it's amazing how the universe sends us what we need, just when we need it sometimes!
I was having a bit of a meltdown last night, crying which I seldom do, discouraged and feeling so useless, I need a job so badly and was just feeling like a big loser.
so I am out transplanting some things into my front yard this morning and along comes a couple who look familiar, walking their dog and enjoying the beautiful weather. we started to talk, about how hard it is to keep lawns growing in this neighborhood and somehow my hip surgery came up and Bob says "that was you! I thought you looked familiar!" turns out we had spoken to each other out in front of my son's house about a year ago, they were walking and he was in obvious pain and I asked about it - he needed a hip relpacement but didn't want to do it, he was scared of the surgery and the outcome. I told him all about my surgery and what a blessing it was for me and that I would do it again in a heartbeat. so today he tells me it was that conversation that made him decide to have the surgery and he was sooo thankful, he had the same surgeon as I did and was feeling better than he had in a long time, many years! that made me feel so good, you never know what little things that you do or say turn out to make a big difference to someone. ;)
Alas, I'm not the author of that haiku. Wisht I were!
Jo, lovely story. AND hope you're feeling a bit better: *love* you!
I had to get up in the middle of the night and find another comforter. That's after nearly a week of having to get up in the middle of the night to turn the a/c on! Verrrrrrrrrrry mixed up weather!!
Sprung from re-hab earlier today. Really good to be home. Back in my leafy perch on the second floor and things are totally green and flowery up and down Elm street, the train s are still half a block away. Missed 'em,I did.
Oh, yay!! So glad you're home!! Lovely perch for a lovely lady!!
I made it to the store today, and back (just John's), so the car's back in its regular space. Been up the hill for better than a week. Wonder how long before it's back up there.
YAY Shirlee! Dorothy was right, there's no place like home! It sounds lovely! I'm sO thankful that Brenda is always there for you - give each other a big hug for me!
Puddle O hope the rains are gentle for you!
It was perfect weather here today, low humidity, 70s with a nice breeze, heaven! I spent more time gardening today than I have in almost 4 years, I accomplished alot and have things ready to go tomorrow before it rains. puddle the large clumps of clove pinks are blooming, my whole front yard smells fantastic!
My lawn doesn't do well since it was destroyed a few years ago by dry, dry conditions for the entire summer and an incredible amount of grubs, so I have been planting peremmials out there since then and this year I have veggies going there as well. I don't rake the leaves out of the beds in the fall so the existing gardens are in fine shape, what once was sandy is now nice loamy soil. The areas I'm planting now are quite sandy so I am adding humus, manure and compost. I will mulch well and hopefully it will retain water better than it has. Whew! I just started yesterday, I have been sleeping quite well! I'll take pics when I get a bit more planted.
I was kinda thinking that it was Farmin' Phil (to quote Kimmy) or David Stevenson that wrote that haiku? Wish I had copied the name as well as the verse when I saved it.
Thank you all for your loving wishes. Brenda brought in supper, re--arranged some furniture, has me settled in bed. She offered to stay the night, but I think she needs to be rested for the visit tomorrow with the home health care nurse. I can navigate safely between bedroom and bathroom. Midnight banana here by my side, no need to Go further.
P.S. I am glad you are able to working inyour yard and garden, Jo. And, Puddle--thank you for buying supplies-- We won't have to worry about you being hungry etc in case of more storms :)
Shirlee, not to worry--I never get remotely close to being out of food, lol! I keep a fair amount of stuff I'm not that fond of so it's never in any danger of being eaten all up before I go grocery shopping again. I have rice and olives and macaroni and spaghetti and tomatoes and applesauce and pears, and even cranberry sauce! Have raisins and lentils and shrimp chips and many kinds of beans and butter. And just now, about four dozen eggs (Nancy's chickees are getting ahead of me, so there's a quiche in ma life soon. . . . ).
good day all, happy fathers day to the dads in your lives!
I am soooo happy! remember how my pc died and the backup didn't back up what was in the folders on my desktop? well it did, I simply couldn't find them in the data file because it automatically loadeed them into folders of the same name on the desktop of my laptop! I found my years of photos last night when I was looking for photos of my Dad! woot!
Happy Days, JO and Puddle. Good day here also. A nurse arrived from CareSouth to get my background, current problems, and start a plan. Should know regular schedule by Tuesday . Have an appointment with orthopedic surgeon on Mon for a check. Apparently Medicare does not pay for home health visits on those days. Seems to be a very good agency so far.
