
And KLM feeds you well and gives you a wide variety of TV and movie selections to watch on your own private screen. That's how I found a movie I somehow missed when it was in theaters...."Shock And Awe". The movie covers two reporters for the Knight Ridder News Agency as the Bush administration led the Nation to the war in Iraq. While other newspapers were pushing the administration's line that Sadam had weapons of mass destruction, two young reporters were uncovering alternate facts.
The movie is fascinating....beginning with a young soldier at a hearing in Washington DC. He rolls to the front of the room using his wheelchair. When asked to stand to be sworn in he just looks at the panel....and the chairman apologizes. He can be sworn in while seated. Then he begins to share his thoughts. He says he's always been fascinated by numbers.....that's the way he looks at the world. And he begins to list a few numbers. The number 19...the age at which he enlisted in the army. The number three....the number of hours he was on the ground in Iraq before his vehicle hit an IED. The number six....the six inch piece of shrapnel that sliced through his spine. And then he says "I'd like to ask one question. How the hell did this happen?"
And the movie flashes back to September 11th... airplanes flying into the twin towers and the Pentagon. It moves forward as the Bush administration begins to find "facts" that Sadam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and is preparing to use them. And the US can't allow that and has to keep the world safe. The drum beat continues for over a year as the President, his cabinet members and our congress move closer and closer to war. And our troops invade in 2003.
The few reporters at the Knight Ridder Agency who refused to give up, who didn't believe the research and the officially sanctioned government "facts" presented, were the only ones that got it right. But no one was listening. It was years later that Colin Powell admitted that his speech to the United Nations prior to the invasion was based on flawed intelligence. It was years later that the New York Times apologized to it's readers for presenting the wrong information.
The movie was fascinating.... I was never aware of this back story until watching "Shock And Awe". It reminded me of "All the Presidents Men" and also reminded me of the importance of a free press. The movie ended with a list of additional numbers:
And KLM feeds you well and gives you a wide variety of TV and movie selections to watch on your own private screen. That's how I found a movie I somehow missed when it was in theaters...."Shock And Awe". The movie covers two reporters for the Knight Ridder News Agency as the Bush administration led the Nation to the war in Iraq. While other newspapers were pushing the administration's line that Sadam had weapons of mass destruction, two young reporters were uncovering alternate facts.
The movie is fascinating....beginning with a young soldier at a hearing in Washington DC. He rolls to the front of the room using his wheelchair. When asked to stand to be sworn in he just looks at the panel....and the chairman apologizes. He can be sworn in while seated. Then he begins to share his thoughts. He says he's always been fascinated by numbers.....that's the way he looks at the world. And he begins to list a few numbers. The number 19...the age at which he enlisted in the army. The number three....the number of hours he was on the ground in Iraq before his vehicle hit an IED. The number six....the six inch piece of shrapnel that sliced through his spine. And then he says "I'd like to ask one question. How the hell did this happen?"
And the movie flashes back to September 11th... airplanes flying into the twin towers and the Pentagon. It moves forward as the Bush administration begins to find "facts" that Sadam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and is preparing to use them. And the US can't allow that and has to keep the world safe. The drum beat continues for over a year as the President, his cabinet members and our congress move closer and closer to war. And our troops invade in 2003.
The few reporters at the Knight Ridder Agency who refused to give up, who didn't believe the research and the officially sanctioned government "facts" presented, were the only ones that got it right. But no one was listening. It was years later that Colin Powell admitted that his speech to the United Nations prior to the invasion was based on flawed intelligence. It was years later that the New York Times apologized to it's readers for presenting the wrong information.
The movie was fascinating.... I was never aware of this back story until watching "Shock And Awe". It reminded me of "All the Presidents Men" and also reminded me of the importance of a free press. The movie ended with a list of additional numbers:
- we've been on the ground in Iraq for 17 years
- the war has cost more than two trillion dollars
- 36 thousand American troops were killed
- one million Iraquis were killed or injured
- zero WMD were ever discovered
I watched two other movies on my trip across the pond until my eyeballs were burning. Two other movies......but "Shock And Awe" is the one that still rattles around in my brain. The numbers.....
Tuesday, October 9, 2018
Plarn.......
And just what do you do with all those plastic bags from the grocery store? Replace with re-usable tote bags (the ones I always forget in the car when I go into the store). Recycle as many as you can. Use them for cleaning up after you walk the dog. Or........ create sleeping mats for the homeless.
A friend told me about this effort, an easy crochet project turning plastic bags into nice, colorful, soft pads for the homeless to use to cushion their sleeping bags. So I cut my bags into strips and she creates the mats!
Step one....keep your bags.
Step two....flatten the bags and cut crosswise to make loops.
Step three.....add one loop to the next to make a long, long "string". Roll them into a big ball.
Step four....give to my friend.
Step five....see the results and feel good about helping just a little bit.
So save those bags....pass them on to someone who knows how to crochet and help the homeless.....with a colorful ball of "plarn" not yarn!
A friend told me about this effort, an easy crochet project turning plastic bags into nice, colorful, soft pads for the homeless to use to cushion their sleeping bags. So I cut my bags into strips and she creates the mats!
Step one....keep your bags.
