Howard Dean is first! he brought us all together because he is a man who speaks his mind come hell or high water. he woke us up and since has changed the dem map across this country! and the people that he inspired are carrying on, still proud to be deaniacs!
Yes. I concur! Thank you Howard Dean. First in our democratic hearts and minds.
It is wonderful reading all you posts and seeing the joy. Good to see Thankful 2/4. I went to our LD party last night. 4 LD's went in together to put on a huge party at the local Nile Shrine Golf Course place.
So we were eating away and talking with our table mates and watching the count and sodiscourage because O was behind in the electoral count. Then I decided it was time to go to the bathroom, took off in search of the place and it seemed like it was almost a block away (in the same place, the place was just HUGGGGGHHHHHH!).
Then I heard the place explode and ran back as soon as I could. Everyone was screaming and jumping up and down and hollering and running around. Yes, they had just called it.
Everyone was surprised because the MSNBC crew seemed stunned by the news when they received it and called it. WOW OH WOW! What a night.
Then we listed to a few speeches but couldn't really hear them because everyone was so excited so they decided to have the door prize give a way and bring on the Singing Seahawk and his band. Sorta rock n roll but very enthusiastic.
I won one of the Seahawk footballs for my grandaughter in Colorado and I'm sure she's going to be ecstatic.
Well, happy day to all. I'll be checking back often.
I think most of the media was stunned that it was over so early, they all sure looked and sounded it! I was so happy, finally time to take a deep breath and let the strss roll off my shoulders!
As for the media, I thought PBS did a good job of chatting about mostly important things while waiting and waiting for Mitt Romney to appear and give his concession speech. We sometimes flipped over to ABC but they were getting a bit punch drunk and even a bit snarky waiting for the concession speech. I was disappointed in their ungracious gloating, and switched back to PBS.
But yes, oh yes, we have Howard Dean to thank, in so very many ways, from "You have the power" to the 50 state strategy to him putting Barack Obama on the very first Dean's List!
Yes, today was just unbelievable. For me, the murder of J.F.K, the defeat of Eugene McCarthy, the murder of Robert Kennedy, the defeat of Howard Dean, so much sorrow, so much loss.
And then, Barack Obama wins a second term. What joy! What amazement that finally the system is working for the good of all, for justice, for progress, for people.
My cup does run over. Women, thank you so much, for not forgetting the many years of discrimination and oppression.
I just heard on the Ed Show, a clip of Rush Limbaugh making an ugly remark that Obama treated women like vaginas. How on earth has this fool, this gross trash mouth been able to survive and flourish with 20 millions listeners a week??!!!
Well, I rant. But, I am hopeful, and I know that President Obama is going to get his legislative agenda passed. He has no illusions about the obstructionists, and he and his staff will find ways to outdo, ou-think, and out-accomplish those who would obstruct.
I enjoyed Burt's comments and his excitement. I would disagree only with one point when he asks where Obama was the first term. I think had Obama been a hardliner, he might not have been re0elected. He had to show stability,a moderation, a willingness to work with the opposition. Now, he doesn't to that extent. He can be more forceful because he has the needed four more years.
I'm sorry to hear of the new storm and the cold and snow. The issue of climate change looks like it will be brought up now with a seriousness of purpose.
I'm still elated, still pinching myself, did it really happen? Do we really have a President, a Democratic Senate, who are future oriented, and the slogans and attitudes of the '20s-The Gilded Age, the social issues from the '50s, and the militarism from the '60s and '70s is recognized as an anachronism? I so hope so.
Whew! Phone line stopped functioning vis a vis the intertubes around dark on the sixth. And didn't start again till around noon today. Been trying to do some catch up!
Spent election night on various radio stations up and down the dial. Was in Des Moines right after Iowa was called and they were interviewing a local worker, and I was thinking about Phil, and how much difference one person can make, and being grateful to know him, and the room exploded behind the interviewee!! After a few what what what's, the interviewer checked in with his network, and Ohio had been called!!
About the time Mitt was refusing to concede, Thankful called, and we celebrated for four hours!! With lots of praise for Howard -- not only as inspiration, but as real mover, shaker, and game changer in DC. That what Obama was handed in 08 to work with (and no doubting he has a world class team) was one whole helluva lot different than what Kerry got in 04. And that difference what what Howard had been doing with local organizing and Dem voter rolls. Real thanks are due to him.
Listened to talk radio yesterday, a lot. Each righty had his/her own reason. . . . None of them remotely real. And each predicting the end of the world. They have No, zero, nada idea of who Obama is, or who his supporters are. They will not/cannot come out of their self constructed prison. (Example: Ann Coulter -- Mitt was a *superb* candidate! What we forgot was the "incumbent effect" . . . .)
My two wishes for the next two years, starting right this moment, is that the President finds his story teller -- Bill's going to retire, lol! And that needs NOT to be left out, again. And secondly, we, all, need to get working on the house. At minimum to get rid of the remaining teabaggers!
Sometimes, payback takes a very long time. In 1972, I finished poll watching/flyering/begging, at 8, got back to my car, and the election had been called. I broke into tears right there at the wheel. Took a half hour before I was calm enough to drive home. Tuesday night was payment in full. Forty years later. . . . That was the one time I considered moving to Canada. Interestingly, shortly after that, my 8 year old told me (we'd *never* had a discussion about the war) that if, when he turned 18, and the war was still going, he would move to Canada. Things kids become aware of when you don't think they're paying attention. . . .
glad to have you back pudddle! thankfully (pun intended!!!) Laurie gave us an update so we knew you were okay or would have been worried sick.
yes, this particular win was worth a lot of the past losses and more than any other election has given me real hope that Americans are once again engaging in their knowledge of our gov't and doing their civic duty. hope, such a small word full of such big things.
sorry, I don't remember where I got this from (too much reading!) but it sure rings true:
It’s easy to understand why some Republicans and pollsters dismissed the idea that the Obama coalition from 2008 would be fired up and ready to go in 2012. Not possible. Not with the unemployment rate at 14.3 percent among blacks, 10 percent among Hispanics, and 11.8 percent among adults under 30. Yet, fired up or just trudging to the polls, those groups were among President Obama’s principal bulwarks against defeat in decisive states. In some cases they made up a greater share of the national electorate than they did in 2008. The outcome confounded some conservatives and surprised even some pollsters.
Do you want to know how I KNOW that change has come to America? It's that not only did the adult children of my Republican best friend vote for Obama, but my best friend voted for Obama, and (wait for it) my best friend's husband also voted for Obama! And he is an elder in the evangelical Alliance Church in the Bible Belt...!
The Kids Are Alright Democrats felt good about their big margins with Latinos and African Americans heading into the election (and even better heading out of it as their voting coalition steamrolled Republicans in states around the country). But the young voters who showed up for Obama in 2008 were another story. Polls showed them significantly less enthused, and the Romney campaign thought the rough economy would be enough for them to bring some over to their side. It wasn’t a coincidence that the most memorable line of Paul Ryan’s convention speech was about “fading Obama posters” on their walls.
But in a happy surprise for Democrats, they showed up in droves for Obama again in 2012. Voters under 30 made up 19% of the electorate per exit polling, an increase of their share from 2008. And Obama still blew out Romney on the margins, winning their vote 60-36. As the Republican Party gets older, the prospect of a rapidly growing generation of reliable Democrats that actually shows up on Election Day is about the worst news possible.
Yes, Wednesday, Thursday, and today, I'm still riding with the clouds. Such joy, such hope, such sanity. As you indicated, Puddle, we've had lots of heartaches in elections, losses, unfairnesses (Gore), dirty tricks, injustices, and grief. It's taken over 40 years, and I am so relieved.
Wonder what those Mayan, Hopi, and Navajo prophecies mean to this election. Europe and China are happy and relieved.
That Romney was so confident he didn't even prepare a concession speech says lots to me about his arrogance. And according to the New York Times article, Romney staffers getting cabs to return home found that their campaign credit cards had been deactivated. Tells me a lot about the main values of the Romney campaign: money, money, money, power, exclusivity, righteousness.
And thanks to Jimmy Carter's grandson or grand nephew for that video tape of Romney and his 47% speech. Well done, poetic justice.
Odd. I don't think I've ever watched a bigger display of self created delusion than this past year/six months. I *know* it goes on all the time, but we don't get to see it that much. . . . Started for me when my SIL posited I was a Commie organizer because I had that Wisconsin raised fist as my profile pic. And went down hill from there. That they *vigorously* denied every reality; starting with who the president is, following on with who Mitt is; linking to polls, which must be lying. . . . And what's going to happen in the next four years. If I observed my two year old that far off of reality, I'd set him down, and we'd have a very long discussion about the way the world is. Fifty year old citizens? I'm at a loss to figure out how they even get through their lives without major disasters weekly.
Mitt so arrogant that he didn't even consider writing a concession speech--which was finally given with his usual arrogance.
We dodged that big bullet, folks!!!!! Stress gone--but bet we need to watch our backs.
Love you all.Haven't been on much--son and wife were here this week from MI.
They were taking in GSO sights and doing some Mom Jobs usually done by Brenda--or another helper. That included taking me to vote! I have just now realized the reason an outside poll worker frowned when I thanked her for volunteering. Guessing she wasn't happy with the Obama/ Biden stickers plastered on my car.
Surprising to me because in Palacios that would not be done. Perhaps it was just the tone of this whole election from the R.s and their R&R leaders?
Yes, Shirlee. the entire tone. a co-worker just screamed at me and one of her tenants because the two of us were having a conversation about dems??? Holy cow! they are just unreasonable. folks here in the office were not to pleased when I showed up with my VICTORY/FORWARD sign and my foot ball that I won at the election night party.
Bad sports. they seem determined to take the country back to the early 50's and all because of believing Faux Gnus and the rabid money behind them.
so sad... I almost feel like we all need to watch our backs. I can't forget the TeaPartier that punched my truck for my obama sticker. Have no idea what possessed him to think that that was ok. He would have sued me had I done something like that to his vehicle.
Just pulled up election night photos of the First Family again. What a wonderful, truly loving family they are. Not afraid of plenty of hugs even in public. Maybe memory fails--but I don't remember this with other first families. Maybe tie times, or just this family. I love it.
Tell me what you all think of this: On Monday a Romney/Ryan team was trolling through an African/ American neighborhood knocking on doors and asking to come in and pray with the residents. My friend lives there--she is in her late 50's. She declined and sent her college senior and naval reserve grand daughter out to take care of them. Which this strong young woman did. Is this the lowest of low tactics--or just par considering....?
Shirlee, about par for evangelicals, lol! And likely more so for Teavangelicals. . . . When I still lived at home, at 11 one Sunday morning, a door knock (we wouldn't normally have been there: Sunday School started at 11, but Mom was running late, and I was waiting for her) and two Jehovah's Witnesses were there asking if my mum was home. I left them on the porch to go check with my mother, because she *did* often talk with them (she had a sister who was JW). When we got back, they had come in, were sitting on the couch and unloading lit onto our coffee table. Mom explained we were late for church and this wasn't going to be a day she chatted with them. They continued to ask their KEY questions. Mom said, sorry, we're already late, picked up her purse and we left. When we reached the corner and looked back, they were leaving. Shaking their heads. They kindly closed the door behind themselves. . . .
