My gardens, like this blog, have been suffering from a touch of neglect since I've returned to work. And yet .. and yet .. this beautiful stargazer lily has bloomed.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Lilies and Lace
My gardens, like this blog, have been suffering from a touch of neglect since I've returned to work. And yet .. and yet .. this beautiful stargazer lily has bloomed.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
The witch hunt has ended. Thank God.
Katrina's storm clouds have finally broken for Dr. Anna Pou. The grand jury has refused to indict her on any of the ten counts of murder which Attorney General Charles Foti maliciously inflicted upon this heroic doctor.
And now, I truly hope that the spotlight shines with fierce intensity upon Mr. Foti. I think a suitable punishment would have him cleaning out the still-deserted hospitals and medical offices of the Crescent City. With a toothbrush.
And now, I truly hope that the spotlight shines with fierce intensity upon Mr. Foti. I think a suitable punishment would have him cleaning out the still-deserted hospitals and medical offices of the Crescent City. With a toothbrush.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Simply. Perfect.
Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows was just delicious! Well done, JK Rowling. Well done, indeed, and thank you.
Friday, July 20, 2007
I would only add one thing ...
Keith Olberman's special report was spot-on.
The full text can be seen here.
At the end of this brilliant piece, KO exhorts the Commander in Chief to "Take it into your own hands, Mr. Bush.
Go to Baghdad now and fulfill, finally, your military service obligations.
Go there and fight, your war. Yourself."
Might I suggest that he bring his daughters and College Republicanchickenshits chickenhawks with him?
The full text can be seen here.
At the end of this brilliant piece, KO exhorts the Commander in Chief to "Take it into your own hands, Mr. Bush.
Go to Baghdad now and fulfill, finally, your military service obligations.
Go there and fight, your war. Yourself."
Might I suggest that he bring his daughters and College Republican
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Yeah. What she said.
J.K. Rowling has asked the world to "help preserve the secrecy" regarding HPATDH.
I am about to embark on a media fast, lest I catch one of those dratted leaks out of the corner of my eye. See you in about a week!
I am about to embark on a media fast, lest I catch one of those dratted leaks out of the corner of my eye. See you in about a week!
Monday, July 16, 2007
Baby turkeys!!!
So, the kidlet and I went out to Tupper Lake, NY, today, to visit The Wild Center aka The Natural History Museum of the Adirondacks. I had been looking forward to seeing the much-hyped Bird Skywalk. Alas, it will not open until next fall. I was disappointed, but we still enjoyed the Museum.
I did get my bird fix on the way home, however.
Route 3A, somewhere on the southern edge of Fort Drum.
I did get my bird fix on the way home, however.
Route 3A, somewhere on the southern edge of Fort Drum.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Feeding my friends, feathered and otherwise
I am bemused that the red squirrel has found our feeding station. Far from viewing them as vermin, I find red squirrels to be highly enterprising and cute little critters.
My cat, Juliette, has told me in no uncertain terms that she is outraged by this new development. The rest of the menagerie don't seem to care.
Red, white, and blue
1 ounce vanilla vodka
2 ounces blueberry & pomegranate juice
Combine in ice-filled cocktail shaker, then pour into a martini glass.
Sip slowly, and try to wrap your head around an administration that thinks that obstruction of justice is no big deal.
Go to bed and pull the covers over your head.
Monday, July 02, 2007
Ready for Harry
Gryffindor scarf, made on the small Knifty Knitter loom with Lion Brand homespun yarn.
Okay, I'm a geek.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Learn something new every day
From time to time, we see opossums around here. Today's Los Angeles Times has an interesting article about the gentle but misunderstood little critters.
I was bemused when I read this passage:
When threatened, the animal can look awfully mean, but it's all a big show. Opossums don't run or bite well. They're not very coordinated and, in Simon's words, they're not the most intellectual of creatures.
If the baring-teeth-and-hissing drama doesn't work, they feign death by entering a temporary coma. This strategy doesn't fool dogs and other large predators, according to Mary Cummins, a Los Angeles-based licensed wildlife rehabilitator and educator. She takes in 600 injured or orphaned opossums each year.
So, neither dogs nor my nine year-old are fooled by the "playing possum" trick .. but I was.
That's just a little embarrassing!
I was bemused when I read this passage:
When threatened, the animal can look awfully mean, but it's all a big show. Opossums don't run or bite well. They're not very coordinated and, in Simon's words, they're not the most intellectual of creatures.
If the baring-teeth-and-hissing drama doesn't work, they feign death by entering a temporary coma. This strategy doesn't fool dogs and other large predators, according to Mary Cummins, a Los Angeles-based licensed wildlife rehabilitator and educator. She takes in 600 injured or orphaned opossums each year.
So, neither dogs nor my nine year-old are fooled by the "playing possum" trick .. but I was.
That's just a little embarrassing!
Monday, June 25, 2007
Therapeutic Recreation
Look what I did today!
For those of you who don't know me in real life, I painted the bird feeder to look just like my house. That's supposed to be lavendar beside the door.
