My last entry made me think about people going postal. Hmmmmmmm. Such a modern term. What did they call it back in the 1300s? You know there were people who went ape-shit about things and rampaged through their villages. Did they burn things with torches? Going torchy? Going pyro? Did they steal one item here-and-there to make people in their community think they were losing it? Going bandit?
I bet it was going crazy. Being a lunatic.
It's funny (not "ha ha" funny) how we call it going postal. It's the same old thing as it always was. Someone is unbalanced and goes over the edge. They went (or are going) crazy. Why don't we call it going gunny...
Friday, September 3, 2010
Life in These Uncertain Times
Another one of those sleepless nights. Okay, not sleepless, but short bursts of sleep dispersed around long bursts of awake. So much to think about, to consider.
Joe is planning to leave a secure job (yes, in this economy) because he’s unhappy. He moved to Oklahoma City nearly two years ago in order to keep on the “safe path” of job security and hates it. What more can a person do? He’s given it his best shot.
How does Mom, Muth, Moi, M, feel about it? PROUD. Oh my gosh. How could I not be tickled pink that my son is following his heart in what we think of as such uncertain times. If we didn’t listen to the news so much, how uncertain would these times be?
Think back to your Social Studies/History classes in school. Remember all those maps of countries and territories we studied? Their boundaries changed with invasions and wars. Heck, the globe I used as a child is outdated because of all the changes in the last fifty years. And what were the little people doing during all those changes? Going about their daily lives.
All the current political turmoil, threats of terrorism and nuclear war, drug wars, oil wars, etc., etc., etc., makes the general public anxious about “where we’re going,” and “where this country is heading,” but it’s pretty much out of our control. Yeah, we can vote, and we should. Beyond that, unless you’re willing to make sacrifices (fight, battle, make a stand), let it be. Do your civic duties, volunteer to help when you can and for a cause you believe in, and keep your nose clean. No reason to go postal over things we cannot control.
Many of the peons and peasants of bygone eras would have given a parcel of their best harvest in order to have our freedoms and choices. Going about their daily lives, though, was daily routine. Same for us. Life. Having nutritious food (as much as you can afford of what’s available), adequate shelter, preferably a home (a comfy and secure place to lay your head when the necessity of sleep is upon you), family (the ones you like), friends (the ones who would be family if you had a choice), health (as good as it can be without being OCD), hard work (so you can earn your way), and merriment (whatever makes the hard work of living worth the effort). Surround yourself with who and what makes you healthy, happy and content. Our existence is fleeting. We are but a teeny dot in this universe. Let your dot be your haven. Follow your heart.
For all those people (especially moms) of olden days who had no idea where their loved ones went as they followed life’s path, I will cherish and appreciate the technology that allows me to be privy to my loved ones’ journeys. And I will do this while making a conscious effort to put blathering news media and doomsday peddlers in a far corner of my mind. And go about my daily routine. Life.
Joe is planning to leave a secure job (yes, in this economy) because he’s unhappy. He moved to Oklahoma City nearly two years ago in order to keep on the “safe path” of job security and hates it. What more can a person do? He’s given it his best shot.
How does Mom, Muth, Moi, M, feel about it? PROUD. Oh my gosh. How could I not be tickled pink that my son is following his heart in what we think of as such uncertain times. If we didn’t listen to the news so much, how uncertain would these times be?
Think back to your Social Studies/History classes in school. Remember all those maps of countries and territories we studied? Their boundaries changed with invasions and wars. Heck, the globe I used as a child is outdated because of all the changes in the last fifty years. And what were the little people doing during all those changes? Going about their daily lives.
All the current political turmoil, threats of terrorism and nuclear war, drug wars, oil wars, etc., etc., etc., makes the general public anxious about “where we’re going,” and “where this country is heading,” but it’s pretty much out of our control. Yeah, we can vote, and we should. Beyond that, unless you’re willing to make sacrifices (fight, battle, make a stand), let it be. Do your civic duties, volunteer to help when you can and for a cause you believe in, and keep your nose clean. No reason to go postal over things we cannot control.
Many of the peons and peasants of bygone eras would have given a parcel of their best harvest in order to have our freedoms and choices. Going about their daily lives, though, was daily routine. Same for us. Life. Having nutritious food (as much as you can afford of what’s available), adequate shelter, preferably a home (a comfy and secure place to lay your head when the necessity of sleep is upon you), family (the ones you like), friends (the ones who would be family if you had a choice), health (as good as it can be without being OCD), hard work (so you can earn your way), and merriment (whatever makes the hard work of living worth the effort). Surround yourself with who and what makes you healthy, happy and content. Our existence is fleeting. We are but a teeny dot in this universe. Let your dot be your haven. Follow your heart.