Had a really good convo with my telephone tech yesterday (who insisted my line is *perfection*. . . . ) about what a pleasure it is/was to *pay taxes* ~~ his coming after a time a ways back living in his car. . . . I gather they're NOT allowed to say who they voted for because he wouldn't tell even when teased. He did say "But, for sure, it was UNION, all the way." He had some gorgeous tatts. Wish I could introduce him to Kimmy. . . .
I love it when I wake up in the morning and Barack Obama is President. shared Breast is Best's photo. Here is the story behind this pic... "Last Friday (11/2/12) President Obama was speaking at our local high school. I took my 10wk old son with me. I did pack some formula in the bag as I knew the place would be packed and was unsure about breastfeeding in front of thousands. My son is an eater and seeing as we were there about 4hrs he had no problem devouring the 8oz I packed. So there I was front row with a hungry baby. I knew I didn't want him to start crying, as the President had just begun to speak, so I covered him up with his blanket and let him go to town. I noticed the President glance at me while speaking and give a little smile. I thought surely I imagined it. Then, when he was done speaking he came down to do the usual crowd greeting, shaking hands and whatnot. As soon as he got close enough, he pointed to me and gestured his hands in the "hand me the baby" manner. So I handed my son over! He danced with him a second and kissed him on his forehead. As he was handing him back he smiled, nodded at me, and said good job. Everyone has been asking why he told me good job and I just giggle. Here I was worried about breastfeeding in front of all those people and the only person who noticed was The President of the United States, and he supports it! Best feeling EVER!" ♥ (tiffany)
just an fyi, I'm deleting anything that sea posts here from now on. I warned her, tried to be nice about it and have been ignored. whether it is a good post, a bad post or something in between it is going in the trash can. if you ladies want to converse with her you can send her an email at merahistarATgmail.com
thanks puddle. this has been a wonderful week in some ways and an absolutely sucky week in others. my Mom was moved from the hospital back to her room in the nursing home on Wednsday. things went to hell right away and they increased her meds and added some new ones. when I visited her today she had no idea who I was and that is a first and it hurts and it scares the hell out of me. I think it's the new drugs she is taking, one of which is morphine, but it still hurts. I don't know if she will ever know me again.
Jo, there's something called senile hysteria that often happens IN hospitals or shortly after. It's often mistaken for dementia. I'd look it up for you but google is refusing all attempts to do so.
I've had several friends already deal with it, and all resolved (once it was pointed out to the doctors. . . . ) Good luck, sweetie.
she has had dementia for a couple of years now - this is new and unlike anything on any of her other moves from home to hospital to assisted care, etc. in the last 2 yrs she has gone from home to hospital to home to assisted living to hospital back to assisted living to new mental health care assisted living to nursing home to hospital to nursing home again. poor girl :(
Jo, be sure to tell the head nurse where your Mom is, what you have observed and how it's not normal for her. Speak to her doctors too, and see if they can adjust her meds. Neither of you needs her to not know her daughter when she still could. Your observations matter and you are truly part of her medical team as well as her family. =HUG= ♥
One more thought, Jo. If your Mom is at FAHC, feel free to contact the Chaplaincy office and tell one of the *staff* chaplains what you have observed. They actually have the power to write in the patient's chart, so a note could be left there too, if that might help your concern be more noticed. They can visit your Mom with you and periodically so that you have one more person speaking up as needed.
thank you for the info listener, puddle - and thank you for your loving support and prayers! Mom left FAHC on Wednesday and is back in the nursing home. I spoke with the nurses there and all has been communicated to her doc and to my family members. they had just started the morphine for her increased pain so I am hoping that is it and she will know me again soon, but each time she moves or gets a UTI or other health issue her dementia gets worse and often her personality changes in a big way as well. It's heartbreaking. I've been advocating for my Mom for a long time now.
Jo, you are in our thoughts and prayers. It is such a crucial time, and there's no pattern or experience to guide us. We do our best.
Recently, a dear friend died. We were with her the day before, talking. She told me to pick out a pair of her earrings and a necklace. I did, and I wear it frequently and feel she is with me the whole day.
I've been reading about Reiki, a theory and method of healing that came from Tibet and then was further developed by a Japanese Zen master. What appeals is the idea that we are all energy, which is never lost in the cosmos. If we are energy, then our thoughts, our love, our care and presence is a healing, a comfort, and being with.
I don't know anything more than that, but it helps much more than thinking of the painful and slow decline of those we love. If we can be present as energy for them and ourselves, then maybe the cosmos is part of that.
I don't know, just speculating and hoping.
Here's a brief poem:
Election
Our hearts have opened. Though there is still anger, hatred, we are dancing, singing, humming ourselves into the future.
When Romney gave his concession speech, he said that the people had chose the other person to lead them. The word other stood out, and I felt that it was a revelation.
Yes, Romney and the Republicans saw most of us as "the other" and that's horrible, a mindset of exclusivity and entitlement, of disregard and willingness to discriminate.
The word other flashes in my mind like a red emergency light.
Garry Wills, in the NY Review of Books, on “What Romney Lost“:
... Many losing candidates became elder statesmen of their parties. What lessons will Romney have to teach his party? The art of crawling uselessly? How to contemn 47 percent of Americans less privileged and beautiful than his family? How to repudiate the past while damaging the future? It is said that he will write a book. Really? Does he want to relive a five-year-long experience of degradation? What can be worse than to sell your soul and find it not valuable enough to get anything for it? His friends can only hope he is too morally obtuse to realize that crushing truth. Losing elections is one thing. But the greater loss, the real loss, is the loss of honor.
Thanks for the link! Mom has had a geriatric specialist as her primary care physician for almost 5 years now and even she admits that it is difficult to sort out the problems that she is having. She has a wide variety of different meds and some pain meds, sleep meds, anti-depressants and others do not work on her as they do on most other patients. She was just in the elderly mental care unit at the local hospital for a month and she leveled off while there - which was surprising because typically being in the hospital makes things much worse for her. The MINUTE she got back to the nursing home the same behaviour started back up - screaming unless there was someone right there with her, biting, pinching, throwing things, trying to bite people - all actions that had never been an issue until just recently with my very shy, introverted Mother. Prior to this she had been very sad, depressed, weeped a lot, it didn't matter if we were visiting or took her out somewhere. So now they have upped some of the meds to calm her down and it appears it may take a bit of working on it to get the dosages rght, if they ever do. But her doc is called with her vitals every cople of hours and she has a good working relationship with the nursing home so I have to hope they can get her to a better outcome soon.
omg ladies, please send me some more prayers, my Dad wasn't sounding good when I called to thank him for his service this morning and my M-I-L just called to say that he's had a stroke and is headed to the hospital.
a week of ups and downs is an understatement right now. xoxoxo
O, good! I'm glad there's one less thang to worry on.
Looks like I'll be losing my line again tonight, and maybe not do as well tomorrow, and it's cooling again. . . It's already starting to disconnect more often.
So good to see everyone still here. thanks for Pat and Puddle's observations.
Jo, I am so sorry to hear about your mother--only two thoughts. Sudden changes in anything seem to be hard on the elderly.
Has your Mom been thoroughly evaluated for all forms of dementia?
My best, best wishes to you--my mother had severe Alzheimer's for years in a very healthy body. Heartbreaking.
Trolling through news about the election last night I came upon a group of angry, disgruntled Texans threatening to secede from the union. After enough of that I decided to call my younger sister in Texas--just to make sure there was one sane person left there! She assured me there was--only wanna be R in her family was a daughter in law.
Ah, puddle, if I had a working magic wand, I'd wave it over your phone line!!! ♥♥♥
Pat wrote: I've been reading about Reiki, a theory and method of healing that came from Tibet and then was further developed by a Japanese Zen master. What appeals is the idea that we are all energy, which is never lost in the cosmos. If we are energy, then our thoughts, our love, our care and presence is a healing, a comfort, and being with.
Yes, yes! I commend to you the new book by Dr. Eben Alexander, the neurosurgeon who had a near-death experience that made him rethink his understanding of what happens after the cortex of the brain stops functioning. He spent a week in a coma with a severe case of meningitis, during which tests show his brain's cortex (where consciousness is experienced) was offline. However, during that week he had the deepest experience of consciousness of his whole life. The book is "Proof of Heaven" and he's not a fundamentalist. His family is Episcopalian and he just went through the motions before having the near-death experience. He was later able to describe some of his very profound and complex near-death experience and not surprisingly it is all about energy and Love. Fascinating read!
Pat--I am seconding Listener's suggestion. Read as much as you want/can--but then find a good Reiki practioner and go for it. Let's look at it this way--it can do no harm. It did me a WORLD of good--and is still working although I no longer have treatments.
so my dear ladies I may not be around for a while. more tests and an honest assessment by the doctors leads them to believe that my father's body is shutting down, he may not have more than a day or two, he could pass before that. it is progressing fast and he has insisted that he have no intervention and is staying at home in the care facility he lives in.
I am numb, I want to think that they are wrong, but everything about Dad in the last week tells me that it is so. he has let go and is ready. xoxoxo
Our hearts are with you. It is a gift to be with someone we love as they let go. My friend's passing is with me daily. She gave me strength and comfort.
Your presence will be that for your dad, I'm sure.
Take all the time you need. We'll be here for you when you get back and holding you in the Light as you companion your Dad. If it's true that he cannot continue then you can help him most by letting him know it's okay to go. Bring into the space your presence and anything that might be especially supportive for him.
When my friend Jerry May died, he was surrounded by loved ones who were chanting his favourite chants to wend him on his way. Sometimes, though, all that's needed is to hold a hand.
by BooMan Mon Nov 12th, 2012 at 01:37:08 PM EST The funniest thing about Mark Thiessen's piece is that he is mystified that a "community organizer" could out-organize a Bain Capital outsourcer. But what could be more predictable?
How on earth did Barack Obama, the community organizer, harness the power of data in the 2012 election like a Bain Capital numbers-cruncher, while Mitt Romney’s data-mining effort crashed and burned like, well, Solyndra?
Mitt Romney was not the cool candidate. He ran on competence. But having the data system your campaign is relying on to turn out the vote crash on Election Day is incompetent. Not testing that system before Election Day is inexcusable. And letting a community organizer run a more precise, data-driven, metrics-based campaign than a Bain Capital executive is incomprehensible.
There is nothing incomprehensible about it. President Obama hired people who believe in science. President Obama's team used trial and error to hone the best possible practices. President Obama is a trained organizer which means he is very good at organizing people.
Mitt Romney is an expert at hiring people to cut corners and find loopholes in the law and hide large amounts of money and to loot pension funds. He is trained to deceive and defraud people, and to cheat and steal. He designs and exploits systems that are rigged so that he cannot lose. He doesn't organize people. He fleeces them. He's a con man. Just ask his billionaire supporters.
How wonderful it is to have the election over and our good PBO for another term! I always "knew' he would win--but then there was the great chance of vote rigging to worry about.
A move out there to put Elizabeth Warren on the banking committee. Yippee!!!
