This is a test
Is this not the coolest thing? I just learned this! I can put color in things! Oh, folks, you have some fun posts to look forward to.
Though maybe difficult to read.
And somewhat time consuming to execute.
But fun anyway!
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Is this not the coolest thing? I just learned this! I can put color in things! Oh, folks, you have some fun posts to look forward to.
Though maybe difficult to read.
And somewhat time consuming to execute.
But fun anyway!
There is something funny going on with our blogs. First, I checked the index. I always do that so I can see where there are new comments or entries. No point in checking a blog if there has been no activity for 3 weeks.
Everyone, including ange, has new activity. That is rather suspect! I know that ange hasn't been on her blog for ages and if I click on it, I end up at Rae's blog. Don't know why, doesn't matter; but I know that ange is not making new entries.
Second, (or third -- I've lost track) when I go to anyone's comments (because that is often where the fun stuff is) all I get is an internal server error message. It says I should report this to someone somewhere, but I am sure that our lovely webmeister and blog guru, Nate the Great, will take care of this -- eventually. It may take him a while to notice it.
Anyway, I assumed that all this activity indicated that we had all been slimed by the blogmonster, bob or others of his ilk, but when I checked my log of most recent comments, there was no new activity. So where did it all come from? Why is the index showing that we have new activity when we can't find it? Have they become even more devious and subtle, evading our detection?
As I said, there is something funny going on here. And little frustrating, too. I wanted to make comments, continue conversations started another day, but I can't get into anyone's comments. So please don't take my silence as a cold shoulder. I'll be back when things are up and running again.
A bientot, Maman.
Yes, even mothers have a bad day from time to time. Mine got the better of me yesterday.
I spent the day with Heidi and she talked nicely to me and helped me put the boxes together. They will be in the mail on Tuesday. Phew! That was hard work.
I know, there are rules for writing in the blog, and I just broke them.
The Rules
1. Keep it light
2. If you are going to get heavy, keep it impersonal
3. Don't point fingers or name call
4. Don't embarass people, especially specific people
5. Spark lively commentary, if possible
I am truly sorry for seeming to not be able to follow any of these rules -- ever. See why living past 80 just dosn't hold any thrall for me?
Lakeland is closed today in honor of President's Day. Traditionally, this day has been the day the kids and I would decorate for Ayyam'i'Ha. No particular reason other than it falls about a week or so before the holiday. It gave us all something to do on an otherwise pointless day off. I mean, what do other people do with that holiday? Drag their kids to the Prez Day Sales?
So, here I am, trying to package up gifts accumulated over the past few months to send as Ayyam'i'Ha packages . . . and I can't do it. I am fuming and on the edge of tears. Daddy has gone to visit Gramma, having no idea of the storm brewing behind my eyes.
And why am I mad, at what? Mad at the kids for not being available (or interested) in 'celebrating' with me? Mad at my children for being successful and independent of me? I thought that was my goal as a mother.
Was I better at fostering their independence than at showing love? I think I am mostly mad at myself . . . for failing to connect with my children. I don't have good packages to put together for them; they are just a mishmash of this and that. No real thought, no wrapping. Just. "Oh, Soandso might like this."
And a large dose of feeling rather sorry for myself. And baffled. Baffled at how this came to be. How I didn't foresee it coming.
Now, to make matters worse, the mail comes. In it is a big package from Rae. Our Ayyam'i'Ha gifts, no doubt. See, it can be done. (just not by me.)
Rain. Snow melts today;
I find a wet newspaper.
Date? Jan 12, 05
Rain. Snow melts today;
I find a wet newspaper.
Date? 1/12/05
I am learning to embrace my crone-ness. Here is how I came to realize I was becoming a crone. And it definitely is a process.
Well, first, people give me more respect than I have earned. Sort of that deference to old age.
Second, I have gone through menapause (and survived).
Third, I know more than younger people. Not all younger people and not on all subjects, but enough of both to qualify.
