YES!!! On Paul Ryan’s nomination
WSJ said it best the other day in their op-ed ‘Why NOT Paul Ryan?”
and this one Why NOT Paul Ryan?
Quick Political Observations
Excuse the shortness of this, but “real quick”, I want to capture some good articles as the country struggles under the weight of the economy, both domestic and global, and gears up for a heady election.
From recent WSJ and IBD editions
Great article on where the money goes for gas profits
Great article on Obama’s tendency to claim is he like Clinton, and why he is not
ditto, from Chicago Tribune
ditto, from Baltimore Sun
Great article on Economic Growth of 50s and 60s, and how today is different
Great “out” article on GM granting sub prime loans
Great article on the Entitlement Crisis
Great article on what’s happening in the middle class
Great article on how Iran bypasses sanctions
Medicaid Moment of Truth
The Farm Bill is no such Thing
A Fine for No Crime – the latest racial shakedown
Romney’s plan for Ecomonmic Recovery (important to note in case he wins)
Milton Friedman
Milton Friedman, the man who saved Capitalism
Dems join Repubs to block tax hikes in this climate
A recap on who Harry Reid is (smearmaster)
Finally, Jobs Sequester – how playing games can bite you
My dear husband will be so happy I finally started creating links to articles I want to review – now we can toss out (recycle) all these newspapers that are lying around….
and one more addition to this from Ben Stein’s paradoxical quote of the day:
Now add this, “Many of those who refuse, or are unable, to prove they are citizens will receive free insurance paid for by those who are forced to buy insurance because they are citizens.”Think about it when you vote in November !
How Capitalism Lost its Shine , 2012
Here is a great article about capitalism, and why today’s youth, and others, struggle with the significance of this. WSJ Journal Why Capitalism has an Image Problem
This is serious stuff to me. It is about what has made America great, and how that is being threatened now through over-regulation and govenrment crowding out (think health care).
I am convinced I need to read the Obama Health Care reform I am told it says that when you turn 85 you are no longer eligible for cancer teatement. That just can’t be true. First of all, there are many many 85+ year olds that are vibrant contributors to our businesses – we just can’t “dismiss” them or write them off. Secondly, if you are paying into a ‘system’ of sorts, should that system really be allowed to tell you that you cannat receive the same benefits as everyone else because of your age (or gender, or religion, or anything else???)???
I feel like we are in the Mad Hatter’s world – everything is upside down. Sense is being made of non-sensical utterances. It’s scary, and hard to watch something you love being cast-aside for the glamour of – of what? I am not really sure. Obama talks about spreading the wealth, but as Churchill has observed, that simply spreads the misery around.
Obama is, in my opinion, guilty of Crony capitalism. The ones at the top will protect each other, but the (single) layer below them will all be left to fend for themselvesss – and that is where the “misery” will be shared. Be careful what you wish for: spreading the wealth really means keeping the wealth to a few, and spreading the misery among the masses.
Crafting Things
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I find I am driven to make things (but perhaps not boilers). Mostly things that will mean something to others, that will be my gift of my time and good karma thoughts while making the item. As I make them, I think about how to improve it the next time around. I think about it as a business, and capturing costs. And I think about how to scale the production process. Silly, but by that time, I am happy to return to my simple thoughts about how much the receiver will enjoy the gift, and I leave it at that. Till the next time aroung.
The three images shown here are of a current baby blanket done for my good friend Matt’s daughter, which features his son on it as well, and of a baby blanket done about 30 years ago.
To begin anew
It’s diffilcult to summarize all that has been going on, but suffice it to say that we returned to Oregon this past week, for two weddings. Because we had a week between each wedding, we used the time to visit with old friends, and I cannot say enough about how good that felt. It is heart warming, to say the least, to sit down with your old friends and visit for awhile. We met almost everyone in their home, and kept things simple so we had no distractions, no servers, no other patrons, etc.
And our son, Byron, has decided to join Dan in his business, which, of course, we are thrilled about. While he only knows the business from the sidelines, we believe it is a good match for him at all levels – professionally and personally. Only time will tell, but we are pleased he will give it a try.