Did everyone watch the total solar eclipse online today? I wanted to pop by here with the link but I can never figure out how to get HERE on my iPhone.
I got to see it while working at the Library. It was amazing to see the Sun's corona in real time!
oh listener, that is so coincidental - Dad met with VNA today and he was accepted into their hospice care program - they will care for him at his apt at SHelburne Lodge.
Jo--I just noticed your post last night. That must be a great relief to you. I think everyone does better if staying home is possible. Best wishes to you.
We watched the Obama press conference. He is so intelligent, so thoughtful, I can't think of any president in my lifetime except JFK and Clinton who come close. Clinton is the better speaker, the more concise orator, but Obama is the more thoughtful, the more ruminative and idealistic.
Anyway, I'm still in an aerie of elation and hope that he has been re-elected, that most states are now, according to some analysts, tending towards purple.
My brother-in-law Larry died tonight, age 63 years and two months. :-( Sunday, Veterans Day, was his 2 year anniversary of diagnosis. And, yes, he was a veteran.
Got this page loaded only one time yesterday, and it was gone before I could post.
listener, I'm sad for you and your squeeze, next to parents, siblings are the hardest to lose. They are so much a part of our young growth. I'm glad he got his wish to be home.
Jo, am with you, too, as you and those you love work your way through this troubling time. Remember to ask the Universe for help. It does.
Pat, agree: he sounds like he's made it over some bumps and has come out stronger, and surer. Proud to have voted for him! Pleases me no end to wake in the morning and realize that he's still my President!!
Jo and Listener, thoughts and prayers your way. We can't see and touch each other, but we are here. So too are those we love.
We are more than just material: stuff from the burning up of stars, light, particles and waves, heat, energy, thought, love, spirit. Our culture thinks we're just material. I don't think so.
Love and hugs to all. We are in the midst of an incredibley hopeful time and our daily lives go one. So sorry for your loss, Listner. And Jo, I'm glad your dad got to go home to a familiar place.
Nice encounter at a doc's office--opposite in a narrow aisle of seats in the waiting room was a young man who looked incredibly like our good PBO. After some quiet intervention by the helper who drove me--we ended up exchanging BIG grins!
Amazing likeness--wonderful experience--made it worthwhile being in a doc's office!
Cirque du Benghazi Nov 16, 2012 maha --> Obama Administration
First, anything having to do with David Petraeus gives me a headache. Just sayin’.
Petraeus testified about Benghazi to a congressional panel today. All of the news stories about his testimony are quoting Peter King as their main source, which means it’s highly likely all the news stories are wrong.
Regarding the Benghazi Buffoons — Apparently Club for Growth plans to “primary” Lindsey Graham next year, which accounts for why he and his bud John McCain are displaying their manliness by beating up Susan Rice. It’s to save Graham’s ass. See also “The Benghazi Circus.”
Puddle--this is most wonderful. Not just about the Obama Nerds, the link to Orca and the Romney gang makes one realize how incompetent the whole campaign was. This guy wanted to be Prez of the USA!
Testifying out of sight, ex-CIA Director David Petraeus told Congress Friday that classified intelligence showed the deadly raid on the U.S. Consulate in Libya was a terrorist attack but the administration withheld the suspected role of al-Qaida affiliates to avoid tipping them off.
The recently resigned spy chief explained that references to terrorist groups suspected of carrying out the violence were removed from the public explanation of what caused the attack so as not to alert them that U.S. intelligence was on their trail, according to lawmakers who attended Petraeus’ private briefings.
He also said it initially was unclear whether the militants had infiltrated a demonstration to cover their attack….
;;;After the hearings, lawmakers who questioned Petraeus said he testified that the CIA’s draft talking points in response to the assault on the diplomatic post in Benghazi that killed four Americans referred to it as a terrorist attack. Petraeus said that reference was removed from the final version, although he wasn’t sure which federal agency deleted it.
Adding to the explanation, a senior U.S. official familiar with the drafting of the points said later that a reason the references to al-Qaida were deleted was that the information came from classified sources and the links were, and still are, tenuous. The administration also did not want to prejudice a criminal investigation in its early stages, that official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to discuss the process publicly.
Just read ALl the comments on Red State--a very few recognize the real problems of R&R--too out of touch with real people, demographics, social issues. The rest are talking about the IT problems and how Hurricane Sandy was caused by Obama!
Thank you so much for your prayers and kind words. Yes, I do believe that there is life after this plane of existence ceases. Once again I commend to you the book Proof of Heaven by Eben Alexander. It'll blow your mind.
The hardest thing about Larry's death is that there will be no calling hours and no Celebration of Life until sometime next month at the earliest. So we have some free-floating grief that has no place to land just now. We plan to take some time tomorrow to remember Larry now and mark the moment. One idea is to take a long walk and talk about Larry. We may do it, but there will be a high of 45, so it would be a cold walk.
Any other idears about how to mark this moment as we await the service for Larry?
Just being together and sharing stories and memories will help a lot--setting doesn't matter as long as everyone is physically comfortable. We did something like this for my mother. Just went around the room and shared our favorite memories. Very healing. Love to you and yours, Listener.
listener, why not a roaring fire, favorite blankets spiced cider, and chatting. Bill surely has childhood memories. If you liked cold better than you do, a walk would be fine. Picture albums? Just setting apart the time makes it special. Love you!!
Listener how about digging out the family photos and going thru them to make a book of your hubby's fav pics of him? my love and blessings to you listener. xoxoxo
Leonard Pitts thinks about what Republicans think about America.
You are a moocher, a zombie, soulless, mouth-breathing, ignorant, greedy, self-indulgent, envious, shallow and lazy.
The foregoing is a summation of “analysis” from conservative pundits and media figures — Cal Thomas, Ted Nugent, Bill O’Reilly and etcetera — seeking to explain Mitt Romney’s emphatic defeat.... Sometimes, they act — the Hannitys, the O’Reillys, the Trumps, the Limbaughs, the whole conservative political infotainment complex — as if this were all a game, as if their nonstop litany of half truths, untruths and fear mongering, their echo chamber of studied outrage, practiced panic, intellectual incoherence and unadulterated equine feculence, had no human consequences. Sometimes, they behave as if it were morally permissible — indeed, morally required — to say whatever asinine, indefensible, coarse or outrageous thing comes to mind in the name of defeating or diminishing the dreaded left.
I long ago thought Republican pundits would eventually hit bottom on their fear mongering, but like that kid in the Matrix pondering a spoon, I eventually learned the truth. There is no bottom. No shame, either.
Listener, my sympathy goes out to you. I remember when my mother died, an old friend whom I had not seen in years came to Nederland and took me out to lunch. She said that since her mother died, she was closer than ever, talked to her in her mind and heart every day.
It was exactly what I needed to hear. I do that now too. I sit in my blue recliner, look out at the mountain and ask my mother how she is, tell her how much I miss her, say thank you for all the things and love most of all she gave me.
I have no knowledge of the universe, infinity, or why and how we're here, but my heart longs to be with those I've loved, and so I talk to them.
for me, informality and speaking from the heart brings the most consolation and peace.
Jo, I realize this thread is getting long, and would try and help out by posting a new thread, but google absolutely will not let me get to the dashboard/editing page. Been trying all day. Been trying at baby for a couple of weeks.
Been a nice, sweet, baby blue day here. Over fifty -- I kin live wit dat, lol!
Earlier, the Goobey was having a grand time barkin' at the deer. Hope he enjoyed himself: hunting season starts tomorrow (lots of families here had T-Day today, so the hunters could be out Thursday). First day (first three days, actually) is always a time I'm very glad I no longer have horses. . . . First three days are the venue of the city boyz on benders. . . .
We had a nice time here at 216 S. Elm this afternoon. Brenda and I had invited a younger friend, co-worker, helper for dinner. Her grandmother in CA died a couple of weeks ago. Her Mom and Dad are there--and she has no sibs or cousins. She does have a group of theater related friends. I am always amazed at how close these people are--working in all aspects of production, etc--very supportive of each other.
We are feeling a bit ruffled. There has been no obituary for my brother-in-law. We were told there will be a Celebration of Life service probably in December. But tonight we got the message his dear wife sent out to everyone and it said he didn't want any services, so come by and see us sometime. It sure leaves one feeling very strange. We definitely will plan that things be done differently when our time comes, as this way just leaves one with an open wound and no balm.
Ah, listener! I've always known that funerals/memorials are for the survivors. . . . As a matter of necessity, Scotty asked me last year what I'd like. I said: for everyone who cares to gather together over a bowl of grog, and share memories, and laugh, and maybe sing. Given the way I've lead my life, that prolly means a conference call, lol!
Me too, Puddle. I gave her book to a friend of mine who was 80 this year. I've forgotten the title, maybe Incredibly Eighty? But, she's wonderful: funny, wise, readable, real.
Good Morning. Listener, just to say, I'm thinking of you.
For Listener--If the 'proper' person doesn't plans something, etc.for your loss-could the rest of you get together an do some sharing of whatever you like?
It is so important to do something--otherwise it is hard to move on to the other stages of grief. Love you.
The Bain That Ate Clear Channel Nov 19, 2012 maha --> Obama Administration
This is rich. Clear Channel Communications, associated with such programming wonders as Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh, was taken over by Bain Capital in 2008 had apparently has been disintegrating ever since. Clear Channel is having to lay off staff wholesale to stay afloat. However, last year they were careful to lay people off in small numbers at a time so as not to make Bain Capital look bad.
Let’s hope Mitt at least sends them a cheap Christmas card.
I wonder if his wife isn't just feeling too overwhelmed to think about planning anything? I wanted to do something for Edwin's friends, but I sure couldn't have brought it off without their help. Maybe a siblings get together, and invite her?
End of life and all memorials, etc are interesting and important. My Cinci daughter's father-in-law is near death. His large family was surprised to hear him say he had written his own obituary and where to find it. Sounds like a good idea to me--saves a grieving family from additional stress. There always seem to be differences of opinion as to what should be included.
They don't seem to be doing anything. Of course, a number of them were present when he died, so they already "did something." To suggest anything would likely be seen as an insult to his wishes. Bill is 7th of the 10 siblings and they wouldn't much listen to the kid brother. Never have. He doesn't particularly want to go see folks. There's a lot of pain in this time. But we'll get through it.
The one thing we can do is to ensure that when our turn comes something appropriate will be done. Our kids understand that, too.
They had two years to anticipate this time, and 7 months since knowing things would not end well. People who are confronted with a sudden death do more. And her work is with people who have terminal illness...! They really don't want it.
I would have been more "identifying" of which post I was referring to, but on my iPhone there is a "REPLY" button after each post, so it felt like I was replying right below the post I was replying to. Ha!
I just wanted to add that the one thing we did do was send a package to his widow which will arrive tomorrow. It is especially for the grandchildren, but also for children and for her as well. Did I already tell you about this? It contains six kinds of Spring bulbs, a trowel, organic bulb food and instructions, as a Memorial Garden Starter Kit. We also included four books that may be of help: Waterbugs and Dragonflies (explaining death to young children) and Sad Isn't Bad (written to children about the emotions and concerns of children when a loved one dies), plus A Time To Grieve (best book ever on coping after the death of a loved one), and Proof of Heaven, what happens to our consciousness when the brain is shut down. AMAZING! Check this out! http://abcnews.go.com/Health/neuroscientist-sees-proof-heaven-week-long-coma/story?id=17555207#.UKscV4W8W1s
Since the ground can yet be worked to plant bulbs, we thought the Kit would give the children something to do now and see each year in memory of Grampy. This gave us something to “do” and eased our sense of helplessness a little. Prayer will sustain me, though it helps to be reminded we don’t do all the praying ourselves.