For those of you who don't know me in real life, I painted the bird feeder to look just like my house. That's supposed to be lavendar beside the door.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
La La La La I can't hear you!
I see, out of the corner of my eye, that some hacker claims to have uncovered the ending of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
If this is true, then you, Mr/Ms Hacker, are also an asshole of the highest order. You probably belong to Slytherin house.
I am a loud, proud, unrepentent Harry Potter fan. I have been looking forward to the release of HPATDH for two years now. Those sweet people at Amazon.com, aided and abetted by the fine folks of the USPS, will bring HPATDH to my door on July 13th. As I am working night shifts on the 13th and the 14th, I may not be able to finish JK Rowling's opus until the 15th or so. In the interim, I do not want to see, hear, or think about any spoilers.
Hacker dude, I wish I could turn you into a toad!
Edited to add:
Oops! I guess I'm in a state of perpetual sleep deprivation these days!
HPATDH will be delivered to my house on 21 July. I'm working three night shifts that weekend, so I probably won't finish it until the 23rd or 24th of July.
If this is true, then you, Mr/Ms Hacker, are also an asshole of the highest order. You probably belong to Slytherin house.
I am a loud, proud, unrepentent Harry Potter fan. I have been looking forward to the release of HPATDH for two years now. Those sweet people at Amazon.com, aided and abetted by the fine folks of the USPS, will bring HPATDH to my door on July 13th. As I am working night shifts on the 13th and the 14th, I may not be able to finish JK Rowling's opus until the 15th or so. In the interim, I do not want to see, hear, or think about any spoilers.
Hacker dude, I wish I could turn you into a toad!
Edited to add:
Oops! I guess I'm in a state of perpetual sleep deprivation these days!
HPATDH will be delivered to my house on 21 July. I'm working three night shifts that weekend, so I probably won't finish it until the 23rd or 24th of July.
An open letter to the administrators of the VA hospital in Iron Mountain, MI:
It has been brought to my attention that you are refusing to play along with the state Governor's order that flags be lowered to half mast for 24 hours following the death of a Michigan soldier killed in the line of duty.
The New York Times reports that:
The Stars and Stripes in front of the Veterans of Foreign Wars lodge here flies at half-staff because Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm issued a statewide order to lower the flag for 24 hours to honor a Michigan soldier killed in Iraq.
Just blocks away, however, at the veterans’ hospital run by federal officials who say they do not answer to the governor the flag flutters at full staff.
You, the powers that be at the VA Hospital in Iron Mountain, are assholes.
You are assholes of the highest order.
You are assholes who are so blindingly stupid that you are willing to further blacken the eye of the VA for the sake of standing your regulation-bound ground.
Lower the flag. Show some respect to your patients.
That is all. Carry on.
The New York Times reports that:
The Stars and Stripes in front of the Veterans of Foreign Wars lodge here flies at half-staff because Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm issued a statewide order to lower the flag for 24 hours to honor a Michigan soldier killed in Iraq.
Just blocks away, however, at the veterans’ hospital run by federal officials who say they do not answer to the governor the flag flutters at full staff.
You, the powers that be at the VA Hospital in Iron Mountain, are assholes.
You are assholes of the highest order.
You are assholes who are so blindingly stupid that you are willing to further blacken the eye of the VA for the sake of standing your regulation-bound ground.
Lower the flag. Show some respect to your patients.
That is all. Carry on.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Good morning!
It is 0532. I just stepped out on the porch to do a few sun salutations and greet this beautiful solstice morning. Mere yards away, a deer crossed the road. The sun's first rays danced over her graceful back.
I'm enjoying a fresh cup of coffee before I leave for work.
Happy Solstice, and Namaste.
I'm enjoying a fresh cup of coffee before I leave for work.
Happy Solstice, and Namaste.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
And the witch hunt continues
For five days after Hurricane Katrina, the staff who remained to tend to the patients of Memorial Medical Center in New Orleans toiled under unimaginably harsh conditions. There was no electricity, no water, and no communication about when, if ever, relief would arrive. The temperature soared into the triple digits. Gunshots rang out in the flooded streets below.
Thirty four patients perished at Memorial Medical Center at that time.
Nearly a year after the storm, Dr. Anna Pou, Cheri Landry, RN, and Lori Budo, RN, were arrested, accused of second degree murder in the deaths of four of those patients. Attorney General Charles Foti alleges that they administered lethal doses of Morphine and Versed, with the intent to kill. All have proclaimed their innocence. None have actually been charged. Their personal and professional lives have been turned upside down.
Nearly a year after the arrests, Cheri Landry and Lori Budo have been offered immunity in exchange for their grand jury testimony against Dr. Pou.
Despite my relatively impressive academic background, and despite having been a charge nurse in a Louisiana hospital that lies on a hurricane evacuation route, I would have been completely overwhelmed by the situation at Memorial Medical Center. I have absolutely no idea what I would have done, in those circumstances, for those critically ill patients.
I do not know what actually transpired at that hospital.