Have to say I'm a bit annoyed with the insinuations in the photo collage out front. Why highlight the Catholic faith especially, given that Catholic Charities is one of the best organised and respected organisations in the world? They are often the Go-To group for donations because so much of what is given actually gets where it's needed, and they have the boots on the ground and the diplomacy in many cases to bring it about. It's also an outdated pope photo. Pope Francis is far more frugal than any pope in modern times, and is very oriented toward poverty relief. Maybe I don't understand the post.
Hallo! I hope everyone had a special Father's Day in celebration or remembrance. On Saturday, I took Bill out sailing with our Eldest and his daughter (VT*Grand). Perfect weather, glorious sail, ice cream cones afterward. Then today (weather being rain) we drove an hour south and had lunch with our Root*Center*Son.
We even got a little FaceTime with new baby grandson, Rowan! :-) Very funny because in the minute he was on camera he spit up for us. LOL! Gift and call from Daughter, too. Had dinner out on the porch tonight.
Very nice and relaxing times. Much needed.
Only negative is a mild digestive virus that precludes me going to my Peer meeting in NH tomorrow.
The mission of Catholic Charities agencies is to provide service to people in need, to advocate for justice in social structures, and to call the entire church and other people of good will to do the same.
listener, there's a Mormon temple in there, too, and who's to say that all the rest are Catholic? But they are the two *richest* churches in the world, bar none.
Perhaps I'm too much of a Quaker to see it otherwise. I felt bad when my Meeting stopped renting space at the Unitarians and went looking for their own building. And that's given the fact that every Meeting I've ever belonged to that did have a building ran a virtual homeless shelter downstairs.
I'm thinking too of Dorothy Day of the Catholic Worker and Mother Teresa of Calcutta. I think the use of the Catholic Church in the collage is ill advised. JMNSHO.
Okay, rants over. Ha!
I'm glad for your happy moment, Jo! <3 May there be more soon!!
Just so you know, we're meeting up sort of near the ice cream vendor at Oak Ledge next Sunday! Jessica has confirmed it. You'll be there, right?
Wish I knew, Listener. Never dealt with fire, but sure did with hurricanes. Best thing is to evacuate and let it pass. You cannot save your house/property by staying in it.
She's near Loveland. As best as I can tell, no danger from the fire. But smoke maybe. She's been having trouble with breathing, so may be she's feeling too crummy to blog. Or maybe they decided to go camping elsewhere, out of smoke area? I too wish she'd check in. Love and light.
I apologize for not checking in. We are here, safe, but I am feeling the smoke with respect to breathing. I have little energy so just do small things.
The fires are getting under control according to the radio this morning. And, the Black Forest Fire is under criminal investigation, so there may be evidence that someone started it deliberately. Almost 500 homes have been destroyed.
The Rocky Mountain National Park fire is nearing control as well, but we are much closer to it and downwind.
The past couple of days, I've called and visited residents asking them to sign a petition to put our access and interior roads under the auspices of the county. Two friends have been with me.
Two days ago, a woman was so rude and nasty ("I don't trust anybody. I don't care about anybody here...") that I am not sure I'm willing to visit someone I haven't called first or whom I know.
That also happened in canvassing for Obama when an Estes Park man grabbed my shoulders yelling that Obama was the worst President we had ever had, etc.
So, with that I'm low on energy, though I check in and read the messages periodically.
Thanks for thinking of me. We are good here, though my chest feels like it has a boulder on it.
Glad Shirlee that you are home and doing well. My thoughts for you, Jo. I'm so hoping that there will come a break for you soon. And, Barb, Puddle, I think of you.
Was just reading comments on someone's blog, and about a quarter of her peeps believe that Ring Around the Rosie comes from the Black Plague years. I remember getting that email about a decade ago, and snopsed it, and never passed it on. But if you wonder about low information voters. . . .
How is this for a pure miracle, folks? I had an appointment with my ortho surgeon today. There was no surgery that could be done. This type of break just has to heal on its own. He wanted to see how it was healing--nicely, he says. But, I was saved from a major break on that side by a screw in a the metal plate that was used to repair a 2010 fracture in my femur!!!! I had a total hip replacement on the right side in 1988. That young surgeon came in gloating--"I put that in there to STAY." He did, 25 years later it is still intact, no problems. Apparently, they usually last about 10 years. I have not been particularly easy on it. I am naturally klutzy and in its early years fell many times. Wouldn't care to do that now-- bones are much thinner. Hope this was the last pure klutziness, although the young doc at the hospital called it a "mechanical fall."--combination of wheel on my cart, my shoe and the bathroom door frame. Thanks for being here;)
Some times we get the good breaks, Shirlee. I have friends who have had hip replacements and then ten years later had to have them again. I'm glad for the duration and stability you've had with yours.