For all those people (especially moms) of olden days who had no idea where their loved ones went as they followed life’s path, I will cherish and appreciate the technology that allows me to be privy to my loved ones’ journeys. And I will do this while making a conscious effort to put blathering news media and doomsday peddlers in a far corner of my mind. And go about my daily routine. Life.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Islamic Mosque
I have received several emails bashing the Mosque approved for New York City. It's too close to the World Trade Center site. They're building it at Ground Zero. I don't have an opinion yet on the situation because I haven't heard/read enough unbiased information. But I do know that nothing has been built at ground zero. Bashing Muslims is like saying all Baptists are bad because of Jimmy Swaggart, that all Catholics are bad because of child molesting perverts. Check out this article.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/14/nyregion/14mosque.html?ref=park51
Excerpt: But what the two mosques have in common — besides the sense of celebration and camaraderie that comes at the beginning of Ramadan, the holiest month of the Islamic calendar, in which Muslims fast from sunup to sundown, give alms and focus on self-improvement — is that both have existed for decades, largely unnoticed, blocks from the World Trade Center site.
This article says the Muslim population has exploded exponentially and the extras have been praying in the Burlington Coat Factory, which, I think, is the site they want for the new facility. The huge number of Muslims in the area is a fact; there are many, many restaurants and other businesses in the area that cater to the Muslims. The Muslims I have known personally are peaceful people. Once year I taught one student whose father was scary... but I taught more students with White Supremist leanings than Muslims. Now THAT's scary to me.
Those who listen to jerks on Fox News who just love to stir up the American public – what the hell? Instead of just complaining and blaming, why don’t they come up with workable solutions? Sarah Palin? What a joke. John McCain? Another joke. Why can't politicians and news anchors set an example by being unbiased and work toward making things better instead of agitating the pinheads who make decisions based on bias?
I’m saddened by all the emails I receive bashing Obama for this – he did NOT cause the problem. I do not agree with everthing our current President has done, but he did inherit the Bush/Cheney mess. And it IS a mess.
Please don’t send any emails bashing the current administration unless an alternate plan is suggested. The mistake was made eons ago when we let all these people in to practice their religions as they wished. Oh my gosh, I don't practice any religion... should I hate everybody who does? Canada and many European countries are having the same problem. We’re being overrun by people who, just like us, want everything their way without question. White Americans are getting pay-back for what was done to the American natives.
Until people are willing to sacrifice their lives (civil war) many of the current issues won’t be settled. Everybody wants to complain, but nobody wants to get involved.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/14/nyregion/14mosque.html?ref=park51
Excerpt: But what the two mosques have in common — besides the sense of celebration and camaraderie that comes at the beginning of Ramadan, the holiest month of the Islamic calendar, in which Muslims fast from sunup to sundown, give alms and focus on self-improvement — is that both have existed for decades, largely unnoticed, blocks from the World Trade Center site.
This article says the Muslim population has exploded exponentially and the extras have been praying in the Burlington Coat Factory, which, I think, is the site they want for the new facility. The huge number of Muslims in the area is a fact; there are many, many restaurants and other businesses in the area that cater to the Muslims. The Muslims I have known personally are peaceful people. Once year I taught one student whose father was scary... but I taught more students with White Supremist leanings than Muslims. Now THAT's scary to me.
Those who listen to jerks on Fox News who just love to stir up the American public – what the hell? Instead of just complaining and blaming, why don’t they come up with workable solutions? Sarah Palin? What a joke. John McCain? Another joke. Why can't politicians and news anchors set an example by being unbiased and work toward making things better instead of agitating the pinheads who make decisions based on bias?
I’m saddened by all the emails I receive bashing Obama for this – he did NOT cause the problem. I do not agree with everthing our current President has done, but he did inherit the Bush/Cheney mess. And it IS a mess.
Please don’t send any emails bashing the current administration unless an alternate plan is suggested. The mistake was made eons ago when we let all these people in to practice their religions as they wished. Oh my gosh, I don't practice any religion... should I hate everybody who does? Canada and many European countries are having the same problem. We’re being overrun by people who, just like us, want everything their way without question. White Americans are getting pay-back for what was done to the American natives.
Until people are willing to sacrifice their lives (civil war) many of the current issues won’t be settled. Everybody wants to complain, but nobody wants to get involved.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Heat and redecorating
Last weekend was way too hot. But it was cool. Our main air conditioner died which gave me a two day reprieve from feeling guilty about not painting and/or wallpapering. I was back at it on Monday - I'm using wallpaper sizing as paint primer since there are no VOCs in sizing. The label says you can paint over it, so I am. I even called the sizing manufacturers and was told, that yes, you can paint over sizing. It's made that way in case you change your mind about wallpapering. Oh. Another option I hadn't thought of!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Pet Peeves Regarding "The News"
While many people find watching, reading, or listening to the news a way to keep informed, it is often a confusing mess of disjointed facts. Depending on which source one accesses, the spin can differ considerably. It's often better to form opinions after investigating national news from the perspective of several foreign sources, state news from across the nation, and local news from... well, somewhere else.