Speaking of which, my Roman Catholic cousin (my side of the family, unrelated to Bill's side, mind you) wanted to reach out so he sent a donation to some monks and they sent a really nice folder telling that they are keeping us in prayer. The formality of the folder and the sentiment somehow was a comfort. I was a little surprised by that. I guess it's just something tangible when you need a memento, a way of marking the moment.
Sunny day here. It's interesting how much a gray, overcast day can affect a mood here in Colorado. After several days of dark clouds, people get edgy.
Funerals are really dangerous times with respect to emotions. They seem to bring out the worst in people.
I remember my favorite aunt telling me to leave her house when I told her that my mother had said she didn't want a mass for her funeral. I was determined to follow her wishes. And when my aunt accused me of not telling the truth, I burst out that I'd dance down the street in a New Orleans funeral if my mother had wanted it.
Then my oldest cousin went to the priest and insisted on a mass. I was furious. But, what did I do? I recapitulated and we had a mass. My thinking was that my mother wouldn't want so much anger and conflict, and it was for all the relatives and friends that we were doing this.
My mother had been a Catholic all her life, and I think that people simply couldn't believe that she didn't want a mass. As a matter of fact, she didn't even want a priest to visit her in the hospital. What happened, I think, is my defection from the church gave her pause as to the dogmatic nature of the church and she had her own doubts. Relatives wouldn't have believed that. They saw me as manipulative, "the irreligious bulletin" as my favorite uncle called me.
Though, I later wrote my cousin and told him what I thought of his interference. I never heard back from him.
but funerals bring out raw emotions and people say and do things they wish they hadn't.
I don't know if this helps any, but I've come to regard times of illness and death as dangerous to everyone, and seek calmness most of all.
Ah, Pat. Thank you for your meaningful story. It sure has been a tense week. There is an excellent book that details what happens in family systems during family crises like this: Basically, crises bring up old, unresolved conflict. Wise clergy and councilors make use of such moments to bring a word of healing to the situation, both for now and for the past. Of course, you also need to have benefit of wise clergy or councilor, and it would require some sort of gathering... I love your Word at the end of what you wrote: "seek calmness most of all." Yes, oh yes. And ask for help from wise ones as needed.
Really crappy phone lines this morning. Not being helped by the Gates crew trying to download stuff to fix their stuff.
Gray, but not cold no windy. I see a trip to the country store in my future. Out of meds, and Lisa at the Pill Box mailed them Saturday. So.
The Goobey has become a counter thief, lol! Yesterday a waffle. Before, a stick of butter, and a pound of sausage, thawing. More my fault, a pound of cheese that I hadn't taken out of the paper bag yet. If I wasn't watching that nice layer of fat over his ribs, I'd be worried that I wasn't feeding him well enough. . . .
When I was little, I never questioned that we showed up in newspapers so often. I was well into my thirties before I realized that my mother's non-career in journalism was manifesting itself: SHE called the newspaper, lol! And obviously, she was right: me and my brother accidentally burying my young brother in the sandbox was news; Daddy getting his degree my freshman year *WAS* news, worthy of a big picture. Mother of nine and widow graduating from college was news.
I'm pretty sure she was please with her obituary. But as we were sitting together in the room at the funeral home, one of the brothers kept counting words: $900. $700. $500. I finally said, looks guys, if you're wanting a cheap obit, you picked the wrong mother. So $500 it was. And I recalled my Aunt Verness's -- She liked to take walks. I could have added: She kept an immaculate house.
If you've never written one for yourself, try it: real learning experience. My last one goes roughly: She really tried never to hurt anyone on purpose. She had a terrific time, and hopes to see you all soon (But not too soon).
listener, I'm glad! If his wife is doing it, I'm delighted she's feeling up to it. If others are, am glad anyways that there's an opportunity for closure on what's been a long and painful trip for all concerned.
Am thinking of Jo, too, and what's on her plate just now. Makes my battles with computers and phone lines seem puny. . . .
So happy for you, Listener--and your hubby. We waited from February to late May to do something similar for my Vic. Cold MI winter, his daughter and I wanted to plan it just right, and by that time some of Vic's 70-75 tear old sib's disagreements with him and each other had settled down. Peace to you.
I'm glad for you, Listener. It's such a painful time, and if there can be solace and a sense of family and appreciation, that helps.
Thoughts for Jo and her dad.
There's lots to be said for "time healing all wounds" distance, perspective, understanding make whatever hurts or slights seem minimal, just humanity again.
Friend of min in NC, former Walmart worker's Thanks goes like this: I'm thankful for the good food, family and for four more years of Barack Obama. I agree.
Triggered by a radio question (on Talk Of The Nation or On Point?) which was "Who won't be at your Thanksgiving table this year?" ghosts began appearing in my head since no one is actually gone til they disappear from all memory and these are shared; perhaps more at that table than this, maybe not, now as I travel a path ever closer to theirs. The tipping point when you have known more than you now know. With thanks for all present the love to share. Friends and family savored, just as the food and thanks to all who brought us to this point ghosts of Thanksgiving past invited too.
We had a really nice Thanksgiving. One of our sons came as expected and is staying into tomorrow. Our youngest and his bride came too! They changed their plans to be here because of the death of Uncle Larry last week. They wanted to cheer us up. Pretty sweet. Her parents even kindly moved their big meal until tomorrow to make it easier for them! I am grateful for sweetnesses.
Happy Day After T-Day--I am glad your sons could be with you, Listener. Seems to be pretty warm here--judging by the light jackets, etc--expecting some big, old cold front this week-end!
Yes, I made it through all the cooking, eating and cleaning. Wonderful evening with family and friends. Thought Burt was going to have to roll me downstairs 'cause I was too full to walk.
So glad to see all the Black Friday Walmart protests. Our very own WA state Backbone Campaign is very active in this with lots of LARGE displays around the country. They are an amazing group and I support them on a monthly basis as I do DFA and National Nurse.
143 comments:
Howard Dean is first! he brought us all together because he is a man who speaks his mind come hell or high water. he woke us up and since has changed the dem map across this country! and the people that he inspired are carrying on, still proud to be deaniacs!
Thank you Howard!
Yes. I concur! Thank you Howard Dean. First in our democratic hearts and minds.
It is wonderful reading all you posts and seeing the joy. Good to see Thankful 2/4. I went to our LD party last night. 4 LD's went in together to put on a huge party at the local Nile Shrine Golf Course place.
So we were eating away and talking with our table mates and watching the count and sodiscourage because O was behind in the electoral count. Then I decided it was time to go to the bathroom, took off in search of the place and it seemed like it was almost a block away (in the same place, the place was just HUGGGGGHHHHHH!).
Then I heard the place explode and ran back as soon as I could. Everyone was screaming and jumping up and down and hollering and running around. Yes, they had just called it.
Everyone was surprised because the MSNBC crew seemed stunned by the news when they received it and called it. WOW OH WOW! What a night.
Then we listed to a few speeches but couldn't really hear them because everyone was so excited so they decided to have the door prize give a way and bring on the Singing Seahawk and his band. Sorta rock n roll but very enthusiastic.
I won one of the Seahawk footballs for my grandaughter in Colorado and I'm sure she's going to be ecstatic.
Well, happy day to all. I'll be checking back often.
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Good Morning,
Yes, Yes, Yes. I am thrilled, grateful, energized, and no longer a "wreck"!
Jo, it's so appropriate to honor Howard Dean. I think that Democrats can credit him with a re-energized and renewed Democratic Party.
I'm so grateful, so reassured, so hopeful. Now, let's support our President, someone I believe will go down in history as one of our greatest.
I think most of the media was stunned that it was over so early, they all sure looked and sounded it! I was so happy, finally time to take a deep breath and let the strss roll off my shoulders!
I know we were certainly stunned that it was over so quickly! I didn't expect it to be over for several days if not weeks.
Glad you're all feeling better! I know we are.
Very happy for the outcome!
As for the media, I thought PBS did a good job of chatting about mostly important things while waiting and waiting for Mitt Romney to appear and give his concession speech. We sometimes flipped over to ABC but they were getting a bit punch drunk and even a bit snarky waiting for the concession speech. I was disappointed in their ungracious gloating, and switched back to PBS.
But yes, oh yes, we have Howard Dean to thank, in so very many ways, from "You have the power" to the 50 state strategy to him putting Barack Obama on the very first Dean's List!
MSNBC had great coverage.
Sorry ladies,forgot to post this earlier.
Victory is Sweet
Yes, today was just unbelievable. For me, the murder of J.F.K, the defeat of Eugene McCarthy, the murder of Robert Kennedy, the defeat of Howard Dean, so much sorrow, so much loss.
And then, Barack Obama wins a second term. What joy! What amazement that finally the system is working for the good of all, for justice, for progress, for people.
My cup does run over. Women, thank you so much, for not forgetting the many years of discrimination and oppression.
I just heard on the Ed Show, a clip of Rush Limbaugh making an ugly remark that Obama treated women like vaginas. How on earth has this fool, this gross trash mouth been able to survive and flourish with 20 millions listeners a week??!!!
Well, I rant. But, I am hopeful, and I know that President Obama is going to get his legislative agenda passed. He has no illusions about the obstructionists, and he and his staff will find ways to outdo, ou-think, and out-accomplish those who would obstruct.
I enjoyed Burt's comments and his excitement. I would disagree only with one point when he asks where Obama was the first term. I think had Obama been a hardliner, he might not have been re0elected. He had to show stability,a moderation, a willingness to work with the opposition. Now, he doesn't to that extent. He can be more forceful because he has the needed four more years.
Night folks. I'm exhausted.
It has been a wonderful post-election day.
Can't let the evil remarks ruin it!!!
great post by Burt, thank you for sharing Barb! xoxoxo
Good Morning,
I'm sorry to hear of the new storm and the cold and snow. The issue of climate change looks like it will be brought up now with a seriousness of purpose.
I'm still elated, still pinching myself, did it really happen? Do we really have a President, a Democratic Senate, who are future oriented, and the slogans and attitudes of the '20s-The Gilded Age, the social issues from the '50s, and the militarism from the '60s and '70s is recognized as an anachronism? I so hope so.
Hope your day is good.
Whew! Phone line stopped functioning vis a vis the intertubes around dark on the sixth. And didn't start again till around noon today. Been trying to do some catch up!
Spent election night on various radio stations up and down the dial. Was in Des Moines right after Iowa was called and they were interviewing a local worker, and I was thinking about Phil, and how much difference one person can make, and being grateful to know him, and the room exploded behind the interviewee!! After a few what what what's, the interviewer checked in with his network, and Ohio had been called!!