Smatterings of rain here, temperatures very comfortable - 60s and 70s.
We were talking here about politics. How do we as a country transform ourselves from militarism, greed, environmental exploitation and degradation, and anger, ideology, isolation, and dysfunctional relationships?
Oh, and all federal and state elections are financed by the government and no PAC contributions allowed. Further, campaigning is limited to six weeks, and the media is obligated to broadcast the candidates' discussions and speeches, if they want to keep their FCC licenses, since the airwaves belong to the people.
So good to hear from you, Pat. I always miss your idealistic visions--wish we could make SOME of them happen. We must get rid of the tea-naggers and their hangers-on. Done it again--thought I was typing 'baggers'' and hit the n. Oh, well, Puddle liked it--will leave it.
puddle...but why does the collage pick on faith traditions at all? In many parts of the world the faith traditions are the only ones helping those in poverty! It just seems a bit ignorant to me. Why not photos of Congress, various parliaments and heck, the average Joe?
Pat, I am sad for you having to endure the smoke so long. When the smoke came down to Vermont from the Canadian fires a couple of years ago, it was really hard and I suspect that was a small percentage of what you have there. Do you have any air purifiers? Having at least one room with air purifiers can give you a refuge and it sure helps with sleeping. Are they opening shelters at all? Thinking of you and so glad to hear the fires are getting under control! XOX
A quick good morning. Off soon to meet an old friend I team taught with. We will have breakfast at the Egg and I in Estes.
Thanks, Listener, for the suggestions and commiseration. We have a purifier in the bedroom and a humidifier. But, I'm in and out all day long, and the particulates are there, though today feels better.
I think I mentioned that this asthma business began in 1997 in Inner Mongolia when we were part of the U.S./China Teachers' Exchange Program. The coal soot was dense and by January of that year, I had trouble breathing. It took a couple of years as the doctor said to clear my lungs.
I think anyone who has had allergies, asthma, and other respirator problems would say that clean air is essential. The oil and gas industries and other entities that oppose the EPA and clean air standards are reprehensible in my perception.
The main cause of death in China is respiratory illness.
But, today is better. We've been getting smatterings of rain, and we're so grateful.
listener, perhaps because the faith traditions are the ones who *make money* off of people's desire to help the less fortunate? Which isn't true of governments or the average Joe?
I stopped donating to the Red Cross the years Libby Dole was the President, and made $450,000/year. Same year, the guy who ran the Salvation Army charity wing was making $12,000. . . .
I have on going fusses with my family about the LDS church's tithing being tax deductible because it's "charity" -- my theory is what is given to a church to keep you in "good standing" is NOT charity, it's DUES.
If you google: two *richest* churches in the world, these are the first two entries
About 108,000,000 results (0.20 seconds) Search Results
The Vatican Billions - Two Thousand Years of Wealth Accumulation ... www.bibliotecapleyades.net/vatican/vatican_billions.htm Roman Catholicism, which claims to be His church, is the richest of the rich, the .... The Church Triumphant began to vest herself with the raiment of the world.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Wikipedia, the free ... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints The church is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, and has established .... He also introduced the church to a full accounting of his First Vision, in which two ..... to find the locations and meeting times of its congregations all over the world. History - Sexuality and Mormonism - Criticism of The Church of ... - Worship services
As the kind of Democrat that I am, I DO hold my gubbmint responsible. I also understand that that view has considerable opposition in place. I'm not seeing that the faith traditions have the same built in opposition.
My ending with the Ethical Society came over their craft shows for charity. Where they went out and begged craft people for donations of items, and held an auction, the proceeds of which went 100% to charity. Since craft people can *only* deduct the cost of materials, not their time, nor expertise, nor the value of the item, *they* were the ones being rooked. If they simply held a craft show and used the fees, and a portion of total sales, it would be fair all around. I was told that there was no interest on the part of members to do that. That by doing it the way they chose to, the members could deduct mileage and craft show entry costs for the begging. And that was the thing that kept them interested enough to do it all. So every year they made a couple of hundred thousand bucks, and the crafts people got a virtual zip. At the time, the average crafter was making $17,500/year--poverty level. For me, at the time, my average doll cost about $25 in materials, and three weeks (15 hours days times 21 days), and sold for $400. So if I donated, I got a $25 deduction, and they got a $400 doll. But the members got the fun of being able to deduct the full cost of going to craft shows, whether or not they even got a donation at any given show.