I do know that if I was a critically ill patient, stranded by my own government's ineptitude, I'd be praying for a little morphine.
Contributions to Dr. Anna Pou's legal defense fund can be made here.
Thirty four patients perished at Memorial Medical Center at that time.
Nearly a year after the storm, Dr. Anna Pou, Cheri Landry, RN, and Lori Budo, RN, were arrested, accused of second degree murder in the deaths of four of those patients. Attorney General Charles Foti alleges that they administered lethal doses of Morphine and Versed, with the intent to kill. All have proclaimed their innocence. None have actually been charged. Their personal and professional lives have been turned upside down.
Nearly a year after the arrests, Cheri Landry and Lori Budo have been offered immunity in exchange for their grand jury testimony against Dr. Pou.
Despite my relatively impressive academic background, and despite having been a charge nurse in a Louisiana hospital that lies on a hurricane evacuation route, I would have been completely overwhelmed by the situation at Memorial Medical Center. I have absolutely no idea what I would have done, in those circumstances, for those critically ill patients.
I do not know what actually transpired at that hospital.
I do know that if I was a critically ill patient, stranded by my own government's ineptitude, I'd be praying for a little morphine.
Contributions to Dr. Anna Pou's legal defense fund can be made here.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
What a surprise.
Via Bloomberg News:
The U.S. and Russia have agreed to dismantle the U.N. agency that searched Iraq for weapons of mass destruction and affirm that Saddam Hussein's government had no such arms at the time of the American invasion in March 2003.
Three thousand, five hundred, and twenty nine, and counting, sacrificed at the wrong altar.
.. affirm that Saddam Hussein's government had no such arms at the time of the American invasion in March 2003.
Do you feel safer, America? Do you care?
.. no such arms at the time ..
To those of you out there, who still willingly gulp Neo-Con Kool-Aid: It's time to pony up. Go and visit your local Army recruiter. Strap on some combat boots, and take your turn in the desert.
The U.S. and Russia have agreed to dismantle the U.N. agency that searched Iraq for weapons of mass destruction and affirm that Saddam Hussein's government had no such arms at the time of the American invasion in March 2003.
Three thousand, five hundred, and twenty nine, and counting, sacrificed at the wrong altar.
.. affirm that Saddam Hussein's government had no such arms at the time of the American invasion in March 2003.
Do you feel safer, America? Do you care?
.. no such arms at the time ..
To those of you out there, who still willingly gulp Neo-Con Kool-Aid: It's time to pony up. Go and visit your local Army recruiter. Strap on some combat boots, and take your turn in the desert.
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Thursday, May 31, 2007
The difference is like night and day. Literally, night and day.
Captain Fraser Clark, of the Canadian Armed Forces, wrote a beautiful piece in the Globe and Mail today about the respect given to a fallen Canadian Soldier.
He says:
I had never seen so many Canadian flags along Highway 401. From Trenton to Toronto, each and every overpass along the 170-kilometre route was adorned with Canadian flags, large and small. Some people attached a Maple Leaf to a wooden stick and waved it vigorously from side to side; others lowered the flag in a sombre salute for a solemn occasion.
This was the eight-vehicle repatriation cortège of Corporal Matthew McCully, the young Canadian soldier killed on patrol in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb last week. We had just observed the return of Corp. McCully's remains on the tarmac at the airbase in Trenton and were now on our way to the coroner's office in Toronto.
Many of them were in tears as they marched toward the hearse. The air inside our limousine was thick with emotion as we sat in silence contemplating the ceremony that had unfolded before our eyes. After the Ontario Provincial Police led us away from the terminal, our attention was quickly drawn to several dozen people lining the streets of Trenton, many holding bouquets of flowers amid the dozens of flags fluttering in the wind. Several oncoming cars pulled over to the side of the road, their occupants getting out to stand with their hands covering their hearts in quiet respect.
It wasn't until we were driving under the first few highway overpasses that we took notice of every bridge: Each was lined with more and more people, and as we drew closer to them, the people waved their flags more briskly so we could appreciate the scale of their salute. As we reached Toronto, the crowds were still lined up on each overpass and our drivers, by this time well practised in their response, slowed the limousines to acknowledge the demonstrations ...
Accompanying those special flag-bearers were hundreds of police officers, firefighters and ambulance service workers. With their vehicles parked in single file atop each overpass, sirens ringing and lights flashing, those proud men and women snapped such an impressive salute that it brought tears to the eyes for all who sat inside the limousine. The police officers who couldn't fit on the overpasses moved their cruisers into an extended line along each exit ramp, blocking oncoming traffic as they formed up on the roadside to salute.
Mesmerized by this tremendous demonstration of support, the family sat in quiet disbelief, seeing a ray of hope as they witnessed their fellow citizens sharing their pain.
Each. And. Every. Overpass.
I know that stretch of the 401 very well.
That's a lot of overpasses.
That is class.
That is how it should be done.
In somewhat related news, Fort Drum will no longer hold individual services for fallen soldiers. The services will now be held once a month.