About the time Mitt was refusing to concede, Thankful called, and we celebrated for four hours!! With lots of praise for Howard -- not only as inspiration, but as real mover, shaker, and game changer in DC. That what Obama was handed in 08 to work with (and no doubting he has a world class team) was one whole helluva lot different than what Kerry got in 04. And that difference what what Howard had been doing with local organizing and Dem voter rolls. Real thanks are due to him.
Listened to talk radio yesterday, a lot. Each righty had his/her own reason. . . . None of them remotely real. And each predicting the end of the world. They have No, zero, nada idea of who Obama is, or who his supporters are. They will not/cannot come out of their self constructed prison. (Example: Ann Coulter -- Mitt was a *superb* candidate! What we forgot was the "incumbent effect" . . . .)
My two wishes for the next two years, starting right this moment, is that the President finds his story teller -- Bill's going to retire, lol! And that needs NOT to be left out, again. And secondly, we, all, need to get working on the house. At minimum to get rid of the remaining teabaggers!
Sometimes, payback takes a very long time. In 1972, I finished poll watching/flyering/begging, at 8, got back to my car, and the election had been called. I broke into tears right there at the wheel. Took a half hour before I was calm enough to drive home. Tuesday night was payment in full. Forty years later. . . . That was the one time I considered moving to Canada. Interestingly, shortly after that, my 8 year old told me (we'd *never* had a discussion about the war) that if, when he turned 18, and the war was still going, he would move to Canada. Things kids become aware of when you don't think they're paying attention. . . .
glad to have you back pudddle! thankfully (pun intended!!!) Laurie gave us an update so we knew you were okay or would have been worried sick.
yes, this particular win was worth a lot of the past losses and more than any other election has given me real hope that Americans are once again engaging in their knowledge of our gov't and doing their civic duty. hope, such a small word full of such big things.
sorry, I don't remember where I got this from (too much reading!) but it sure rings true:
It’s easy to understand why some Republicans and pollsters dismissed the idea that the Obama coalition from 2008 would be fired up and ready to go in 2012. Not possible. Not with the unemployment rate at 14.3 percent among blacks, 10 percent among Hispanics, and 11.8 percent among adults under 30.
Yet, fired up or just trudging to the polls, those groups were among President Obama’s principal bulwarks against defeat in decisive states. In some cases they made up a greater share of the national electorate than they did in 2008. The outcome confounded some conservatives and surprised even some pollsters.
found it: http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/obama-voters-shake-gop-vision-of-electorate-20121107
Do you want to know how I KNOW that change has come to America? It's that not only did the adult children of my Republican best friend vote for Obama, but my best friend voted for Obama, and (wait for it) my best friend's husband also voted for Obama! And he is an elder in the evangelical Alliance Church in the Bible Belt...!
Please read this regarding conscientious objector and alum of VT's Middlebury College, Moriel Rothman:
http://www.newprofile.org/english/?p=434
Israel has now imprisoned him twice on the same offense: refusing to be part of Israel's Occupation force.
The Kids Are Alright
Democrats felt good about their big margins with Latinos and African Americans heading into the election (and even better heading out of it as their voting coalition steamrolled Republicans in states around the country). But the young voters who showed up for Obama in 2008 were another story. Polls showed them significantly less enthused, and the Romney campaign thought the rough economy would be enough for them to bring some over to their side. It wasn’t a coincidence that the most memorable line of Paul Ryan’s convention speech was about “fading Obama posters” on their walls.
But in a happy surprise for Democrats, they showed up in droves for Obama again in 2012. Voters under 30 made up 19% of the electorate per exit polling, an increase of their share from 2008. And Obama still blew out Romney on the margins, winning their vote 60-36. As the Republican Party gets older, the prospect of a rapidly growing generation of reliable Democrats that actually shows up on Election Day is about the worst news possible.
http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/11/democratic-schadenfreude-gay-rights-allen-west-karl-rove-donald-trump.php
Good Morning,
I've enjoyed reading the posts.
Yes, Wednesday, Thursday, and today, I'm still riding with the clouds. Such joy, such hope, such sanity. As you indicated, Puddle, we've had lots of heartaches in elections, losses, unfairnesses (Gore), dirty tricks, injustices, and grief. It's taken over 40 years, and I am so relieved.
Wonder what those Mayan, Hopi, and Navajo prophecies mean to this election. Europe and China are happy and relieved.
That Romney was so confident he didn't even prepare a concession speech says lots to me about his arrogance. And according to the New York Times article, Romney staffers getting cabs to return home found that their campaign credit cards had been deactivated. Tells me a lot about the main values of the Romney campaign: money, money, money, power, exclusivity, righteousness.
And thanks to Jimmy Carter's grandson or grand nephew for that video tape of Romney and his 47% speech. Well done, poetic justice.
Have a great day, friends.
Pat, yes, yes, yes and yes!
All have a wonderful day. I only can hope that Boehnor will get kicked out in his next election and the same for Mitch McConnell.
The Tea Party lost some ground. I wish it would lose some more.
Odd. I don't think I've ever watched a bigger display of self created delusion than this past year/six months. I *know* it goes on all the time, but we don't get to see it that much. . . . Started for me when my SIL posited I was a Commie organizer because I had that Wisconsin raised fist as my profile pic. And went down hill from there. That they *vigorously* denied every reality; starting with who the president is, following on with who Mitt is; linking to polls, which must be lying. . . . And what's going to happen in the next four years. If I observed my two year old that far off of reality, I'd set him down, and we'd have a very long discussion about the way the world is. Fifty year old citizens? I'm at a loss to figure out how they even get through their lives without major disasters weekly.
It has been a wonderful week--!!!!!
Mitt so arrogant that he didn't even consider writing a concession speech--which was finally given with his usual arrogance.
We dodged that big bullet, folks!!!!!
Stress gone--but bet we need to watch our backs.
Love you all.Haven't been on
much--son and wife were here this week from MI.
They were taking in GSO sights and doing some Mom Jobs usually done by Brenda--or another helper. That included taking me to vote! I have just now realized the reason an outside poll worker frowned when I thanked her for volunteering. Guessing she wasn't happy with the Obama/
Biden stickers plastered on my car.
Surprising to me because in Palacios that would not be done. Perhaps it was just the tone of
this whole election from the R.s and their R&R leaders?
Yes, yes--good to see Puddle back!!!!
Yes, Shirlee. the entire tone. a co-worker just screamed at me and one of her tenants because the two of us were having a conversation about dems??? Holy cow! they are just unreasonable. folks here in the office were not to pleased when I showed up with my VICTORY/FORWARD sign and my foot ball that I won at the election night party.
Bad sports. they seem determined to take the country back to the early 50's and all because of believing Faux Gnus and the rabid money behind them.
so sad... I almost feel like we all need to watch our backs. I can't forget the TeaPartier that punched my truck for my obama sticker. Have no idea what possessed him to think that that was ok. He would have sued me had I done something like that to his vehicle.
Just pulled up election night photos of the First Family again. What a wonderful, truly loving family they are. Not afraid of plenty of hugs even in public. Maybe memory fails--but I don't remember this with other first families. Maybe tie times, or just this family. I love it.
Tell me what you all think of this: On Monday a Romney/Ryan
team was trolling through an African/ American neighborhood
knocking on doors and asking to come in and pray with the residents. My friend lives there--she is in her late 50's. She declined and sent her college senior and naval reserve grand daughter out to take care of them. Which this strong young woman did. Is this the lowest of low tactics--or just par considering....?
Shirlee, about par for evangelicals, lol! And likely more so for Teavangelicals. . . . When I still lived at home, at 11 one Sunday morning, a door knock (we wouldn't normally have been there: Sunday School started at 11, but Mom was running late, and I was waiting for her) and two Jehovah's Witnesses were there asking if my mum was home. I left them on the porch to go check with my mother, because she *did* often talk with them (she had a sister who was JW). When we got back, they had come in, were sitting on the couch and unloading lit onto our coffee table. Mom explained we were late for church and this wasn't going to be a day she chatted with them. They continued to ask their KEY questions. Mom said, sorry, we're already late, picked up her purse and we left. When we reached the corner and looked back, they were leaving. Shaking their heads. They kindly closed the door behind themselves. . . .
Had a really good convo with my telephone tech yesterday (who insisted my line is *perfection*. . . . ) about what a pleasure it is/was to *pay taxes* ~~ his coming after a time a ways back living in his car. . . . I gather they're NOT allowed to say who they voted for because he wouldn't tell even when teased. He did say "But, for sure, it was UNION, all the way." He had some gorgeous tatts. Wish I could introduce him to Kimmy. . . .
I love it when I wake up in the morning and Barack Obama is President. shared Breast is Best's photo.
Here is the story behind this pic... "Last Friday (11/2/12) President Obama was speaking at our local high school. I took my 10wk old son with me. I did pack some formula in the bag as I knew the place would be packed and was unsure about breastfeeding in front of thousands. My son is an eater and seeing as we were there about 4hrs he had no problem devouring the 8oz I packed. So there I was front row with a hungry baby. I knew I didn't want him to start crying, as the President had just begun to speak, so I covered him up with his blanket and let him go to town. I noticed the President glance at me while speaking and give a little smile. I thought surely I imagined it. Then, when he was done speaking he came down to do the usual crowd greeting, shaking hands and whatnot. As soon as he got close enough, he pointed to me and gestured his hands in the "hand me the baby" manner. So I handed my son over! He danced with him a second and kissed him on his forehead. As he was handing him back he smiled, nodded at me, and said good job. Everyone has been asking why he told me good job and I just giggle. Here I was worried about breastfeeding in front of all those people and the only person who noticed was The President of the United States, and he supports it! Best feeling EVER!"
♥ (tiffany)
Pic: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=387470681330794&set=a.298612033549993.70667.298583760219487&type=1&ref=nf
What a wonderful story, a lovely mom and babe and a GORGEOUS President!
just an fyi, I'm deleting anything that sea posts here from now on. I warned her, tried to be nice about it and have been ignored. whether it is a good post, a bad post or something in between it is going in the trash can. if you ladies want to converse with her you can send her an email at merahistarATgmail.com
Thank you, Jo! And hugz.
thanks puddle. this has been a wonderful week in some ways and an absolutely sucky week in others. my Mom was moved from the hospital back to her room in the nursing home on Wednsday. things went to hell right away and they increased her meds and added some new ones. when I visited her today she had no idea who I was and that is a first and it hurts and it scares the hell out of me. I think it's the new drugs she is taking, one of which is morphine, but it still hurts. I don't know if she will ever know me again.
Jo, there's something called senile hysteria that often happens IN hospitals or shortly after. It's often mistaken for dementia. I'd look it up for you but google is refusing all attempts to do so.
I've had several friends already deal with it, and all resolved (once it was pointed out to the doctors. . . . ) Good luck, sweetie.
she has had dementia for a couple of years now - this is new and unlike anything on any of her other moves from home to hospital to assisted care, etc. in the last 2 yrs she has gone from home to hospital to home to assisted living to hospital back to assisted living to new mental health care assisted living to nursing home to hospital to nursing home again. poor girl :(
What a beautiful breastfeeding story! As a former La Leche League Leader, I thank you warmly for sharing it!