I'm sorry, but for me, the sight of gold leaf and jewels associated with any religious display just makes me cringe.
A wonderful evening with Howard last night! Many pictures were taken and will be posted later today. My tablet takes fantastic pictures and video.
One of the best photographers in Seattle was there taking really nice professional pictures. Can't wait to get to work to see them. No time now.
Burt gave Howard and Arshan each a copy of his Cognitive Biases book. Each was delighted.
We talked with Howard about many things, but I think the thing that delighted him most was when I mentioned that it was Marcia that tweeted him when he was on Lawrence O'Donnald. I knew it was her the minute he said that a friend from NH just tweeted him and said.... So I got on Facebook right away and asked her and she confirmed. And Burt talked to him about other appearances he has had on other shows so Howard does know that folks still watch him and appreciate his candor.
Ok, gotta get to work. much love and hugs all around.
Quiet, rainy day here. With a flash flood watch. Which I'm thinking isn't going to happen, judging by the radar. But who knows. The car is up the hill for the nonce.
Agree, Puddle, agree. I quit the American Lutheran Church not exactly for that reason--although we were always being urged to give more and more--but the hold they seemed to think they had over my personal life. I had five children and then decided to go for my undergraduate degree. The pastor showed up at my door, concerned, and asked if we could pray about it. I said certainly not. He turned on his heel and walked out the door. In Texas they refused to let my younger sister be married in their church because she was pregnant, even though my father had for years had been one of their best members for volunteering to do repair work. They never went back either. Something about the position of believing you are a conduit from a god to lesser beings breeds an arrogance this old Irishwoman will not tolerate. (My rant over)
Shirlee, your rant kinda reminds me of a Mittens story. When he was either a bishop or stake president, he was counseling a young lady with two very little kids (she was never married). "Suggested" she give up the baby (who was white) for adoption into a proper Mormon family. She was free to keep the non-white two year old. . . .
I remember reading Friendly Persuasion when I was in Junior High, and being totally blown away that a WOMAN in 1830 could be a Clerk of the Meeting. Probably primed me for them 40 odd years later, lol!
Rants understood. Not all churches are the same, and I have never ever "tithed" even was I was a postulant for the Episcopal priesthood, so I know it's not required (at least in a "thinking" church).
I wasn't talking about the inner workings of faith communities. I was simply pointing to the good that Catholic Charities and others do. There are many many individuals who are not connected with faith traditions who also do good. And many more who do NOT! I guess it's harder to put up a collage of them, though, since they aren't under a banner. I still feel it's inappropriate *to the topic* to single out faith traditions.
whitznd!! Thanks so much for the Howard sighting notes! I am looking forward to seeing him again and hearing from him on Sunday. Does he have any thoughts on where we go from here?
Wow! A tornado hit Denver International Airport today! No damage, but here's an interesting tidbit from WU...
Tornadoes are difficult to observe, since they rarely move over instruments that can directly measure their winds. A rare exception occurred on Tuesday, when an EF-1 tornado obligingly ran directly over the weather station at Denver International Airport, which recorded a wind gust of 97 mph. Remarkably, the weather station was not destroyed, and continued to transmit data after the tornado had passed. There was no major damage reported at the airport.
50 comments:
Howard and all the Deaniacs are First!!
woºt!!!
OMG. What a picture. Brings tears. Indeed, words fail...
Impromptu Haiku
caught in the crossfire
'tween lies, damn lies, statistics
let dean be howard.
Don't remember who wrote this but I LOVED it and have kept it all these years.
Barb I think it was our deaar puddle who wrote that. I could be wrong but it also sounds like something that she would write.
such a horrific photo, hurts the heart it does. brings back some perspective.
It truly does seem like our Puddle. What is the phrase about one picture being worth a thousand words--this is it.
Wouldn't it make a fine poster for a fight hunger campaign?
it's amazing how the universe sends us what we need, just when we need it sometimes!
I was having a bit of a meltdown last night, crying which I seldom do, discouraged and feeling so useless, I need a job so badly and was just feeling like a big loser.
so I am out transplanting some things into my front yard this morning and along comes a couple who look familiar, walking their dog and enjoying the beautiful weather. we started to talk, about how hard it is to keep lawns growing in this neighborhood and somehow my hip surgery came up and Bob says "that was you! I thought you looked familiar!" turns out we had spoken to each other out in front of my son's house about a year ago, they were walking and he was in obvious pain and I asked about it - he needed a hip relpacement but didn't want to do it, he was scared of the surgery and the outcome. I told him all about my surgery and what a blessing it was for me and that I would do it again in a heartbeat. so today he tells me it was that conversation that made him decide to have the surgery and he was sooo thankful, he had the same surgeon as I did and was feeling better than he had in a long time, many years! that made me feel so good, you never know what little things that you do or say turn out to make a big difference to someone. ;)
Alas, I'm not the author of that haiku. Wisht I were!