Work – this has been evolving. I have the MKG partners, and a CEO that is from their group. While there are conflicts, in the big picture, I am hopeful it will be what we all know it can be. The potential is there, and now the expertise is in place. I stopped going in to the office on a daily basis as of May 1st, and that has been quite a release.
Health – all is good. After this week, though, weight is a bit high for me….but it was well worth it — to enjoy wine with friends. I did just complete my physical. All is well. Except insurance company said I was covered, and now want to charge me $3,000 because a polyp was removed. Really? Isn’t that the whole point of the exercise? My dear sweet broker is going to fight it for me.
LifePlan – Not sure yet. Still enjoying my hobbies – sewing and knitting, and baking. Would like to do more, but just am not sure of what that would be. I am exploring taking a recipe to market.
I do feel we are beginning anew in our lives. We have lost so many friends this past year, shed them to their new beginnings. I miss them being here, and respect them all the more that they have crossed over. I do keep looking for my dad, in special moments – look around for a glimpse, but to no avail.
To re-connect with old friends is invigorating, and gets one pumped up about things or feelings we may have forgotten. It is so nice to feel the warmth of those special friends once again.
When I travel, and then come home, I always unpack and use that time to re-organize my closet. Another new beginning. And we just put in some new cabinets – so another re-org, and new beginning. And my new website – clean out the clutter, get organized, and get going with life. Smarter better faster. That’s the way I like it.
Cheers!
Time To Come Back!
I am a bit tired of always being too tired to blog. I find I enjoy reading my past blogs/thoughts – and while I have little doubt they are of little value to anyone else, I find a bit of relief and refreshment when I read my thoughts from times gone by.
And I am really grateful for the few blogs I did through dad’s demise. It helps me remember what otherwise would have been lost.
So with that in mind, I start again.
For those keeping track with me – I lost 20 pounds. A huge feat for me, as I have not been at this weight (except for one brief time 6 years ago) since high school. Somehow, I just got tired of eating, and tired of watching America gorge itself on its excesses – and I don’t just mean food. Lifestyle change – long desired, finally here. But alas, I have lost that disengagement, so eating has returned to being an enjoyment. Fortunately, I have discovered, as my girlfriend tells me, that nothing tastes as good as thin feels, so think I shall keep my vessel at this weight. Just feels too good not to do this.
Onward to more enjoyable topics: I am knitting and sewing now. My girlfriend, Carol, shakes her head in disbelief. She is already disgusted with me because I quit drinking (all my girlfriends say I am no fun anymore), but a world traveler and one who can’t sit still, she doesn’t udnerstand the pleasure I get from making something for someone, and giving it to them. I love to bake, too, but sadly, I have no will power when it comes to white sugar! So I bake on occassion, and busy myself with knitting and sewing projects in the meantime.
Which leads me to my new machine, and tonight’s late night foray into the world of embroidery. Quattro 6700 D. I fell like the Christmas Carol story of the little boy and his BB gun. My sewing machine. It seems simple and straightforward enough, but my dear friend, it is not. I had visions of decorating my Easter Brunch table with embroidered napkins – I think I have to let that one slip by the wayside. Not that I won’t do it in the future, but this is not an art you just turn a machine on, and it does it. No, I have a new-found appreciation for experience in this art, and since I am lacking said experience, I will need to put the time in, learn from my mistakes, and THEN I can decorate my table with embroidered napkins. (but by then I will probably be giving this art away, too).
I miss wood carving. I did that years ago with my good friend Barbie. Actually, I miss Barbie too. She’s still with us, but I moved, and she didn’t.
Which reminds me – note to self – this is a time when we are losing more friends, which is causing us to cling even tighter to each other. First Diane, then Bob, and in between, Kim, and right behind Bob, was Dennis. Now Richard is diagnosed with cancer, first just in lungs, but now discovered in colon and brain. All of this in a relatively short period of time. No one said getting old was easy, but I never thought about the sadness of watching friends pass, and even greater sadness in watching friends lose their beloved partners.