Why am I not surprised?
He says:
I had never seen so many Canadian flags along Highway 401. From Trenton to Toronto, each and every overpass along the 170-kilometre route was adorned with Canadian flags, large and small. Some people attached a Maple Leaf to a wooden stick and waved it vigorously from side to side; others lowered the flag in a sombre salute for a solemn occasion.
This was the eight-vehicle repatriation cortège of Corporal Matthew McCully, the young Canadian soldier killed on patrol in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb last week. We had just observed the return of Corp. McCully's remains on the tarmac at the airbase in Trenton and were now on our way to the coroner's office in Toronto.
Many of them were in tears as they marched toward the hearse. The air inside our limousine was thick with emotion as we sat in silence contemplating the ceremony that had unfolded before our eyes. After the Ontario Provincial Police led us away from the terminal, our attention was quickly drawn to several dozen people lining the streets of Trenton, many holding bouquets of flowers amid the dozens of flags fluttering in the wind. Several oncoming cars pulled over to the side of the road, their occupants getting out to stand with their hands covering their hearts in quiet respect.
It wasn't until we were driving under the first few highway overpasses that we took notice of every bridge: Each was lined with more and more people, and as we drew closer to them, the people waved their flags more briskly so we could appreciate the scale of their salute. As we reached Toronto, the crowds were still lined up on each overpass and our drivers, by this time well practised in their response, slowed the limousines to acknowledge the demonstrations ...
Accompanying those special flag-bearers were hundreds of police officers, firefighters and ambulance service workers. With their vehicles parked in single file atop each overpass, sirens ringing and lights flashing, those proud men and women snapped such an impressive salute that it brought tears to the eyes for all who sat inside the limousine. The police officers who couldn't fit on the overpasses moved their cruisers into an extended line along each exit ramp, blocking oncoming traffic as they formed up on the roadside to salute.
Mesmerized by this tremendous demonstration of support, the family sat in quiet disbelief, seeing a ray of hope as they witnessed their fellow citizens sharing their pain.
Each. And. Every. Overpass.
I know that stretch of the 401 very well.
That's a lot of overpasses.
That is class.
That is how it should be done.
In somewhat related news, Fort Drum will no longer hold individual services for fallen soldiers. The services will now be held once a month.
Why am I not surprised?
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Oh give me a home, where the buffalo roam ...
Excuse my language, but ..
What.
The.
Hell?
Montana plans to slaughter 300 wild buffalo, because those pesky little critters keep roaming out of Yellowstone National Park.
Seriously,
What.
The.
Hell?
What.
The.
Hell?
Montana plans to slaughter 300 wild buffalo, because those pesky little critters keep roaming out of Yellowstone National Park.
Seriously,
What.
The.
Hell?
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Say it with me ...
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww!
Baby bunny hopped out of the tall grasses as I was mowing this evening.
One never knows where cute woodland creatures are hiding, so tread lightly, my friends.
Baby bunny hopped out of the tall grasses as I was mowing this evening.
One never knows where cute woodland creatures are hiding, so tread lightly, my friends.
Friday, May 25, 2007
My favourite politician!
Phyllis Morris is my new hero.
The mayor of Aurora, Ontario, is pushing the Government of Ontario to designate clothesline a service or technology under the Energy Conservation Leadership Act. In so doing, Ontarians could override subdivision property agreements that prevent homeowners from hanging their laundry out to dry.
Predictably, there are some who complain that clotheslines are unsightly. Aurora resident Will Cordingley said, "All you'd see is laundry — if everybody had one across here, that's all you would see."
I wonder if Mr. Cordingley has ever done a load of laundry in his life. But I digress...
Pop quiz: Which of the following is unsightly?
My laundry, or ..
The smog which obscures the not-so-distant hills?
Three cheers for Phyllis Morris!
The mayor of Aurora, Ontario, is pushing the Government of Ontario to designate clothesline a service or technology under the Energy Conservation Leadership Act. In so doing, Ontarians could override subdivision property agreements that prevent homeowners from hanging their laundry out to dry.
Predictably, there are some who complain that clotheslines are unsightly. Aurora resident Will Cordingley said, "All you'd see is laundry — if everybody had one across here, that's all you would see."
I wonder if Mr. Cordingley has ever done a load of laundry in his life. But I digress...
Pop quiz: Which of the following is unsightly?
My laundry, or ..
The smog which obscures the not-so-distant hills?
Three cheers for Phyllis Morris!
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Lilac Day
The lilacs are fully opened today!
White ones, too!
As well as the pink and white tulips,
and the bleeding heart, and the star of Bethlehem plants.
This bird sang to me from the lilac bushes.Have a beautiful day!
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
At this hour ...
Final respects are being paid to PFC Daniel Courneya, a 10th MTN soldier who was killed in Iraq last week. Daniel was born two months after I graduated from high school. He was only 10 when my son was born.
I did not know him, but I weep for him and for his family.
And at this hour .. the banner story on The Drudge Report is the shocking revelation that one insipid tv show knocked another insipid tv show out of first place in the ratings.