Peeve #1 - Missing information. A recent a two-part news report from a television station in Atlanta was about the Arizona border. The reporter indicated that a small percentage of the people crossing the border from Mexico into the United States are classified as OTM (other than Mexican). He went on to say some of those detained for illegal crossing are from countries known for less-than-favorable attitudes to the United States. Why isn't that information prominent in Arizona news reports?
Peeve #2 - Many local news stations don't know what ALERT means. An ALERT is an alarm or warning. An AMBER ALERT is an ALERT! Yes! They've got it! But its not to be... on the very same news program there is a WEATHER ALERT complete with flashing red letters to get your attention. Is there a tornado in the vicinity? A flash flood? Ohmygosh, should we take cover or take refuge on higher ground? No. On several of our local stations a Weather Alert is anything from a raging storm going on right now (truly an alert) to a puddle of water from yesterday's rain. Or it could be an alert about yesterday's potential flood in a state far, far away. A real flood would be news, not a fake alert. Why not use another word or phrase for lame weather information that is not an imminent alarm or warning? Maybe INTERESTING EVENT or SOMETHING HAPPENED. If it's interesting enough to be reported people would pay attention without diluting and rendering impotent such an important word as ALERT.
Peeve #3 - Many local news stations interview the witnesses at the site of an incident or accident, but instead of labeling the person as "witness" there is often wording such as "almost saw accident" or "knew victim's second cousin once removed" or something else equally mundane. News should be presented at a reading/listening level high enough that a sixth grade student doesn't feel insulted. Since when is "witness" a difficult word? Egads.
Peeve #4 - Why is local news so selective? Inconsistent? One evening you are treated to a dissertation of every car accident, bank robbery, and domestic disturbance in the metro area, and the very next day you have no idea why local police, the FBI, and the haz-mat team were at the supermarket where you shop, and they were not shopping. Maybe a "busted" (another of our anchors' favorite words) thermomenter with mercury threatening to roll under a display. Not newsworthy, one supposes.
So much for peeves - on to happier topics, like decorating...
Peeve #1 - Missing information. A recent a two-part news report from a television station in Atlanta was about the Arizona border. The reporter indicated that a small percentage of the people crossing the border from Mexico into the United States are classified as OTM (other than Mexican). He went on to say some of those detained for illegal crossing are from countries known for less-than-favorable attitudes to the United States. Why isn't that information prominent in Arizona news reports?
Peeve #2 - Many local news stations don't know what ALERT means. An ALERT is an alarm or warning. An AMBER ALERT is an ALERT! Yes! They've got it! But its not to be... on the very same news program there is a WEATHER ALERT complete with flashing red letters to get your attention. Is there a tornado in the vicinity? A flash flood? Ohmygosh, should we take cover or take refuge on higher ground? No. On several of our local stations a Weather Alert is anything from a raging storm going on right now (truly an alert) to a puddle of water from yesterday's rain. Or it could be an alert about yesterday's potential flood in a state far, far away. A real flood would be news, not a fake alert. Why not use another word or phrase for lame weather information that is not an imminent alarm or warning? Maybe INTERESTING EVENT or SOMETHING HAPPENED. If it's interesting enough to be reported people would pay attention without diluting and rendering impotent such an important word as ALERT.
Peeve #3 - Many local news stations interview the witnesses at the site of an incident or accident, but instead of labeling the person as "witness" there is often wording such as "almost saw accident" or "knew victim's second cousin once removed" or something else equally mundane. News should be presented at a reading/listening level high enough that a sixth grade student doesn't feel insulted. Since when is "witness" a difficult word? Egads.
Peeve #4 - Why is local news so selective? Inconsistent? One evening you are treated to a dissertation of every car accident, bank robbery, and domestic disturbance in the metro area, and the very next day you have no idea why local police, the FBI, and the haz-mat team were at the supermarket where you shop, and they were not shopping. Maybe a "busted" (another of our anchors' favorite words) thermomenter with mercury threatening to roll under a display. Not newsworthy, one supposes.
So much for peeves - on to happier topics, like decorating...
Monday, July 26, 2010
Home Decorating 101
How did I ever paint those rooms when I was younger? I’d decide to change the color, go buy the paint, slap it on the walls, and wall-ah (no pun intended) it’s a new room. What happened?