Jo, be sure to tell the head nurse where your Mom is, what you have observed and how it's not normal for her. Speak to her doctors too, and see if they can adjust her meds. Neither of you needs her to not know her daughter when she still could. Your observations matter and you are truly part of her medical team as well as her family. =HUG= ♥
One more thought, Jo. If your Mom is at FAHC, feel free to contact the Chaplaincy office and tell one of the *staff* chaplains what you have observed. They actually have the power to write in the patient's chart, so a note could be left there too, if that might help your concern be more noticed. They can visit your Mom with you and periodically so that you have one more person speaking up as needed.
They just announced on the news that Florida officially went to Obama.
My son says that Romney conceded Florida yesterday. I guess I missed the moment as we were tending VT*Grand.
DEAN ALERT:
As you probably know, Howard Dean is in Thailand and walking to Myanmar to protest human trafficking.
Just heard about the 6.7 earthquake in Myanmar today. Earthquake info: Link
Yesterday Howard posted on his Facebook page that they were in Tokyo headed to Thailand.
The Earthquake link site says: "Felt in the Bangkok-Chiang Mai area, Thailand."
Here's where to follow the walkers:
Link
Just looked it up and I think Dean's group is about 600mi from the Earthquake.
thank you for the info listener, puddle - and thank you for your loving support and prayers! Mom left FAHC on Wednesday and is back in the nursing home. I spoke with the nurses there and all has been communicated to her doc and to my family members. they had just started the morphine for her increased pain so I am hoping that is it and she will know me again soon, but each time she moves or gets a UTI or other health issue her dementia gets worse and often her personality changes in a big way as well. It's heartbreaking. I've been advocating for my Mom for a long time now.
Good Morning,
Jo, you are in our thoughts and prayers. It is such a crucial time, and there's no pattern or experience to guide us. We do our best.
Recently, a dear friend died. We were with her the day before, talking. She told me to pick out a pair of her earrings and a necklace. I did, and I wear it frequently and feel she is with me the whole day.
I've been reading about Reiki, a theory and method of healing that came from Tibet and then was further developed by a Japanese Zen master. What appeals is the idea that we are all energy, which is never lost in the cosmos. If we are energy, then our thoughts, our love, our care and presence is a healing, a comfort, and being with.
I don't know anything more than that, but it helps much more than thinking of the painful and slow decline of those we love. If we can be present as energy for them and ourselves, then maybe the cosmos is part of that.
I don't know, just speculating and hoping.
Here's a brief poem:
Election
Our hearts have opened.
Though there is still
anger, hatred, we are
dancing, singing,
humming ourselves
into the future.
Another brief thought:
When Romney gave his concession speech, he said that the people had chose the other person to lead them. The word other stood out, and I felt that it was a revelation.
Yes, Romney and the Republicans saw most of us as "the other" and that's horrible, a mindset of exclusivity and entitlement, of disregard and willingness to discriminate.
The word other flashes in my mind like a red emergency light.
Sorry for typo: chose should be
chosen.
Garry Wills, in the NY Review of Books, on “What Romney Lost“:
... Many losing candidates became elder statesmen of their parties. What lessons will Romney have to teach his party? The art of crawling uselessly? How to contemn 47 percent of Americans less privileged and beautiful than his family? How to repudiate the past while damaging the future? It is said that he will write a book. Really? Does he want to relive a five-year-long experience of degradation? What can be worse than to sell your soul and find it not valuable enough to get anything for it? His friends can only hope he is too morally obtuse to realize that crushing truth. Losing elections is one thing. But the greater loss, the real loss, is the loss of honor.
Well said, Puddle. Memorable.
Jo, I was wrong: It's Senile Delirium. . . .
http://www.emsvillage.com/articles/article.cfm?id=596
Thanks for the link! Mom has had a geriatric specialist as her primary care physician for almost 5 years now and even she admits that it is difficult to sort out the problems that she is having. She has a wide variety of different meds and some pain meds, sleep meds, anti-depressants and others do not work on her as they do on most other patients. She was just in the elderly mental care unit at the local hospital for a month and she leveled off while there - which was surprising because typically being in the hospital makes things much worse for her. The MINUTE she got back to the nursing home the same behaviour started back up - screaming unless there was someone right there with her, biting, pinching, throwing things, trying to bite people - all actions that had never been an issue until just recently with my very shy, introverted Mother. Prior to this she had been very sad, depressed, weeped a lot, it didn't matter if we were visiting or took her out somewhere. So now they have upped some of the meds to calm her down and it appears it may take a bit of working on it to get the dosages rght, if they ever do. But her doc is called with her vitals every cople of hours and she has a good working relationship with the nursing home so I have to hope they can get her to a better outcome soon.
also - dump the Donald! Tell Macy's to get rid of Trump!
http://signon.org/sign/urge-macys-to-dump-donald.fb23?source=s.fb&r_by=5597526
omg ladies, please send me some more prayers, my Dad wasn't sounding good when I called to thank him for his service this morning and my M-I-L just called to say that he's had a stroke and is headed to the hospital.
a week of ups and downs is an understatement right now. xoxoxo
Phew, Jo! Talk about piling on. Love and lots of light your direction!! ♥
Dad is doing okay, no stroke, small heart event a couple of days ago. he's going home and will see his doc about the rest of his symptoms this week.
thank you for the prayers!
O, good! I'm glad there's one less thang to worry on.
Looks like I'll be losing my line again tonight, and maybe not do as well tomorrow, and it's cooling again. . . It's already starting to disconnect more often.
So good to see everyone still here.
thanks for Pat and Puddle's observations.
Jo, I am so sorry to hear about your mother--only two thoughts. Sudden changes in anything seem to be hard on the elderly.
Has your Mom been thoroughly evaluated for all forms of dementia?
My best, best wishes to you--my mother had severe Alzheimer's for years
in a very healthy body. Heartbreaking.
Trolling through news about the election last night I came upon a group of angry, disgruntled Texans threatening to secede
from the union. After enough of that I decided to call my younger sister in Texas--just to make sure there was one sane person left there! She assured me there was--only wanna be R in her family was a daughter in law.
P.S. and thank you for your recent administrative action!
♥♥♥♥♥JO!♥♥♥♥♥
Ah, puddle, if I had a working magic wand, I'd wave it over your phone line!!! ♥♥♥
Pat wrote:
I've been reading about Reiki, a theory and method of healing that came from Tibet and then was further developed by a Japanese Zen master. What appeals is the idea that we are all energy, which is never lost in the cosmos. If we are energy, then our thoughts, our love, our care and presence is a healing, a comfort, and being with.
Yes, yes! I commend to you the new book by Dr. Eben Alexander, the neurosurgeon who had a near-death experience that made him rethink his understanding of what happens after the cortex of the brain stops functioning. He spent a week in a coma with a severe case of meningitis, during which tests show his brain's cortex (where consciousness is experienced) was offline. However, during that week he had the deepest experience of consciousness of his whole life. The book is "Proof of Heaven" and he's not a fundamentalist. His family is Episcopalian and he just went through the motions before having the near-death experience. He was later able to describe some of his very profound and complex near-death experience and not surprisingly it is all about energy and Love. Fascinating read!
Oh, I should have mentioned that Eben Alexander taught at Harvard, too!
Yiiiii. I don't get here nearly enough. My thoughts are with you all through your trials. Much love and hugs.
Pat--I am seconding Listener's suggestion.
Read as much as you want/can--but then find a good Reiki practioner and go for it. Let's look at it this way--it can do no harm. It did me a WORLD of good--and is still working although I no longer have treatments.
so my dear ladies I may not be around for a while. more tests and an honest assessment by the doctors leads them to believe that my father's body is shutting down, he may not have more than a day or two, he could pass before that. it is progressing fast and he has insisted that he have no intervention and is staying at home in the care facility he lives in.
I am numb, I want to think that they are wrong, but everything about Dad in the last week tells me that it is so. he has let go and is ready. xoxoxo
Aw, sweetie! My heart is with you. Be joyous you've had him for so long (lost mine at 24). Love and much light from here to there. ♥ xox
Jo,
Our hearts are with you. It is a gift to be with someone we love as they let go. My friend's passing is with me daily. She gave me strength and comfort.
Your presence will be that for your dad, I'm sure.
Oh, Jo. I'm so sorry. Having recently lost my dad, I truly feel for you. XOXOXOX
Jo--thoughts from GSO to you. We are all lucky if we had loving parents and kept them until we ourselves get older.
Love to you.
♥ Dear Jo ♥
Take all the time you need. We'll be here for you when you get back and holding you in the Light as you companion your Dad. If it's true that he cannot continue then you can help him most by letting him know it's okay to go. Bring into the space your presence and anything that might be especially supportive for him.
When my friend Jerry May died, he was surrounded by loved ones who were chanting his favourite chants to wend him on his way. Sometimes, though, all that's needed is to hold a hand.
♥ Love and Tendernesses to you ♥
The Least Surprising Outcome
by BooMan
Mon Nov 12th, 2012 at 01:37:08 PM EST
The funniest thing about Mark Thiessen's piece is that he is mystified that a "community organizer" could out-organize a Bain Capital outsourcer. But what could be more predictable?
How on earth did Barack Obama, the community organizer, harness the power of data in the 2012 election like a Bain Capital numbers-cruncher, while Mitt Romney’s data-mining effort crashed and burned like, well, Solyndra?
Mitt Romney was not the cool candidate. He ran on competence. But having the data system your campaign is relying on to turn out the vote crash on Election Day is incompetent. Not testing that system before Election Day is inexcusable. And letting a community organizer run a more precise, data-driven, metrics-based campaign than a Bain Capital executive is incomprehensible.
There is nothing incomprehensible about it. President Obama hired people who believe in science. President Obama's team used trial and error to hone the best possible practices. President Obama is a trained organizer which means he is very good at organizing people.
Mitt Romney is an expert at hiring people to cut corners and find loopholes in the law and hide large amounts of money and to loot pension funds. He is trained to deceive and defraud people, and to cheat and steal. He designs and exploits systems that are rigged so that he cannot lose. He doesn't organize people. He fleeces them. He's a con man. Just ask his billionaire supporters.
http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2012/11/12/13378/065
How wonderful it is to have the election over and our good PBO
for another term! I always "knew' he would win--but then there was the great chance of vote rigging to worry about.
A move out there to put Elizabeth Warren
on the banking committee. Yippee!!!
Did everyone watch the total solar eclipse online today? I wanted to pop by here with the link but I can never figure out how to get HERE on my iPhone.
I got to see it while working at the Library. It was amazing to see the Sun's corona in real time!
This evening at the Library we had a Visiting Nurses Association nurse come and do a presentation about Hospice care and end-of-life issues.
Quite good and I came away with the necessary paperwork to write up our own intentions.
oh listener, that is so coincidental - Dad met with VNA today and he was accepted into their hospice care program - they will care for him at his apt at SHelburne Lodge.
Good Night,folks.
Sleep well. WE WON!!!!
Jo--I just noticed your post last night.
That must be a great relief to you. I think everyone does better if staying home is possible.
Best wishes to you.
Good afternoon,
Thoughts of you, Jo and your dad.