America, where is your soul?
I did not know him, but I weep for him and for his family.
And at this hour .. the banner story on The Drudge Report is the shocking revelation that one insipid tv show knocked another insipid tv show out of first place in the ratings.
America, where is your soul?
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Missed opportunities, sigh!!
The phone just rang. I didn't recognize the name on the caller ID, but I answered it anyway.
Hello? said Rose.
Into my ear swam a baritone voice, which said, Hello. What are we doing Saturday?
What I said: Who is this???
What I should have said: Same thing we do every Saturday. Plot to take over the world!!
Merde. Now I'm gonna be up all night, thinking of more brilliant responses.
This was the second missed opportunity in the past week. Last Thursday morning, a stranger came knocking on my door. He wondered if I'd be interested in selling "that old rider" - aka my fussy old Husqvarna lawn tractor - that was sitting waaaaay back on my back-forty. As it happens, that perskickitty old bucket of bolts had actually started - on the first try, with stale gas in the tank, no less - and had been purring like a kitten this year. I figured that I'd be able to get one more season out of that beast. I had vowed that the next, inevitable breakdown would be the last, and then I would replace the old husky in 2008.
HA!!
That very afternoon, I was feeling very smug as I neared the finish line of my fortnightly race to cut the grass. And didn't that lawn tractor decide to bust a pin or a chain or a gear or something. I don't even care what, specifically, is broken. It's probably fixable, but I will not be throwing good money after bad for this repair. A bright, shiny, brand new John Deere will be delivered on Friday. WooHoo!
And if that stranger who knocked on my door happens to read this blog, he can have that damned Husqvarna!
Hello? said Rose.
Into my ear swam a baritone voice, which said, Hello. What are we doing Saturday?
What I said: Who is this???
What I should have said: Same thing we do every Saturday. Plot to take over the world!!
Merde. Now I'm gonna be up all night, thinking of more brilliant responses.
This was the second missed opportunity in the past week. Last Thursday morning, a stranger came knocking on my door. He wondered if I'd be interested in selling "that old rider" - aka my fussy old Husqvarna lawn tractor - that was sitting waaaaay back on my back-forty. As it happens, that perskickitty old bucket of bolts had actually started - on the first try, with stale gas in the tank, no less - and had been purring like a kitten this year. I figured that I'd be able to get one more season out of that beast. I had vowed that the next, inevitable breakdown would be the last, and then I would replace the old husky in 2008.
HA!!
That very afternoon, I was feeling very smug as I neared the finish line of my fortnightly race to cut the grass. And didn't that lawn tractor decide to bust a pin or a chain or a gear or something. I don't even care what, specifically, is broken. It's probably fixable, but I will not be throwing good money after bad for this repair. A bright, shiny, brand new John Deere will be delivered on Friday. WooHoo!
And if that stranger who knocked on my door happens to read this blog, he can have that damned Husqvarna!
Friday, May 18, 2007
Economic Indicators
Loonie hits 30-year high.
Observed outside the Watertown Target store.
Coincidence??? I think not!
Side note to my fellow Canucks:
Hi there! It's always nice to see the Ontario license plates at our local commercial establishments, and it warms the cockles of my heart to hear that familiar Eastern Ontario accent, eh?
But, about this very un-Canadian littering. Did you think we wouldn't notice? Didn't you notice the nifty trash cans in front of Target? What the hell is wrong with you?
Observed outside the Watertown Target store.
Coincidence??? I think not!
Side note to my fellow Canucks:
Hi there! It's always nice to see the Ontario license plates at our local commercial establishments, and it warms the cockles of my heart to hear that familiar Eastern Ontario accent, eh?
But, about this very un-Canadian littering. Did you think we wouldn't notice? Didn't you notice the nifty trash cans in front of Target? What the hell is wrong with you?
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Membership has its privileges!
I've recently returned to bedside nursing at a small hospital in Northern New York. It is a unionized facility, which, quite frankly, did not thrill me at first. I've worked in both unionized and non-unionized environments, and my personal preference was the non-unionized spot. The only things that my old union ever did for me were to gouge a huge chunk out of my paycheque and guarantee that I'd be the first one laid off when the axe fell.
I'm singing a new tune these days. Membership in my current union also confers membership in the American Nurses' Association. Members of the American Nurses' Association receive a 25% discount when ordering Crocs through the company's website.
We shall overcome ... in comfortable footwear!
I'm singing a new tune these days. Membership in my current union also confers membership in the American Nurses' Association. Members of the American Nurses' Association receive a 25% discount when ordering Crocs through the company's website.
We shall overcome ... in comfortable footwear!
Monday, May 07, 2007
I can see how it might have been a little confusing ...
A few months ago, some stories surfaced about Canadian "spy coins" finding their way into the pockets of US Army contractors travelling through Canada.
As it turns out, the "suspicious" coins were specially minted Poppy coins, issued in 2004 to commemorate Canada's war dead.
