Along The Way

Convention Thoughts ' 08

2008-09-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

A Few Issues for Critical Consideration These 2008 political conventions I viewed on PBS have been interesting in a way I haven't experienced for a number of years. I can recall first seeing similar convention events when only three major broadcast networks, ABC, CBS, NBC competed in providing gavel to gavel television coverage. Earlier years consisted of my listening only to radio coverage.

Compromising, Categories & Labeling

2008-08-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

Political "Ooching" Writers, talking heads and so many others reference categorizing terms with names like conservative, liberal, ultra conservative or ultra liberal, just plain left or right, far right, or far left, extremists – left and right, radical right and left, religious right (is there a religious left (?) and I'm sure there are more such labels.

Convention Countdown

2008-08-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

(My blogging continues to be hampered by computer technical issues as noted in previous post and comments.) Up date 8/23/08 -- News sources announce: Democratic Vice Presidential Choice is Sen. Joe Biden The countdown to officially select U. S. presidential candidates continues. The two major political party 2008 national conventions begin:

Olympics '08 Microcosm

2008-08-19T04:33:00.000-07:00

(Just so you'll know ..... Computer glitches have been a problem for many weeks allowing me only spasmodic blogging. My primary problem has been frequently losing Internet connectivity whether I'm in email, reading or making blog comments. I've lost comments I've written on various blog posts and finally just didn't re-write them. Publishing a post to my blog can be an unreal excessively time

Birthday Wishes for Millie Garfield

2008-08-18T02:10:00.000-07:00

H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y ! ! ! " M I L L I E " May your day be special with family and friends. Lucky eights: 08/18/08 Looking forward to sharing many more birthdays with you ! (Visit Millie at "My Mom's Blog")

Dialects, Accents, Spelling Confusion

2008-08-05T00:30:00.000-07:00

Word confusion comes about in many ways, but frequently as a result of complications trying to understand an unfamiliar language, or speech accents and dialect differences in the same language. We do associate certain speech patterns and characteristics with geographical areas of our country and even particular communities. Standard English may be spoken in the USA with various specific area

California Earthquake Rockin' & Rollin'

2008-07-30T01:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning (Tuesday 7/29) around 11:42 a.m. PDT I was completing a responsive blog comment when I suddenly felt a gradual rolling sensation under me. As the feeling increased in intensity I realized we were having an earthquake. I stopped proof reading and started counting seconds out of curiosity in order to determine how long this expected short little interruption would last. I soon

Blackberry Patch Stealth Invasion

2008-07-23T01:23:00.000-07:00

This memorable experience was unique and of special significance to this then-twelve-year-old. I was adapting to living in a different place again, following a move more than two years earlier to a rural somewhat isolated existence from the city life I had always known. Now I was even further away, U. S. States away, from familiar friends and family other than my parents – again no other young

Peacock Feather Dilemma

2008-07-18T00:07:00.000-07:00

(After writing this piece, I learned a dear friend is literally off her feet for a while with a cast on one ankle and a boot on the other. Having only recently retired, she's much too young and in too good a physical condition for this inconvenience, though it could happen to anyone at any age. I dedicate this post to her. I wonder, should I give her some peacock feathers?) Are peacock feathers

Art/Nature/Environment Thoughts

2008-07-04T00:01:00.000-07:00

Celebrating our Nation's Independence I've been thinking about what the arts to which we are attracted say about us as individuals. I was viewing a television program featuring paintings of Monet the French painter, who is among my favorites. I like the attention Monet gives to water, reflections, light on many of his canvases. Then, I was

Redhead's Aging Skin -- Answers

2008-06-30T02:19:00.000-07:00

Plastic Surgery May Contribute to Ageism My previous post described some of this redhead's perceptions of beautiful skin and my personal experience with aging skin issues. I raised the question of whether or not to seek various treatments and surgery to alter my aging appearance. Discussion of aging skin reminds me of those youthful ages when we all aspired to tans and sometimes took

Redhead's Aging Skin Questions

2008-06-26T01:42:00.000-07:00

"You have such beautiful skin." Hah! What was the person who said that the other day thinking, as I quickly questioned in my mind that person's judgment? When I was young I had difficulty accepting compliments with a simple "thank you" as they didn't always match my own perception of myself. I've gotten much better over the years at being willing to accept praise, even if I privately think the

Unbelievable Mysterious Forces Persist

2008-06-20T02:10:00.000-07:00

I hadn't intended to write any more on this topic after the post "Hotter than Hot...Murphy's Law," then the "Bottle Tree...Evil Spirits" follow up piece, but unexpected circumstances have developed. Incredibly we're having hot triple digit days again, but what I really find unbelievable are the mysterious forces continuing to besiege me. This afternoon as I drove through town on Historic

Bottle Tree Captures Evil Spirits

2008-06-16T03:41:00.000-07:00

My earlier recent post, "Hotter Than Hot..." referred to all sorts of unusual occurrences I've experienced recently. I was bemoaning the onset of mysterious forces attacking my car, malfunctioning household appliances, a non-functioning house air conditioning unit, a damaged yard water pipe to name just a few items. Some who commented could readily identify with my woes, as I expected. Others

Father's Day Appreciation

2008-06-15T03:25:00.000-07:00

Fathers revel in their loved ones expressions of appreciation. Treasure and make time for fathers still living. Recall life's shared moments with fathers who may now have difficulty remembering, or who have long since died.