We watched the Obama press conference. He is so intelligent, so thoughtful, I can't think of any president in my lifetime except JFK and Clinton who come close. Clinton is the better speaker, the more concise orator, but Obama is the more thoughtful, the more ruminative and idealistic.
Anyway, I'm still in an aerie of elation and hope that he has been re-elected, that most states are now, according to some analysts, tending towards purple.
Have a good day, friends.
My brother-in-law Larry died tonight, age 63 years and two months. :-(
Sunday, Veterans Day, was his 2 year anniversary of diagnosis.
And, yes, he was a veteran.
{{ ♡ Jo ♡ }} It's so good your Dad can be home and cared for. Larry was home until just this morning when he got too sick for his family to tend him.
We are so sad tonight.
Got this page loaded only one time yesterday, and it was gone before I could post.
listener, I'm sad for you and your squeeze, next to parents, siblings are the hardest to lose. They are so much a part of our young growth. I'm glad he got his wish to be home.
Jo, am with you, too, as you and those you love work your way through this troubling time. Remember to ask the Universe for help. It does.
Pat, agree: he sounds like he's made it over some bumps and has come out stronger, and surer. Proud to have voted for him! Pleases me no end to wake in the morning and realize that he's still my President!!
Hugs and Love to Listener. A difficult time--but he will be with you
always. Just can't reach out and touch him--and THAT is a bummer!!!
Peace for Jo as you work through this difficult time. Hug for you ( ).
Jo and Listener, thoughts and prayers your way. We can't see and touch each other, but we are here. So too are those we love.
We are more than just material: stuff from the burning up of stars, light, particles and waves, heat, energy, thought, love, spirit. Our culture thinks we're just material. I don't think so.
My love to you.
Love and hugs to all. We are in the midst of an incredibley hopeful time and our daily lives go one. So sorry for your loss, Listner. And Jo, I'm glad your dad got to go home to a familiar place.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Nice encounter at a doc's office--opposite in a narrow aisle of seats in the waiting room was a young man who looked incredibly like our good PBO. After some quiet intervention by the helper who drove me--we ended up exchanging BIG grins!
Amazing likeness--wonderful experience--made it worthwhile being in a doc's office!
Thinking of Jo and Listener--more hugs to both.
Good Night All--hoping Puddle's line is not acting up again.
Watched PBO press conference. He knows EXACTLY why he was elected, where we need to go and how to get there. SO,SO Good!!!
Am fine! In fact, had pretty good lines yesterday: got to get all over the net and do a bit of factual catching up! Drunk on information, lol!
Will try and do better today!
xox
Cirque du Benghazi
Nov 16, 2012
maha
-->
Obama Administration
First, anything having to do with David Petraeus gives me a headache. Just sayin’.
Petraeus testified about Benghazi to a congressional panel today. All of the news stories about his testimony are quoting Peter King as their main source, which means it’s highly likely all the news stories are wrong.
Regarding the Benghazi Buffoons — Apparently Club for Growth plans to “primary” Lindsey Graham next year, which accounts for why he and his bud John McCain are displaying their manliness by beating up Susan Rice. It’s to save Graham’s ass. See also “The Benghazi Circus.”
http://www.mahablog.com/2012/11/16/cirque-du-benghazi/
*This* is beautimous!
http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/11/when-the-nerds-go-marching-in/265325/?single_page=true
Puddle--this is most wonderful. Not just about the Obama
Nerds, the link to Orca and the Romney
gang makes one realize how incompetent the whole
campaign was. This guy wanted to be Prez of the USA!
Thanks you, thank you for the info you give us.
Shirlee, liked this one as well, for the reasons you mentioned:
http://www.redstate.com/2012/11/09/campaign-sources-the-romney-campaign-was-a-consultant-con-job/
And *that* one is from *their* side. . . .
Testifying out of sight, ex-CIA Director David Petraeus told Congress Friday that classified intelligence showed the deadly raid on the U.S. Consulate in Libya was a terrorist attack but the administration withheld the suspected role of al-Qaida affiliates to avoid tipping them off.
The recently resigned spy chief explained that references to terrorist groups suspected of carrying out the violence were removed from the public explanation of what caused the attack so as not to alert them that U.S. intelligence was on their trail, according to lawmakers who attended Petraeus’ private briefings.
He also said it initially was unclear whether the militants had infiltrated a demonstration to cover their attack….
;;;After the hearings, lawmakers who questioned Petraeus said he testified that the CIA’s draft talking points in response to the assault on the diplomatic post in Benghazi that killed four Americans referred to it as a terrorist attack. Petraeus said that reference was removed from the final version, although he wasn’t sure which federal agency deleted it.
Adding to the explanation, a senior U.S. official familiar with the drafting of the points said later that a reason the references to al-Qaida were deleted was that the information came from classified sources and the links were, and still are, tenuous. The administration also did not want to prejudice a criminal investigation in its early stages, that official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to discuss the process publicly.
hattip maha. . . .
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal_government/petraeus-to-congress-cia-believed-early-on-that-terrorists-were-behind-libya-consulate-attack/2012/11/16/a33714de-305a-11e2-af17-67abba0676e2_story.html
Just read ALl the comments on Red State--a very few recognize the real problems of R&R--too out of touch with real people, demographics, social issues. The rest are talking about the IT problems and how Hurricane Sandy was caused by Obama!
Thanks for the link, Puddle (whew!)
Dear Ones ~
Thank you so much for your prayers and kind words. Yes, I do believe that there is life after this plane of existence ceases. Once again I commend to you the book Proof of Heaven by Eben Alexander. It'll blow your mind.
The hardest thing about Larry's death is that there will be no calling hours and no Celebration of Life until sometime next month at the earliest. So we have some free-floating grief that has no place to land just now. We plan to take some time tomorrow to remember Larry now and mark the moment. One idea is to take a long walk and talk about Larry. We may do it, but there will be a high of 45, so it would be a cold walk.
Any other idears about how to mark this moment as we await the service for Larry?
Just being together and sharing stories and memories will help a lot--setting doesn't matter as long as everyone is physically comfortable. We did something like this for my mother. Just went around the room and shared our favorite memories. Very healing.
Love to you and yours, Listener.
Thanks Shirlee.
The difficulty is that we're in NW VT and everyone else is in NH, with a few exceptions.
listener, why not a roaring fire, favorite blankets spiced cider, and chatting. Bill surely has childhood memories. If you liked cold better than you do, a walk would be fine. Picture albums? Just setting apart the time makes it special. Love you!!
Listener how about digging out the family photos and going thru them to make a book of your hubby's fav pics of him? my love and blessings to you listener. xoxoxo
Leonard Pitts thinks about what Republicans think about America.
You are a moocher, a zombie, soulless, mouth-breathing, ignorant, greedy, self-indulgent, envious, shallow and lazy.
The foregoing is a summation of “analysis” from conservative pundits and media figures — Cal Thomas, Ted Nugent, Bill O’Reilly and etcetera — seeking to explain Mitt Romney’s emphatic defeat....
Sometimes, they act — the Hannitys, the O’Reillys, the Trumps, the Limbaughs, the whole conservative political infotainment complex — as if this were all a game, as if their nonstop litany of half truths, untruths and fear mongering, their echo chamber of studied outrage, practiced panic, intellectual incoherence and unadulterated equine feculence, had no human consequences. Sometimes, they behave as if it were morally permissible — indeed, morally required — to say whatever asinine, indefensible, coarse or outrageous thing comes to mind in the name of defeating or diminishing the dreaded left.
I long ago thought Republican pundits would eventually hit bottom on their fear mongering, but like that kid in the Matrix pondering a spoon, I eventually learned the truth. There is no bottom. No shame, either.
http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2012/11/14/15161991-howard-deans-vindication-six-years-later?fb_action_ids=4831629958354&fb_action_types=og.recommends&fb_ref=AddThis_Blogs&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map={%224831629958354%22%3A365441493545248}&action_type_map={%224831629958354%22%3A%22og.recommends%22}&action_ref_map={%224831629958354%22%3A%22AddThis_Blogs%22}
Hi folks,
Listener, my sympathy goes out to you. I remember when my mother died, an old friend whom I had not seen in years came to Nederland and took me out to lunch. She said that since her mother died, she was closer than ever, talked to her in her mind and heart every day.
It was exactly what I needed to hear. I do that now too. I sit in my blue recliner, look out at the mountain and ask my mother how she is, tell her how much I miss her, say thank you for all the things and love most of all she gave me.
I have no knowledge of the universe, infinity, or why and how we're here, but my heart longs to be with those I've loved, and so I talk to them.
for me, informality and speaking from the heart brings the most consolation and peace.
Have a good day, folks.
Jo, I realize this thread is getting long, and would try and help out by posting a new thread, but google absolutely will not let me get to the dashboard/editing page. Been trying all day. Been trying at baby for a couple of weeks.
Been a nice, sweet, baby blue day here. Over fifty -- I kin live wit dat, lol!
Earlier, the Goobey was having a grand time barkin' at the deer. Hope he enjoyed himself: hunting season starts tomorrow (lots of families here had T-Day today, so the hunters could be out Thursday). First day (first three days, actually) is always a time I'm very glad I no longer have horses. . . . First three days are the venue of the city boyz on benders. . . .
We had a nice time here at 216 S. Elm this afternoon. Brenda and I had invited a younger friend, co-worker, helper for dinner. Her grandmother in CA
died a couple of weeks ago. Her Mom and Dad are there--and she has no
sibs or cousins. She does have a group of theater related friends. I am always amazed at how close these people are--working in all aspects of production, etc--very supportive of each other.
Stay well and warm all.
The Well of Grief
Those who will not slip beneath
the still surface on the well of grief
turning down to its black water
to the place that we can not breathe
will never know
the source from which we drink
the secret water cold and clear
nor find in the darkness
the small gold coins
thrown by those who wished for something else
~ David Whyte ~
(Where Many Rivers Meet)
We are feeling a bit ruffled. There has been no obituary for my brother-in-law. We were told there will be a Celebration of Life service probably in December. But tonight we got the message his dear wife sent out to everyone and it said he didn't want any services, so come by and see us sometime. It sure leaves one feeling very strange. We definitely will plan that things be done differently when our time comes, as this way just leaves one with an open wound and no balm.
Ah, listener! I've always known that funerals/memorials are for the survivors. . . . As a matter of necessity, Scotty asked me last year what I'd like. I said: for everyone who cares to gather together over a bowl of grog, and share memories, and laugh, and maybe sing. Given the way I've lead my life, that prolly means a conference call, lol!
Just keep doing what you are: many roads.
As Time Goes By
I wake up on Monday,
Eat lunch on Wednesday,
Go to sleep on Friday,
And next thing I know it's
The middle of next week
And I am shaking mothballs
Out of the winter clothes
I stored for the summer
Five minutes ago,
Because snowstorms follow
The Fourth of July
Faster than faxes,
Faster than e-mail,
Faster, maybe, than the speed of light.
You want to slow down time?
Try root canal.
Try an MRI.
Try waiting for the report on the biopsy.
Or try being a child on a rainy morning
With nothing to do,
Wishing away the hours, the days, the years,
As if there will
Always
Always
Always
Be more.