We really shouldn't be too hard on these hapless contractors. How could they possibly wrap their heads around the completely foreign concept of acknowledging a country's fallen soldiers?
/snark
As it turns out, the "suspicious" coins were specially minted Poppy coins, issued in 2004 to commemorate Canada's war dead.
We really shouldn't be too hard on these hapless contractors. How could they possibly wrap their heads around the completely foreign concept of acknowledging a country's fallen soldiers?
/snark
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Friday, May 04, 2007
Monday, April 30, 2007
I am shocked. Shocked, I tell you!
A politician is taking responsibility for his actions, or lack thereof.
New Jersey Governor Corzine has asked for forgiveness from his constituents regarding the injuries sustained in a car accident earlier this month - injuries which probably would have been much less severe had he been wearing his seatbelt.
Governor Corzine is also paying his own hospital bill, rather than leaving it to the taxpayers of New Jersey.
Perhaps Don Imus should toss in a few bucks. After all, the Governor was on his way to a meeting between Imus and the Rutgers' Basketball Team, trying to calm the furor over three stupid words.
May you have a speedy and complete recovery, Mr. Corzine.
New Jersey Governor Corzine has asked for forgiveness from his constituents regarding the injuries sustained in a car accident earlier this month - injuries which probably would have been much less severe had he been wearing his seatbelt.
Governor Corzine is also paying his own hospital bill, rather than leaving it to the taxpayers of New Jersey.
Perhaps Don Imus should toss in a few bucks. After all, the Governor was on his way to a meeting between Imus and the Rutgers' Basketball Team, trying to calm the furor over three stupid words.
May you have a speedy and complete recovery, Mr. Corzine.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Woke up this morning
smiled at the rising sun
three little birds, outside my window
singing sweet songs, the melody pure and true
saying, this is my message to you
don't worry about a thing
because every little thing
is gonna be alright
Thank you Bob Marley, for the sweet song that has carried me through the days.
If you haven't already done so ..
.. check out Bill Moyers' show, Buying the War, about the role of the presstitutes in marketing the Iraq war to the American people.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Happy Earth Day!
We've had a lovely day here. William and I planted a spruce sapling, and then William climbed a tree. To complete this rite of passage, my 9 year old climbed a little too high, then scraped his belly on a branch on the way back down. Ah, to be young and agile with swiftly-healing skin again!
The laundry flapped gently in the breeze while we had lunch outside. I prepared two of my raised garden beds with black gold from my very own composter, a garden weasel, and the sweat of my brow. I am hoping that the weather will continue to be mild, so I planted white onions and dill in one bed, and mixed greens and cilantro in the other. I might lose a few dollars on this wager, but I think I'll be vindicated when we're dining on lovely fresh salads well ahead of the Memorial Day weekend.
I set up our hummingbird feeders in anticipation of the return of flying emerald jewels, and sipped locally produced wine while listening to wild turkeys, woodpeckers, sparrows, chickadees, redwinged blackbirds, robins, and marsh hawks.
It saddens me when I observe that our culture has become so polarized and politicized, that any suggestion to conserve our resources is immediately rebuffed and followed by a diatribe against Al Gore. I suspect that there is a certain subset of our society who are so pigheaded, that they crank the A/C on their SUV's and drive around with the windows down, spraying Aquanet and tossing out styrofoam burger boxes, just to piss off those who warn us about climate change.
This treehugging liberal with low utility bills wonders what, exactly, are "conservatives" trying to conserve?
The laundry flapped gently in the breeze while we had lunch outside. I prepared two of my raised garden beds with black gold from my very own composter, a garden weasel, and the sweat of my brow. I am hoping that the weather will continue to be mild, so I planted white onions and dill in one bed, and mixed greens and cilantro in the other. I might lose a few dollars on this wager, but I think I'll be vindicated when we're dining on lovely fresh salads well ahead of the Memorial Day weekend.
I set up our hummingbird feeders in anticipation of the return of flying emerald jewels, and sipped locally produced wine while listening to wild turkeys, woodpeckers, sparrows, chickadees, redwinged blackbirds, robins, and marsh hawks.
It saddens me when I observe that our culture has become so polarized and politicized, that any suggestion to conserve our resources is immediately rebuffed and followed by a diatribe against Al Gore. I suspect that there is a certain subset of our society who are so pigheaded, that they crank the A/C on their SUV's and drive around with the windows down, spraying Aquanet and tossing out styrofoam burger boxes, just to piss off those who warn us about climate change.
This treehugging liberal with low utility bills wonders what, exactly, are "conservatives" trying to conserve?
Saturday, April 21, 2007
My quilting style
A few people have asked about my quilts. They are all machine sewn, and free motion stipple-quilted using a darning foot attachment. The only part I do by hand is the final attachment of the binding.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Let it all hang out
Tomorrow is National Hanging Out Day. Project Laundry List exhorts us to "Hang Your Pants, Stop The Nuke Plants."