When It's Hot, It Can Get Hotter ... If Murphy's Around

2008-06-13T01:00:00.000-07:00

R&R -- Resolution and Recovery "When it rains, it pours," or as I tend to think in my case, "When it's hot, it can get hotter" is much more apropos. I don't mean just the temperature. I mean the accumulation of various pressures taxing my usual optimistic outlook on life. Perhaps I could best describe the effects if

Unique 2008 USA Presidential Election

2008-06-08T10:30:00.000-07:00

Future Election Primaries I'm glad to see the USA Democratic Political Party has resolved who they expect to nominate as their Presidential candidate, Barack Obama. The National Republican Party had settled on John McCain as their expected candidate some time ago. Both political parties will officially designate their candidates this summer. The original competing prospective Democratic

Personal Memorial Day Perspective

2008-05-26T02:50:00.000-07:00

Unexpected Connection to Book Full Fathom Five Amazing to me how quickly businesses rush to be first, even to the point of skipping over what's important. Am I missing something? Doesn't Memorial Day come before Father's Day? I entered a couple of national chain brick and mortar bookstores this weekend expecting to see some sort of display of books and DVDs that would reflect a

"Full Fathom Five" Special Story

2008-05-16T01:34:00.000-07:00

"Full Fathom Five" is a title that has intrigued me. I first encountered the title as a blog a few months after I began reading some blogs a couple of years ago. I eventually learned how and why this title with Shakespearean origins became of such significance to blogger, Mary Lee Coe Fowler, a writer, teacher of English and ESL, stimulating her to write this book. Mary Lee disclosed she had

Time To Talk

2008-05-13T02:11:00.000-07:00

I recall that Saturday, May 13, 2006 morning standing by my husband's bedside, still absorbing the fact of his unexpected death during his sleep. The understanding and supportive police officer stood quietly across from me at the far corner of the foot of the bed. He had arrived at my home within a few short minutes in response to my emergency 911 phone call, after I discovered my husband's

Mother's Day Thoughts

2008-05-11T04:33:00.000-07:00

(The aging washer is leaking, The dryer is squeaking, Mother would appreciate the humor of this happening today.) Mother, I wish you could experience the world today. You always said you had no fear of dying, but would be reluctant to go because you didn't want to miss anything. I have the same view for myself. You saw much change in your lifetime. I think of you and these thoughts

Sixties Saturday

2008-05-05T06:23:00.000-07:00

Claremont Folk Music Festival - 2008 Jackson Browne, Ben Harper, Taj Mahal A "Sixties Saturday" is how I describe my experience this past weekend. I'm an avid jazz fan who also enjoys a variety of music genres and performers. The 28th Annual Claremont Folk Festival had me entering the grounds around 10 a.m. About twelve hours later my being was permeated with the musical rhythms, lyrics,

Locked-In Syndrome Movie

2008-04-29T02:46:00.000-07:00

"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" DVD Release 4/29/08 "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" movie is based on a book by the same name about which I wrote extensively on 11/30/07 (see archives.) The book's author, Jean-Dominique Bauby writes about his experience with Locked-In Syndrome after a stroke at age 43 years of age. This syndrome is characterized by complete body paralysis and inability

Movie "21" Memory/Hawaii Kilauea Volcano

2008-04-26T04:18:00.000-07:00

Hawaii Trade Winds Not Blowing Out Volcano Gases For 2nd Time Volcano National Park had to be evacuated earlier this week for a rare second time on 4/23/08 United Press reports at "Federal News Radio." Big Island's Kilauea Volcano has continued to spew its sulphuric gases, but the trade winds have failed to blow out the noxious fumes their news reports. Volcano National Park Officials are

Earth Day ' 08 /// Elderblogger Survey

2008-04-22T15:03:00.000-07:00

Celebrate Earth Day 2008 -- today 4/22/08 and throughout the year -- check out the link. Participate in the Elderblogger Survey about which you may read with this link to "Time Goes By." Bloggers and blog readers age 50 and older are invited to participate in this survey that will be open until May 1st.