All of the above has me yearning for more time – time to spend with my son, my grandchildren, my husband. Heck, time to spend with me. I am tired of getting up at 3:30 so I can squeeze my gym time in to my day. I am tired of coming home at 5, and having just 3 short hours before I have to hit the sack. I guess I am just plain old tired of schedules. I want life on my time, on my terms. Is that too much to ask?
Which also reminds me, we saw some old friends when we were at Dennis’ funeral. Mike dropped out and dropped back in years ago – I suspect he is one person who is living life happily ever after, albeit simply, but really living. Actually, my son is living his life on his terms. To my chagrin, of course, as I want grandchildren, and he isn’t even dating. Ok, too much information here, and i remind myself this is a public blog, and there are kooks out there.
Oh – and before I wrap up – I am in my third acting class. I thought I was finished with it, but another girlfriend ( a new one who I like a lot, and think I will like even more once i get to know her better) emailed and said “let’s sign up together”, and we shook on it and said “deal”. Long story short – she didn’t get in to the class! I thought about, and am still thinking about, giving her my spot becuase I don’t really have the time for it – we’ll see.
That’s it for now, except one last sentence to say I do not care for arrogant people, and that is code-speak for me, and when I read that years from now, I will know instantly what I am referring to. Hugs.
Two Years Ago
It’s been two years since my father passed away. I am lucky to have had time with him, and wish everyone would have the opportunity to spend adult time – lots of it – with their parents. I am a lucky girl.
I blogged at the time of his passing, capturing my thoughts and anguish, and am glad I did. It is interesting to revisit one’s thoughts.
Took today off from work to reflect, and work around the house, pay my respects, and so forth. I placed two batches of White Lilies – the big ones – at his site last night. Will return today to add red roses.
I have taken up some hobbies – to keep me busy, and to satisfy my natural need to do things for others. I am knitting, and still sewing, but sewing more regularly. I’ll work on those projects today, in addition to office work.
I stopped drinking alcohol just after Thanksgiving, more on a whim than anything else, and it’s February now, so I am a little surprised I have kept it at bay. I keep saying I will have it when I want it, but I guess I am not ready for it. I was a bit tired of drinking alcohol – tired of the weight it puts on, and the drag it was having each evening. I would go to parties and watch how I would socially drink on “auto-pilot”, and a little voice in my head would mock me for not taking control since drinking alcohol was not what I wanted. I guess I am now listening to that little voice.In part, that’s why/when I took up knitting, and returned to sewing. Keeps my hands busy, fills me with purpose each evening. And it is such a pleasure to make nice things for people I care about.I have lost weight too – down to size 2, again in part to absence of alcohol, but also because I am eating less. Much less, as it turns out.
I have come to the conclusion that Americans have too much food in front of them, 24/7, and have just pulled back from that. I am disugsted by our prepondernce to gorge ourselves on food and drink, indulge ourselves in over the top lifestyles. We are a gluttonous (not sure that is a word, but what the heck) society, always having too much around us – too much food, too much drink, too much stuff. I want away from that.
We have a friend getting married in Cayman Islands, and are thinking of joining them on their cruise. We haven’t had time together like that in a very long time – it will be like a second honeymoon. It will be nice to do for “just us” – take that time and spend it together — somewhat in a group, but also on our own. I am looking forward to that.
On another front, I came up with an idea for a TV show – like everyone else, probably. I just wish we – society – could get back to more sensible values.
The Superbowl just occurred, with pop singer Madonna (who did a horribly dated show, plus, she piped in her own vocals), and one of her “guests” was a singer who markets herself with a someone having a bad attitude – an angry person. During her 30 seconds of performance time, ths guest flips the camera off! What is up with that??? Her own customers – the audience – she gives the middle finger to! I guess the kids in today’s market “take it”??
I hope not. I hope there is enough wisdom at all levels to recognize the value of the gentle society. There will always be the shock jocks and girls offering titillation, but cannot that be for the few, and not for the masses?