Not that I need a reason, of course. I love to hang the laundry on my clothesline. When the weatherman prognosticates clear skies, my first thoughts are not of the beach, but rather, "do I have enough laundry to justify running the washing machine?" I don't find it to be a chore, but a joyous, contemplative activity which borders on Zen-like bliss.
It is downright obscene that clotheslines are banned by more than 35,000 Homeowners' Associations in California. I could never live under such an oppressive regime. They can have my clothespins when they pry them from my cold, dead fingers!
Not that I need a reason, of course. I love to hang the laundry on my clothesline. When the weatherman prognosticates clear skies, my first thoughts are not of the beach, but rather, "do I have enough laundry to justify running the washing machine?" I don't find it to be a chore, but a joyous, contemplative activity which borders on Zen-like bliss.
It is downright obscene that clotheslines are banned by more than 35,000 Homeowners' Associations in California. I could never live under such an oppressive regime. They can have my clothespins when they pry them from my cold, dead fingers!
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Cell phones causing Colony Collapse Disorder?
There's an article in The Independent which suggests that cell phones may be the cause of the abrupt disappearance of honeybees.
The theory is that radiation from mobile phones interferes with bees' navigation systems, preventing the famously homeloving species from finding their way back to their hives. Improbable as it may seem, there is now evidence to back this up.
This makes a lot of sense to me. While cell phones have been around for quite some time now, it seems that their annoying ubiquity has reached a crescendo in the past year or two. In the stores, the restaurants, and most alarmingly the streets, everybody and their sister is yakking away on their cellphones. Cellphones also appear to have rendered the population incapable of making simple independent decisions, as evidenced by the traffic jams in the toothpaste aisle. Hey baby, should I get the peppermint tartar-control whitening toothpaste, or the spearmint whitening plaque-busting gel??? What? Huh? Let me move out of this dead zone. (Runs into my cart, remains oblivious) Can you hear me now?
On second thought, maybe it's not the radio frequency waves per se that are causing CCD. Maybe the bees are just sick of hearing all of the inane chatter, and have congregated in areas which are far away from the cacophony. In that case, I'm kinda jealous.
The theory is that radiation from mobile phones interferes with bees' navigation systems, preventing the famously homeloving species from finding their way back to their hives. Improbable as it may seem, there is now evidence to back this up.
This makes a lot of sense to me. While cell phones have been around for quite some time now, it seems that their annoying ubiquity has reached a crescendo in the past year or two. In the stores, the restaurants, and most alarmingly the streets, everybody and their sister is yakking away on their cellphones. Cellphones also appear to have rendered the population incapable of making simple independent decisions, as evidenced by the traffic jams in the toothpaste aisle. Hey baby, should I get the peppermint tartar-control whitening toothpaste, or the spearmint whitening plaque-busting gel??? What? Huh? Let me move out of this dead zone. (Runs into my cart, remains oblivious) Can you hear me now?
On second thought, maybe it's not the radio frequency waves per se that are causing CCD. Maybe the bees are just sick of hearing all of the inane chatter, and have congregated in areas which are far away from the cacophony. In that case, I'm kinda jealous.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Are you kidding me, Mr. President?????
Apparently, the Commander in Chief was unaware that soldiers' tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan were to be extended.
I know it's hard, being a Wartime President and all, but this is the kind of thing that you might want to stay on top of, George.
Just a suggestion.
I know it's hard, being a Wartime President and all, but this is the kind of thing that you might want to stay on top of, George.
Just a suggestion.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Imagine what it's like on this side of the border
This afternoon, the lead story on the websites of Canada's two largest news outlets, CBC and CTV, has been about the mental health crisis at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa, where children "are on the brink of suicide."
This news is sad and disturbing, but at least it is being noted.
As a border straddler, I pay close attention to the news emanating from both sides of the 49th Parallel. I am struck by the sharp contrast between the respectful and thorough coverage that the Canadian media gives to its military's successes and losses in Afghanistan, and the relative lack of media coverage of the US military's gains and losses in Iraq and Afghanistan. Last week, eight members of the Canadian Armed Forces were killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan. Those two incidents were the leading news stories on all of the major Canadian news outlets last week. Those soldiers were acknowledged. Their names were stated. Their lives were honoured.
As of today, fifty-two American soldiers have died in Iraq since 1 April 2007. Have they been acknowledged? Honoured? Even mentioned in the national media? Nope. To be fair, who can concentrate on these details when Sanjaya is still on American Idol? Who cares about the fact that the US Army now faces 15 month tours in Iraq and Afghanistan when some mumbling old fool said some stupid shit about some basketball players? Why should anyone care about the mental health of soldiers' children when the more pressing issue of the identity of Anna Nicole's babydaddy has been announced?
Rosie O'Donnell said it best in her brilliant blog entry yesterday:
junk food
junk news
america - we r bloated
This news is sad and disturbing, but at least it is being noted.