Jo, lovely story. AND hope you're feeling a bit better: *love* you!
I had to get up in the middle of the night and find another comforter. That's after nearly a week of having to get up in the middle of the night to turn the a/c on! Verrrrrrrrrrry mixed up weather!!
Sprung from re-hab earlier today. Really good to be home.
Back in my leafy perch on the second floor and things are totally green and flowery up and down Elm street, the train s are still half a block away. Missed 'em,I did.
Oh, yay!! So glad you're home!! Lovely perch for a lovely lady!!
I made it to the store today, and back (just John's), so the car's back in its regular space. Been up the hill for better than a week. Wonder how long before it's back up there.
YAY Shirlee! Dorothy was right, there's no place like home! It sounds lovely! I'm sO thankful that Brenda is always there for you - give each other a big hug for me!
Puddle O hope the rains are gentle for you!
It was perfect weather here today, low humidity, 70s with a nice breeze, heaven! I spent more time gardening today than I have in almost 4 years, I accomplished alot and have things ready to go tomorrow before it rains. puddle the large clumps of clove pinks are blooming, my whole front yard smells fantastic!
My lawn doesn't do well since it was destroyed a few years ago by dry, dry conditions for the entire summer and an incredible amount of grubs, so I have been planting peremmials out there since then and this year I have veggies going there as well. I don't rake the leaves out of the beds in the fall so the existing gardens are in fine shape, what once was sandy is now nice loamy soil. The areas I'm planting now are quite sandy so I am adding humus, manure and compost. I will mulch well and hopefully it will retain water better than it has. Whew! I just started yesterday, I have been sleeping quite well! I'll take pics when I get a bit more planted.
Love you all!
sorry for the typos, apparently my brain is as tired as my body!
I was kinda thinking that it was Farmin' Phil (to quote Kimmy) or David Stevenson that wrote that haiku? Wish I had copied the name as well as the verse when I saved it.
Glad you're back Shirelee.
Thank you all for your loving wishes. Brenda brought in supper, re--arranged some furniture, has me settled in bed.
She offered to stay the night, but I think she needs to be rested for the visit tomorrow with the home health care nurse. I can navigate safely between bedroom and bathroom. Midnight banana here by my side, no need to
Go further.
P.S. I am glad you are able to working inyour yard and garden, Jo. And, Puddle--thank you for buying supplies--
We won't have to worry about you being hungry etc in case of more storms :)
Shirlee, not to worry--I never get remotely close to being out of food, lol! I keep a fair amount of stuff I'm not that fond of so it's never in any danger of being eaten all up before I go grocery shopping again. I have rice and olives and macaroni and spaghetti and tomatoes and applesauce and pears, and even cranberry sauce! Have raisins and lentils and shrimp chips and many kinds of beans and butter. And just now, about four dozen eggs (Nancy's chickees are getting ahead of me, so there's a quiche in ma life soon. . . . ).
good day all, happy fathers day to the dads in your lives!
I am soooo happy! remember how my pc died and the backup didn't back up what was in the folders on my desktop? well it did, I simply couldn't find them in the data file because it automatically loadeed them into folders of the same name on the desktop of my laptop! I found my years of photos last night when I was looking for photos of my Dad! woot!
Ah, Jo, that is SO nice!!
Happy Days, JO and Puddle. Good day here also. A nurse arrived from CareSouth to get my background, current problems, and start a plan. Should know regular schedule by Tuesday . Have an appointment with orthopedic surgeon on Mon for a check. Apparently Medicare does not pay for home health visits on those days. Seems to be a very good agency so far.
No word from Pat and the fires in CO? Worrisome.
Have to say I'm a bit annoyed with the insinuations in the photo collage out front. Why highlight the Catholic faith especially, given that Catholic Charities is one of the best organised and respected organisations in the world? They are often the Go-To group for donations because so much of what is given actually gets where it's needed, and they have the boots on the ground and the diplomacy in many cases to bring it about. It's also an outdated pope photo. Pope Francis is far more frugal than any pope in modern times, and is very oriented toward poverty relief. Maybe I don't understand the post.