I’m almost 55 years old, like to change my décor every ten to fifteen years, and channel surf through DIY and HGTV and all those other shows that feature drill-toting, paint-brush wielding babes who can do it all. I’d love to see the outtakes of those shows.
What about the wallpaper that, when applied, is so thin you can see the pencil marks beneath it? I’d written “cut to 87”” in pencil so I wouldn’t need to measure to double check a sixth time. I’d already measured five times… measure twice, cut once… remember that? I’m the overcautious type. How attractive is a newly decorated wall when you can see the notes jotted on the wall beneath the paper? It isn’t. Scratch that 87” of wallpaper.
What about interior paint that has become so hazardous to breathe? As long as it contains chemicals including, but not limited to, glycol-something-or-other-et-al, you are liable to need a lung transfer as soon as the paint has “cured.” The paint may have finally cured, but the person applying it and/or living with it has begun a health issue most likely to lead to early death because fume sensitivity is, no doubt, a preexisting condition and won’t be covered under currently existing insurance rules.
What about the caulk instructions that tell the decorator to clean the area thoroughly with alcohol prior to caulking? Did they ever mention that alcohol will strip the design right off your new wallpaper? It may have been in the small print, but I doubt it. All the print was small (make that miniscule) and my eyes weren’t focusing any longer. I was at the point of trying to accomplish tasks that could be seen through my old, beat-up, drug-store cheaters as my new glasses were not pulling things into focus. Another one of those things – I’ve been to the eye doctor twice and they can’t tell why one eye might get tired faster than the other. Maybe it was the eye closest to the paint as it cured.
I’ve been working on this decorating project for a year now. A year. Yes, a year. I finally got the kitchen wallpapered (no small feat) and new outlets installed (thanks to my handy man, Randy). I can’t believe Randy’s patience. While I move back-and-forth between projects trying to juggle a multitude of difficulties (paint problems, wallpaper problems, electrical problems, etc.), he endures the house in total chaos.
It’s one thing to have my sewing room a disaster area with clutter being the norm, but having the main part of the house in upheaval makes me (yes, even me) crazy. I want so badly to find a job so I can afford to hire someone to finish the nightmare I have begun.
Thank you for listening. Sometimes ya just need to vent.
How did I ever paint those rooms when I was younger? I’d decide to change the color, go buy the paint, slap it on the walls, and wall-ah (no pun intended) it’s a new room. What happened?
I’m almost 55 years old, like to change my décor every ten to fifteen years, and channel surf through DIY and HGTV and all those other shows that feature drill-toting, paint-brush wielding babes who can do it all. I’d love to see the outtakes of those shows.
What about the wallpaper that, when applied, is so thin you can see the pencil marks beneath it? I’d written “cut to 87”” in pencil so I wouldn’t need to measure to double check a sixth time. I’d already measured five times… measure twice, cut once… remember that? I’m the overcautious type. How attractive is a newly decorated wall when you can see the notes jotted on the wall beneath the paper? It isn’t. Scratch that 87” of wallpaper.
What about interior paint that has become so hazardous to breathe? As long as it contains chemicals including, but not limited to, glycol-something-or-other-et-al, you are liable to need a lung transfer as soon as the paint has “cured.” The paint may have finally cured, but the person applying it and/or living with it has begun a health issue most likely to lead to early death because fume sensitivity is, no doubt, a preexisting condition and won’t be covered under currently existing insurance rules.
What about the caulk instructions that tell the decorator to clean the area thoroughly with alcohol prior to caulking? Did they ever mention that alcohol will strip the design right off your new wallpaper? It may have been in the small print, but I doubt it. All the print was small (make that miniscule) and my eyes weren’t focusing any longer. I was at the point of trying to accomplish tasks that could be seen through my old, beat-up, drug-store cheaters as my new glasses were not pulling things into focus. Another one of those things – I’ve been to the eye doctor twice and they can’t tell why one eye might get tired faster than the other. Maybe it was the eye closest to the paint as it cured.
I’ve been working on this decorating project for a year now. A year. Yes, a year. I finally got the kitchen wallpapered (no small feat) and new outlets installed (thanks to my handy man, Randy). I can’t believe Randy’s patience. While I move back-and-forth between projects trying to juggle a multitude of difficulties (paint problems, wallpaper problems, electrical problems, etc.), he endures the house in total chaos.
It’s one thing to have my sewing room a disaster area with clutter being the norm, but having the main part of the house in upheaval makes me (yes, even me) crazy. I want so badly to find a job so I can afford to hire someone to finish the nightmare I have begun.
Thank you for listening. Sometimes ya just need to vent.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)