As a border straddler, I pay close attention to the news emanating from both sides of the 49th Parallel. I am struck by the sharp contrast between the respectful and thorough coverage that the Canadian media gives to its military's successes and losses in Afghanistan, and the relative lack of media coverage of the US military's gains and losses in Iraq and Afghanistan. Last week, eight members of the Canadian Armed Forces were killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan. Those two incidents were the leading news stories on all of the major Canadian news outlets last week. Those soldiers were acknowledged. Their names were stated. Their lives were honoured.
As of today, fifty-two American soldiers have died in Iraq since 1 April 2007. Have they been acknowledged? Honoured? Even mentioned in the national media? Nope. To be fair, who can concentrate on these details when Sanjaya is still on American Idol? Who cares about the fact that the US Army now faces 15 month tours in Iraq and Afghanistan when some mumbling old fool said some stupid shit about some basketball players? Why should anyone care about the mental health of soldiers' children when the more pressing issue of the identity of Anna Nicole's babydaddy has been announced?
Rosie O'Donnell said it best in her brilliant blog entry yesterday:
junk food
junk news
america - we r bloated
Friday, April 06, 2007
Quilting Frenzy
After an extended hiatus, I've made a triumphant return to the world of manic quilting. Here's what I've been working on:
An homage to St. Therese de Lisieux, in gratitude for novenas heard and answered.
Spring Tonic.
Gandalf, my wabbit-hunting beast of the moors, inspects Spring Tonic. I've decided to display it on the wall, instead of on my bed, just to be on the safe side.
An homage to St. Therese de Lisieux, in gratitude for novenas heard and answered.
Spring Tonic.
Gandalf, my wabbit-hunting beast of the moors, inspects Spring Tonic. I've decided to display it on the wall, instead of on my bed, just to be on the safe side.
Monday, April 02, 2007
Who's crazy now?
I've been making my dog's food for over a year now. In the past, this has garnered a few raised eyebrows, and accusations that I have too much time on my hands. What. Ever.
It seems I'm not the only crazy dog lady out there. Christi Shaver offers a meatloaf recipe which is quite similar to the fare I serve to Lady Chocolate. It takes very little time to prepare, and I know exactly what's in there.
It seems I'm not the only crazy dog lady out there. Christi Shaver offers a meatloaf recipe which is quite similar to the fare I serve to Lady Chocolate. It takes very little time to prepare, and I know exactly what's in there.
No chance to catch their breath
JeffDem recently requested more political commentary from your humble correspondent. I don't even know where to start ...
The rumour mill had been humming for a few months, but it was only in the past few days that the word became official: my husband's brigade, 1BCT of 10th MTN, is going back to Iraq in June, only 10.5 months after they came back from that hot dusty hellhole.
My husband won't be going back, due to his poor health. Our battle will be fought back at home, against the powers that be in the military medical system.
I have not written much about the issues that he faces, out of respect for his privacy, and out of fear of reprisals from those with the power to determine our family's financial future with the stroke of a pen.
I will say that the stories of soldiers getting screwed over by the military scare me and infuriate me and render me practically mute.
I will say that I am grateful that we live beneath our means, that we own our house, and that I have a Bachelor's degree in Nursing Science and a NY State Nursing License, both of which will be put back into use starting next week.
And I will say that I am acutely aware that our situation could be eight gazillion times worse.
The rumour mill had been humming for a few months, but it was only in the past few days that the word became official: my husband's brigade, 1BCT of 10th MTN, is going back to Iraq in June, only 10.5 months after they came back from that hot dusty hellhole.
My husband won't be going back, due to his poor health. Our battle will be fought back at home, against the powers that be in the military medical system.
I have not written much about the issues that he faces, out of respect for his privacy, and out of fear of reprisals from those with the power to determine our family's financial future with the stroke of a pen.
I will say that the stories of soldiers getting screwed over by the military scare me and infuriate me and render me practically mute.
I will say that I am grateful that we live beneath our means, that we own our house, and that I have a Bachelor's degree in Nursing Science and a NY State Nursing License, both of which will be put back into use starting next week.
And I will say that I am acutely aware that our situation could be eight gazillion times worse.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
The return of the snow geese
Jefferson County, New York, 28 March 2007 at 0815. They're already heading northeast.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Quotable quotes
Preamble: I'm not much of a gamer, but my husband enjoys a few computer games. Currently, he is a beta-tester for the upcoming Lord of the Rings Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game, or MMORPG for those who speak the lingo. He has created a few characters, including a female hobbit named Rosieblossom who makes blueberry muffins, plays the lute, and looks exactly like me. There is no higher form of flattery!
My husband and son are also reading The Hobbit together, and I believe I will set aside my Jodi Picoult novels and join them in Middle Earth.
Onto today's quotable quotes, courtesy of my highly creative and literary husband:
1. "Release your inner Hobbit!"
2. "The Hobbit was the ultimate PTSD Self-Help Project."
My husband and son are also reading The Hobbit together, and I believe I will set aside my Jodi Picoult novels and join them in Middle Earth.
Onto today's quotable quotes, courtesy of my highly creative and literary husband:
1. "Release your inner Hobbit!"
2. "The Hobbit was the ultimate PTSD Self-Help Project."
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