Hallo! I hope everyone had a special Father's Day in celebration or remembrance. On Saturday, I took Bill out sailing with our Eldest and his daughter (VT*Grand). Perfect weather, glorious sail, ice cream cones afterward. Then today (weather being rain) we drove an hour south and had lunch with our Root*Center*Son.
We even got a little FaceTime with new baby grandson, Rowan! :-) Very funny because in the minute he was on camera he spit up for us. LOL! Gift and call from Daughter, too. Had dinner out on the porch tonight.
Very nice and relaxing times. Much needed.
Only negative is a mild digestive virus that precludes me going to my Peer meeting in NH tomorrow.
The mission of Catholic Charities agencies is to provide service to people in need, to advocate for justice in social structures, and to call the entire church and other people of good will to do the same.
https://support.catholiccharitiesusa.org/p/salsa/donation/common/public/?donate_page_KEY=9113&track=BPI_gs_18753974814_catholic%20charities&gclid=CJXyg6Wl6rcCFcuh4Aodb0IAfw
Catholic Relief Services is the worldwide organisation:
http://www.crs.org/?utm_source=google-grant&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=catholic-keywords&gclid=COOLi_Gl6rcCFYOd4AodVlEAgQ
They are top rated by Charity Watch and Charity Navigator.
For an overview of what they have done in the 70 years they've existed, see:
http://crs.org/70th/
listener, there's a Mormon temple in there, too, and who's to say that all the rest are Catholic? But they are the two *richest* churches in the world, bar none.
Perhaps I'm too much of a Quaker to see it otherwise. I felt bad when my Meeting stopped renting space at the Unitarians and went looking for their own building. And that's given the fact that every Meeting I've ever belonged to that did have a building ran a virtual homeless shelter downstairs.
I'm thinking too of Dorothy Day of the Catholic Worker and Mother Teresa of Calcutta. I think the use of the Catholic Church in the collage is ill advised. JMNSHO.
Okay, rants over. Ha!
I'm glad for your happy moment, Jo! <3
May there be more soon!!
Just so you know, we're meeting up sort of near the ice cream vendor at Oak Ledge next Sunday! Jessica has confirmed it. You'll be there, right?
{{{ Pat }}}
What town does she live in?
Could she have been evacuated?
Wish I knew, Listener. Never dealt with fire, but sure did with hurricanes. Best thing is to evacuate and let it pass. You cannot save your house/property by staying in it.
Hoping we hear soon from Pat.
She's near Loveland. As best as I can tell, no danger from the fire. But smoke maybe. She's been having trouble with breathing, so may be she's feeling too crummy to blog. Or maybe they decided to go camping elsewhere, out of smoke area? I too wish she'd check in. Love and light.
Thanks, Puddle--at least now we can check a CO. Map and match it with the news.
Dear Friends,
I apologize for not checking in. We are here, safe, but I am feeling the smoke with respect to breathing. I have little energy so just do small things.
The fires are getting under control according to the radio this morning. And, the Black Forest Fire is under criminal investigation, so there may be evidence that someone started it deliberately. Almost 500 homes have been destroyed.
The Rocky Mountain National Park fire is nearing control as well, but we are much closer to it and downwind.
The past couple of days, I've called and visited residents asking them to sign a petition to put our access and interior roads under the auspices of the county. Two friends have been with me.
Two days ago, a woman was so rude and nasty ("I don't trust anybody. I don't care about anybody here...") that I am not sure I'm willing to visit someone I haven't called first or whom I know.
That also happened in canvassing for Obama when an Estes Park man grabbed my shoulders yelling that Obama was the worst President we had ever had, etc.
So, with that I'm low on energy, though I check in and read the messages periodically.
Thanks for thinking of me. We are good here, though my chest feels like it has a boulder on it.
Glad Shirlee that you are home and doing well. My thoughts for you, Jo. I'm so hoping that there will come a break for you soon. And, Barb, Puddle, I think of you.
Pat
Was just reading comments on someone's blog, and about a quarter of her peeps believe that Ring Around the Rosie comes from the Black Plague years. I remember getting that email about a decade ago, and snopsed it, and never passed it on. But if you wonder about low information voters. . . .
How is this for a pure miracle, folks? I had an appointment with my ortho surgeon today. There was no surgery that could be done. This type of break just has to heal on its own. He wanted to see how it was healing--nicely, he says.
But, I was saved from a major break on that side by a screw in a the metal plate that was used to repair a 2010 fracture in my femur!!!! I had a total hip replacement on the right side in 1988. That young surgeon came in gloating--"I put that in there to STAY." He did, 25 years later it is still intact, no problems. Apparently, they usually last about 10 years.