Step two....flatten the bags and cut crosswise to make loops.
Step three.....add one loop to the next to make a long, long "string". Roll them into a big ball.
Step four....give to my friend.
Step five....see the results and feel good about helping just a little bit.
So save those bags....pass them on to someone who knows how to crochet and help the homeless.....with a colorful ball of "plarn" not yarn!
Monday, October 8, 2018
Elon Musk Where Are You.......
We had a wonderful trip to Europe....a Viking Cruise from Basel, Switzerland to Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Everything about it was just about perfect....weather, food, activities and the friends who shared the adventure with us.
But oh how I wish there was some kind of time capsule that could take us from Milwaukee to cross the pond....without the time zones in between.
Today will be a long day coping with jet lag......
But as our daughter once reminded me...."Mother, this is a first world problem.....you are getting off a plane in Europe!" She's right of course....but I think I'll text Elon to see if he can invent something that would speed up the travel process.
But oh how I wish there was some kind of time capsule that could take us from Milwaukee to cross the pond....without the time zones in between.
Today will be a long day coping with jet lag......
But as our daughter once reminded me...."Mother, this is a first world problem.....you are getting off a plane in Europe!" She's right of course....but I think I'll text Elon to see if he can invent something that would speed up the travel process.
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
History Repeats....
We had a little down time yesterday afternoon......so we watched a movie. Yes....we are cruising the Rhine River and have enjoyed one experience after another.....but a little down time on day five was welcome.
Scrolling through the listings on our state room TV we found “Mark Felt” starring Liam Neeson. Frankly I will watch anything with Liam Neeson so it was an easy choice. This movie could have been a companion piece to “All The President’s Men”.......and it was fascinating. The Watergate scandal from another perspective....that of Mark Felt, the number two man at the FBI when the break-in took place. J. Edgar Hoover had just died at the beginning of the film, Mark Felt expected to move into his position....but Nixon appointed one of his men instead. Someone with no law enforcement experience. As Felt greets the new head of the FBI he says “Mr. Gray, the FBI is the most respected institution in the world. It is one of the two cockpits that fly America and it is what it is because no one from the outside ever got inside. What goes on in here and what it means to the Country...that’s all that I care about.”
And as leads began to develop Nixon tried to stop the investigation in its tracks. He tried to limit the FBI’s efforts and stop their investigation. At which point Mark Felt, with the FBI for 30 years and a consummate professional, responded strongly and in no uncertain terms.
The scene is a telephone call from John Dean to Mark Felt. In response to John Dean’s order/request that they shut down the investigations and stop the leaks Felt responds: “The White House has no authority over the FBI....at all. I’m afraid the White House has nothing to suggest to the FBI.”
And the conversation is over......
Sound familiar? Where is Deep Throat when we need him......
Scrolling through the listings on our state room TV we found “Mark Felt” starring Liam Neeson. Frankly I will watch anything with Liam Neeson so it was an easy choice. This movie could have been a companion piece to “All The President’s Men”.......and it was fascinating. The Watergate scandal from another perspective....that of Mark Felt, the number two man at the FBI when the break-in took place. J. Edgar Hoover had just died at the beginning of the film, Mark Felt expected to move into his position....but Nixon appointed one of his men instead. Someone with no law enforcement experience. As Felt greets the new head of the FBI he says “Mr. Gray, the FBI is the most respected institution in the world. It is one of the two cockpits that fly America and it is what it is because no one from the outside ever got inside. What goes on in here and what it means to the Country...that’s all that I care about.”
And as leads began to develop Nixon tried to stop the investigation in its tracks. He tried to limit the FBI’s efforts and stop their investigation. At which point Mark Felt, with the FBI for 30 years and a consummate professional, responded strongly and in no uncertain terms.
The scene is a telephone call from John Dean to Mark Felt. In response to John Dean’s order/request that they shut down the investigations and stop the leaks Felt responds: “The White House has no authority over the FBI....at all. I’m afraid the White House has nothing to suggest to the FBI.”
And the conversation is over......
Sound familiar? Where is Deep Throat when we need him......
Thursday, September 27, 2018
Pondering While Wet......
Just why did we start saying "I'm going to take a shower?" I was shampooing my hair this morning and began to wonder about this phrase. Isn't it more accurate to say "I am going to step into the shower stall, turn on the water, get wet, get clean and turn off the water." I'm not taking the shower anywhere!?
So I googled the meaning:
1. Lay hold of (something) with one's hands; reach for and hold
2. Carry or bring with one; convey
Both of those definitions only make it more confusing to wonder why we say "I'm going to take a shower."
But then I saw the Merriam Webster site and the long, long list of uses for the word "take" and I'm sure it's covered in the list at some point. I wasn't interested enough to do any more research....just an odd thought that popped into my mind while wet.
So I googled the meaning:
1. Lay hold of (something) with one's hands; reach for and hold
2. Carry or bring with one; convey
Both of those definitions only make it more confusing to wonder why we say "I'm going to take a shower."
But then I saw the Merriam Webster site and the long, long list of uses for the word "take" and I'm sure it's covered in the list at some point. I wasn't interested enough to do any more research....just an odd thought that popped into my mind while wet.
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