I was teaching my business planning class last week. There is a young man in there (early 20's) who wants to open a pizza shop with video arcade -- sort of a Chuckie Cheese Grows Up -- and so he has been trying to make pizza dough, but was having some trouble with it. He was asking if anyone in the class could direct him to some help. There are several women in the class who have baked bread, so we all started to ask him questions. We couldn't quite figure out what was going wrong. Finally, I asked him what type of bread pan he was using. His mother's cast iron skillet. I asked if it was well seasoned. From the look on his face it was obvious he had no idea what I meant. So I proceeded to tell him the process for seasoning the pan. As I talked, the other women who were standing around talking, fell silent. When I finished, their comments were, "I got rid of my cast iron because I didn't know what to do when it got rusty." and "So that's how you do it." to "I never knew that step. That must be why it didn't work."
Yes, just by living longer. Amazing.
Guess what? There is a new restaurant in Mentor . . .
and it is a sushi restaurant! Who would have thought?!?!? Maybe Northeast Ohio is ready for a noodle bar after all! Wouldn't that be great?!?
So the next time someone is in town, let's go there and check it out! I can't think of anyone here who would like to go with me . . . Oh no, of course. I'll go with Merry and let you know how it is.
PS I was going to try to put a link to an article in the News Herald, but they didn't include the article in their webpage.
I was listening to NPR the day after the State of the Union speech.
To be honest, I didn't listen to the speech. There is something about our president's tone of voice, cadence, inflection or something that drives me wild, and not in a good way. I just can not bear to listen to the man for more than about 7 minutes before I just want to shut him off. I have actually read some of his speeches (or parts of them) later and found what he said much less offensive. I think it is sort of like the kids-with-dirty-faces syndrome I suffer from. Anyway . . .
I am commenting on the commentary, not the original.
They were commenting on the Social Security Reform.
They were saying how Social Security was part of FDR's New Deal and how Republicans hated it as big brother government in people's business so they wanted to dismantle it or at least take the teeth out of it.
Now, I was raised by a staunch Republican. How staunch? Well, my father thought John Birch was just a little too left leaning for his tastes. Seriously, my parents would have voted for George Wallace (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Wallace) if they had felt that he had a real chance of winning. They, correctly, felt that a vote for George Wallace was just going to take votes away from Goldwater. Add to this that my father was a voting Republican during the time of FDR, and before, for that matter. For him the Depression and the New Deal were not the stuff of history books, but part of his life. For him the emotions about FDR were real and current, not remote and formed in response to reading about what happened long ago and far away.
So I have long mistrusted Social Security. Along with listening to my father, there have plenty of articles about how there isn't enough money in the system, etc, how people are living longer, the system is going to be bankrupt about the time I want to retire, etc. You've read them too.
Add to this the fact that I have not worked in the private sector for long enough to be eligible for any benefits, except widow's benefits and that requires Daddy's death. Not something I am planning on. He will outlive us all.
Anyway, according to the commentary on NPR, Bush's response to big government being in people's business and taking money for their retirement is to allow the younger contributors to have control over their share of the money they pay into the system. Or at least a portion of it.
Now, my response, and the one that I think more accurately reflects my father's philosophy, is to make sure that I have saved for my retirement. Yes, independently of the Government and Social Security. Not everyone can afford to do that, you say? Yes, that is true. That is why we have Social Security. But it was designed for those who truly could not afford it, not as an entitlement, a reward for having outlasted one's peers. It started out as not much, just enough to keep the wolf from the door. It was never meant to be the sole support of anyone. And can't afford it? Well, if I had spent the money that is tucked away for our retirement, our lifestyle might have been different. But who would have taken care of us in our old age? Any volunteers? I thought not. By then you will have families of your own, student loans, etc. And that is as it should be.
Anyway, enough of this rant. I guess I was just having trouble seeing how giving people control over the money the Government collects from them (not voluntarily) is really the Government getting out of people's lives.
PS. I know I have included long annoying links to other websites. I am hoping this will inspire someone (any volunteers?) to tell me how to make them neater.
I thought you guys might be interested in these stories. You leave, life goes on.
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13881000&BRD=1698&PAG=461&dept_id=21849&rfi=8
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13889695&BRD=1698&PAG=461&dept_id=21849&rfi=8