I have not been particularly easy on it. I am naturally klutzy and in its early years fell many times. Wouldn't care to do that now-- bones are much thinner.
Hope this was the last pure klutziness, although the young doc at the hospital called it a "mechanical fall."--combination of wheel on my cart, my shoe and the bathroom door frame. Thanks for being here;)
Hello again,
Some times we get the good breaks, Shirlee. I have friends who have had hip replacements and then ten years later had to have them again. I'm glad for the duration and stability you've had with yours.
Smatterings of rain here, temperatures very comfortable - 60s and 70s.
We were talking here about politics. How do we as a country transform ourselves from militarism, greed, environmental exploitation and degradation, and anger, ideology, isolation, and dysfunctional relationships?
David's solution, "Keep electing Obamas."
Oh, and all federal and state elections are financed by the government and no PAC contributions allowed. Further, campaigning is limited to six weeks, and the media is obligated to broadcast the candidates' discussions and speeches, if they want to keep their FCC licenses, since the airwaves belong to the people.
So good to hear from you, Pat. I always miss your idealistic visions--wish we could make SOME of them happen.
We must get rid of the tea-naggers and their hangers-on.
Done it again--thought I was typing 'baggers'' and hit the n.
Oh, well, Puddle liked it--will leave it.
So good to have you back. Stay safe.
Pat, it IS nice to have you back. Hope the air cleans soon!
Shirlee, sounds as if yer doing *good* and I am sooooooooooo glad! Keep it up!
puddle...but why does the collage pick on faith traditions at all? In many parts of the world the faith traditions are the only ones helping those in poverty! It just seems a bit ignorant to me. Why not photos of Congress, various parliaments and heck, the average Joe?
Pat, I am sad for you having to endure the smoke so long. When the smoke came down to Vermont from the Canadian fires a couple of years ago, it was really hard and I suspect that was a small percentage of what you have there. Do you have any air purifiers? Having at least one room with air purifiers can give you a refuge and it sure helps with sleeping. Are they opening shelters at all? Thinking of you and so glad to hear the fires are getting under control! XOX
A quick good morning. Off soon to meet an old friend I team taught with. We will have breakfast at the Egg and I in Estes.
Thanks, Listener, for the suggestions and commiseration. We have a purifier in the bedroom and a humidifier. But, I'm in and out all day long, and the particulates are there, though today feels better.
I think I mentioned that this asthma business began in 1997 in Inner Mongolia when we were part of the U.S./China Teachers' Exchange Program. The coal soot was dense and by January of that year, I had trouble breathing. It took a couple of years as the doctor said to clear my lungs.
I think anyone who has had allergies, asthma, and other respirator problems would say that clean air is essential. The oil and gas industries and other entities that oppose the EPA and clean air standards are reprehensible in my perception.
The main cause of death in China is respiratory illness.
But, today is better. We've been getting smatterings of rain, and we're so grateful.
listener, perhaps because the faith traditions are the ones who *make money* off of people's desire to help the less fortunate? Which isn't true of governments or the average Joe?
I stopped donating to the Red Cross the years Libby Dole was the President, and made $450,000/year. Same year, the guy who ran the Salvation Army charity wing was making $12,000. . . .
I have on going fusses with my family about the LDS church's tithing being tax deductible because it's "charity" -- my theory is what is given to a church to keep you in "good standing" is NOT charity, it's DUES.
If you google: two *richest* churches in the world, these are the first two entries
About 108,000,000 results (0.20 seconds)
Search Results
The Vatican Billions - Two Thousand Years of Wealth Accumulation ...
www.bibliotecapleyades.net/vatican/vatican_billions.htm
Roman Catholicism, which claims to be His church, is the richest of the rich, the .... The Church Triumphant began to vest herself with the raiment of the world.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Wikipedia, the free ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints
The church is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, and has established .... He also introduced the church to a full accounting of his First Vision, in which two ..... to find the locations and meeting times of its congregations all over the world.
History - Sexuality and Mormonism - Criticism of The Church of ... - Worship services
As the kind of Democrat that I am, I DO hold my gubbmint responsible. I also understand that that view has considerable opposition in place. I'm not seeing that the faith traditions have the same built in opposition.