Copyright © 2005 by Judith Viorst
Been a fan of this lady for fifty years. . . . Starting with: It's Hard to be Hip Over Thirty.
Good Morning,
Me too, Puddle. I gave her book to a friend of mine who was 80 this year. I've forgotten the title, maybe Incredibly Eighty? But, she's wonderful: funny, wise, readable, real.
Good Morning. Listener, just to say, I'm thinking of you.
http://www.amazon.com/Unexpectedly-Eighty-And-Other-Adaptations/dp/B004WB1ACU
Wanting so see Ninety is Nifty. . . . .
For Listener--If the 'proper' person doesn't plans something, etc.for your loss-could the rest of you get together an do some sharing of whatever you like?
It is so important to do something--otherwise it is hard to move on to the other stages of grief. Love you.
The Bain That Ate Clear Channel
Nov 19, 2012
maha
-->
Obama Administration
This is rich. Clear Channel Communications, associated with such programming wonders as Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh, was taken over by Bain Capital in 2008 had apparently has been disintegrating ever since. Clear Channel is having to lay off staff wholesale to stay afloat. However, last year they were careful to lay people off in small numbers at a time so as not to make Bain Capital look bad.
Let’s hope Mitt at least sends them a cheap Christmas card.
I wonder if his wife isn't just feeling too overwhelmed to think about planning anything? I wanted to do something for Edwin's friends, but I sure couldn't have brought it off without their help. Maybe a siblings get together, and invite her?
Great idea, Puddle--for Listener.
End of life and all memorials, etc are interesting and important. My Cinci daughter's father-in-law is near death.
His large family was surprised to hear him say he had written his own obituary and where to find it. Sounds
like a good idea to me--saves a grieving
family from additional stress.
There always seem to be differences of opinion as to what should be included.
May do it myself--
They don't seem to be doing anything. Of course, a number of them were present when he died, so they already "did something." To suggest anything would likely be seen as an insult to his wishes. Bill is 7th of the 10 siblings and they wouldn't much listen to the kid brother. Never have. He doesn't particularly want to go see folks. There's a lot of pain in this time. But we'll get through it.
The one thing we can do is to ensure that when our turn comes something appropriate will be done. Our kids understand that, too.
They had two years to anticipate this time, and 7 months since knowing things would not end well. People who are confronted with a sudden death do more. And her work is with people who have terminal illness...! They really don't want it.
Thanks, Pat. I'm grateful.
I'm grateful for all the comments and idears. That you get it and offered ideas helps me feel a bit less crazy in a crazy situation.
Holler if I can help with any postings, puddle. XOXOXXX
I would have been more "identifying" of which post I was referring to, but on my iPhone there is a "REPLY" button after each post, so it felt like I was replying right below the post I was replying to. Ha!
I just wanted to add that the one thing we did do was send a package to his widow which will arrive tomorrow. It is especially for the grandchildren, but also for children and for her as well. Did I already tell you about this? It contains six kinds of Spring bulbs, a trowel, organic bulb food and instructions, as a Memorial Garden Starter Kit. We also included four books that may be of help:
Waterbugs and Dragonflies (explaining death to young children) and Sad Isn't Bad (written to children about the emotions and concerns of children when a loved one dies), plus A Time To Grieve (best book ever on coping after the death of a loved one), and Proof of Heaven, what happens to our consciousness when the brain is shut down. AMAZING! Check this out! http://abcnews.go.com/Health/neuroscientist-sees-proof-heaven-week-long-coma/story?id=17555207#.UKscV4W8W1s
Since the ground can yet be worked to plant bulbs, we thought the Kit would give the children something to do now and see each year in memory of Grampy. This gave us something to “do” and eased our sense of helplessness a little. Prayer will sustain me, though it helps to be reminded we don’t do all the praying ourselves.
Speaking of which, my Roman Catholic cousin (my side of the family, unrelated to Bill's side, mind you) wanted to reach out so he sent a donation to some monks and they sent a really nice folder telling that they are keeping us in prayer. The formality of the folder and the sentiment somehow was a comfort. I was a little surprised by that. I guess it's just something tangible when you need a memento, a way of marking the moment.
Good Morning,
Sunny day here. It's interesting how much a gray, overcast day can affect a mood here in Colorado. After several days of dark clouds, people get edgy.
Funerals are really dangerous times with respect to emotions. They seem to bring out the worst in people.
I remember my favorite aunt telling me to leave her house when I told her that my mother had said she didn't want a mass for her funeral. I was determined to follow her wishes. And when my aunt accused me of not telling the truth, I burst out that I'd dance down the street in a New Orleans funeral if my mother had wanted it.
Then my oldest cousin went to the priest and insisted on a mass. I was furious. But, what did I do? I recapitulated and we had a mass. My thinking was that my mother wouldn't want so much anger and conflict, and it was for all the relatives and friends that we were doing this.
My mother had been a Catholic all her life, and I think that people simply couldn't believe that she didn't want a mass. As a matter of fact, she didn't even want a priest to visit her in the hospital. What happened, I think, is my defection from the church gave her pause as to the dogmatic nature of the church and she had her own doubts. Relatives wouldn't have believed that. They saw me as manipulative, "the irreligious bulletin" as my favorite uncle called me.
Though, I later wrote my cousin and told him what I thought of his interference. I never heard back from him.
but funerals bring out raw emotions and people say and do things they wish they hadn't.
I don't know if this helps any, but I've come to regard times of illness and death as dangerous to everyone, and seek calmness most of all.
Ah, Pat. Thank you for your meaningful story. It sure has been a tense week. There is an excellent book that details what happens in family systems during family crises like this:
Basically, crises bring up old, unresolved conflict. Wise clergy and councilors make use of such moments to bring a word of healing to the situation, both for now and for the past. Of course, you also need to have benefit of wise clergy or councilor, and it would require some sort of gathering...
I love your Word at the end of what you wrote: "seek calmness most of all." Yes, oh yes. And ask for help from wise ones as needed.
Oops! Here's that family systems book title:
Generation to Generation by the Rev. Dr. Edwin Friedman, a wise rabbi.
Thanks, Listener,
I'll write the title in my notebook of books to read.
It is a hard time and it takes time to put it into perspective. I don't think life offers more pain than losing those we love.
Really crappy phone lines this morning. Not being helped by the Gates crew trying to download stuff to fix their stuff.
Gray, but not cold no windy. I see a trip to the country store in my future. Out of meds, and Lisa at the Pill Box mailed them Saturday. So.
The Goobey has become a counter thief, lol! Yesterday a waffle. Before, a stick of butter, and a pound of sausage, thawing. More my fault, a pound of cheese that I hadn't taken out of the paper bag yet. If I wasn't watching that nice layer of fat over his ribs, I'd be worried that I wasn't feeding him well enough. . . .
When I was little, I never questioned that we showed up in newspapers so often. I was well into my thirties before I realized that my mother's non-career in journalism was manifesting itself: SHE called the newspaper, lol! And obviously, she was right: me and my brother accidentally burying my young brother in the sandbox was news; Daddy getting his degree my freshman year *WAS* news, worthy of a big picture. Mother of nine and widow graduating from college was news.
I'm pretty sure she was please with her obituary. But as we were sitting together in the room at the funeral home, one of the brothers kept counting words: $900. $700. $500. I finally said, looks guys, if you're wanting a cheap obit, you picked the wrong mother. So $500 it was. And I recalled my Aunt Verness's -- She liked to take walks. I could have added: She kept an immaculate house.
If you've never written one for yourself, try it: real learning experience. My last one goes roughly: She really tried never to hurt anyone on purpose. She had a terrific time, and hopes to see you all soon (But not too soon).
After Dana told me about her father-in-law writing his own obit--I told her I thought I would do mine:
I came, I read, I went.
Still like it 5 days later.
Good Night, folks--love to all--especially Listener and Jo.
Sooo, sitting down? We heard today that there will be an informal Celebration of Life for Larry (my brother- in- law) on December 20th.
listener, I'm glad! If his wife is doing it, I'm delighted she's feeling up to it. If others are, am glad anyways that there's an opportunity for closure on what's been a long and painful trip for all concerned.
Am thinking of Jo, too, and what's on her plate just now. Makes my battles with computers and phone lines seem puny. . . .
So happy for you, Listener--and your hubby. We waited from February to late May to do something similar for my Vic.
Cold MI winter, his daughter and I wanted to plan it just right, and by that time some of Vic's 70-75 tear old sib's disagreements with him and each other had settled down. Peace to you.
Good Morning,
I'm glad for you, Listener. It's such a painful time, and if there can be solace and a sense of family and appreciation, that helps.
Thoughts for Jo and her dad.
There's lots to be said for "time healing all wounds" distance, perspective, understanding make whatever hurts or slights seem minimal, just humanity again.
Well, off to a busy day. Hope your day is good.
Back from holiday with my daughter and will be back on line once again.
Listener, so sorry for your loss. I can't add to the wonderful advice listed above and can only send you some love.
Having a ton of people over tomorrow so have to get crackin with the cooking.
Happy Thanksgiving to all with lots of hugs and loves.
Happy Thanksgiving Eve and Day to all.
Best wishes especially to Listener and Jo--
This will be a happier holiday for all of us--we have our good PBO back!!!!!
Friend of min in NC, former Walmart worker's Thanks goes like this: I'm thankful for the good food, family and for four more years of Barack Obama. I agree.
Phil Specht
The Tipping Point
Triggered by a radio question (on Talk Of The Nation
or On Point?)
which was "Who won't be at your Thanksgiving table this year?"
ghosts began appearing in my head
since no one is actually gone
til they disappear from all memory and these are shared;
perhaps more at that table than this, maybe not,
now as I travel a path ever closer to theirs.
The tipping point when you have known more than you now know.
With thanks for all present the love to share.
Friends and family savored, just as the food
and thanks to all who brought us to this point
ghosts of Thanksgiving past invited too.
How wonderful to see Phil's poetry. It is always lovely and so thoughtful. And thanks Puddle for passing it along to us.
We had a really nice Thanksgiving. One of our sons came as expected and is staying into tomorrow. Our youngest and his bride came too! They changed their plans to be here because of the death of Uncle Larry last week. They wanted to cheer us up. Pretty sweet. Her parents even kindly moved their big meal until tomorrow to make it easier for them! I am grateful for sweetnesses.
This has been the quietest opening week of deer season that I can remember!! I haven't heard even one shot. NOT complaining!!
Hope everyone made it through the food!
And as a side note: the LOW in Boston last night was 40º! Not fair.
Happy Day After T-Day--I am glad your sons could be with you, Listener.
Seems to be pretty warm here--judging by the light jackets, etc--expecting some big, old cold front this week-end!
Yes, I made it through all the cooking, eating and cleaning. Wonderful evening with family and friends. Thought Burt was going to have to roll me downstairs 'cause I was too full to walk.
So glad to see all the Black Friday Walmart protests. Our very own WA state Backbone Campaign is very active in this with lots of LARGE displays around the country. They are an amazing group and I support them on a monthly basis as I do DFA and National Nurse.
Kiddle has arrived and is burning trash, bless him. And blowing leaves. Tomorrow, water!! Yay!! need to go wash something now, to use up what I have.
new thread!
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