My ending with the Ethical Society came over their craft shows for charity. Where they went out and begged craft people for donations of items, and held an auction, the proceeds of which went 100% to charity. Since craft people can *only* deduct the cost of materials, not their time, nor expertise, nor the value of the item, *they* were the ones being rooked. If they simply held a craft show and used the fees, and a portion of total sales, it would be fair all around. I was told that there was no interest on the part of members to do that. That by doing it the way they chose to, the members could deduct mileage and craft show entry costs for the begging. And that was the thing that kept them interested enough to do it all. So every year they made a couple of hundred thousand bucks, and the crafts people got a virtual zip. At the time, the average crafter was making $17,500/year--poverty level. For me, at the time, my average doll cost about $25 in materials, and three weeks (15 hours days times 21 days), and sold for $400. So if I donated, I got a $25 deduction, and they got a $400 doll. But the members got the fun of being able to deduct the full cost of going to craft shows, whether or not they even got a donation at any given show.
I'm sorry, but for me, the sight of gold leaf and jewels associated with any religious display just makes me cringe.
/rant off
A wonderful evening with Howard last night! Many pictures were taken and will be posted later today. My tablet takes fantastic pictures and video.
One of the best photographers in Seattle was there taking really nice professional pictures. Can't wait to get to work to see them. No time now.
Burt gave Howard and Arshan each a copy of his Cognitive Biases book. Each was delighted.
We talked with Howard about many things, but I think the thing that delighted him most was when I mentioned that it was Marcia that tweeted him when he was on Lawrence O'Donnald. I knew it was her the minute he said that a friend from NH just tweeted him and said.... So I got on Facebook right away and asked her and she confirmed. And Burt talked to him about other appearances he has had on other shows so Howard does know that folks still watch him and appreciate his candor.
Ok, gotta get to work. much love and hugs all around.
Quiet, rainy day here. With a flash flood watch. Which I'm thinking isn't going to happen, judging by the radar. But who knows. The car is up the hill for the nonce.
Agree, Puddle, agree. I quit the American Lutheran Church not exactly for that reason--although we were always being urged to give more and more--but the hold they seemed to think they had over my personal life. I had five children and then decided to go for my undergraduate degree. The pastor showed up at my door, concerned, and asked if we could pray about it. I said certainly not. He turned on his heel and walked out the door. In Texas they refused to let my younger sister be married in their church because she was pregnant, even though my father had for years had been one of their best members for volunteering to do repair work.
They never went back either. Something about the position of believing you are a conduit from a god to lesser beings breeds an arrogance this old Irishwoman will not tolerate. (My rant over)
Barb, sounds totally loverly!
Shirlee, your rant kinda reminds me of a Mittens story. When he was either a bishop or stake president, he was counseling a young lady with two very little kids (she was never married). "Suggested" she give up the baby (who was white) for adoption into a proper Mormon family. She was free to keep the non-white two year old. . . .
I remember reading Friendly Persuasion when I was in Junior High, and being totally blown away that a WOMAN in 1830 could be a Clerk of the Meeting. Probably primed me for them 40 odd years later, lol!
I think I need to read Friendly Persuasion --not sure how I missed it. Too busy raising kids, going to school, etc. I guess!
Rants understood. Not all churches are the same, and I have never ever "tithed" even was I was a postulant for the Episcopal priesthood, so I know it's not required (at least in a "thinking" church).
I wasn't talking about the inner workings of faith communities. I was simply pointing to the good that Catholic Charities and others do. There are many many individuals who are not connected with faith traditions who also do good. And many more who do NOT! I guess it's harder to put up a collage of them, though, since they aren't under a banner. I still feel it's inappropriate *to the topic* to single out faith traditions.
whitznd!! Thanks so much for the Howard sighting notes! I am looking forward to seeing him again and hearing from him on Sunday. Does he have any thoughts on where we go from here?
Pat! Hurrah for the smatterings of rain and some relief!!
Got this today in my Inbox and thought of you:
http://www.hammacher.com/Product/81655?source=EMQ084&cm_ven=WC&cm_cat=20130618_EMQ084&cm_pla=BYR&cm_ite=81655_The%20Mold%20and%20Germ%20Destroying%20Air%20Purifier
Wow! A tornado hit Denver International Airport today! No damage, but here's an interesting tidbit from WU...
Tornadoes are difficult to observe, since they rarely move over instruments that can directly measure their winds. A rare exception occurred on Tuesday, when an EF-1 tornado obligingly ran directly over the weather station at Denver International Airport, which recorded a wind gust of 97 mph. Remarkably, the weather station was not destroyed, and continued to transmit data after the tornado had passed. There was no major damage reported at the airport.
DEAN REUNION article:
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20130618/NEWS03/306180024/Howard-Dean-staff-mark-10th-anniversary-presidential-campaign
new thread - with a video that has our dear Howard showing off one of his favorite accomplishments!
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