b.o. likes to lecture.
He likes to tell folks how it is, how they ought to be, and what they are doing that they should not be doing.
He tells the Republicans that they are obstructionists.
He tells the American people that they do not know what is good for them, that the only reason they do not care for his policies is that they do not understand them.
He tells the world that the US has been most questionable in its diplomatic policies and that he will change them for the better.
He tells rogue, barbarian nations that it is our fault that they do not relate better with us.
He tells us that our bankers are evil, that they seek to suck the very financial life blood from us.
He tells us that we are an environmentally dirty people, that we should bear ever greater burdens to clean up the worldwide environment.
He tells us that climate change is real, at the very time when all evidence seems to be pointing to the contrary.
He tells us that our American history is a story fraught with suffering and injustice, that the present generation of Americans have much to answer for.
He orders inane policies – the closing of Gitmo and the holding of terrorist trials in NYC.
He tells us that we have a rotten health care system – that we need to totally replace it, that we should hate it.
He associates with despicable individuals and claims he knows nothing of their despicableness.
I like that word.
He mirandizes enemy combatants, thereby preventing their in depth interrogation.
And so on it could go, on and on.
With a President like this, we really don't need any enemies.
But - there is hope.
He claims that he will press us with more lectures.
He promises that he will enlighten us.
He promises that he will 'doubledown'.
nancy says they will pass health care revolution even though fewer and fewer Americans approve of such legislative action.
And a side bar, b.o. used to lecture his pre-election nation that Bush was a unilateralist, that the US needed to work more in concert with other nations. Today, in Davos, barney farnk [misspelling intentional] informed the international bankers that the US had decided that bank regulation was needed, that that was it, that their opinions did not matter a whit -
And there is a good word, whit.
I hope I spelled it correctly.
Anyway, b.o. and barney are pieces of work.
Go for it, Guys - stay the course.
And the people of the US? I hope they will be watching.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
FIRE AND ICE
We attended a ice and fire festival today.
The ice had to do with ice skating; ice sculptures; a tube ice run; and bone chilling cold.
Fire had to do with evening fire works – really impressive, a ten-minute show – really, really good.
We watched the show the night before from the dining room of an adjacent four, or is it a five-star hotel.
I cannot remember what is the correct designation.
The dinner, incidentally, was superb.
And the manager invited us to park the next day in the hotel's lot.
And our wait person found time to show us two choice rooms which are often available - at prices ordinary people can afford.
Small town!
We parked the car today in the hotel’s parking lot, courtesy of the manager, and ‘did’ the festival.
With Dear Granddaughters Elise and Kayla, we touched and admired the ice sculptures; ate burgers and cocoa in the heated tent; and strolled in and out of the shops lining main street.
And there were dog sled rides.
Thirty or so Siberian sled dogs were on duty, running two sleds for two folks at a time to ‘do’ a circular track.
During rest periods, one of the very attractive young drivers would talk to us about the dogs and the work she and they are about.
How sweet it was.
And for any old timers who remember the Sanders of old Detroit days, there was a reborn version in this suburban community, supplying much needed coffee and chocolates and hot cocoa.
Again, how sweet it is.
The ice had to do with ice skating; ice sculptures; a tube ice run; and bone chilling cold.
Fire had to do with evening fire works – really impressive, a ten-minute show – really, really good.
We watched the show the night before from the dining room of an adjacent four, or is it a five-star hotel.
I cannot remember what is the correct designation.
The dinner, incidentally, was superb.
And the manager invited us to park the next day in the hotel's lot.
And our wait person found time to show us two choice rooms which are often available - at prices ordinary people can afford.
Small town!
We parked the car today in the hotel’s parking lot, courtesy of the manager, and ‘did’ the festival.
With Dear Granddaughters Elise and Kayla, we touched and admired the ice sculptures; ate burgers and cocoa in the heated tent; and strolled in and out of the shops lining main street.
And there were dog sled rides.
Thirty or so Siberian sled dogs were on duty, running two sleds for two folks at a time to ‘do’ a circular track.
During rest periods, one of the very attractive young drivers would talk to us about the dogs and the work she and they are about.
How sweet it was.
And for any old timers who remember the Sanders of old Detroit days, there was a reborn version in this suburban community, supplying much needed coffee and chocolates and hot cocoa.
Again, how sweet it is.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
THE NYT ON b.o.
The New York Times on b.o.
What a difference a year makes!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/26/opinion/26herbert.html?ref=opinion&pagewanted=print
How sweet it is.
What a difference a year makes!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/26/opinion/26herbert.html?ref=opinion&pagewanted=print
How sweet it is.
KIDS SAY THE DARNDEST THINGS
Art Linkletter knew it and I know it.
And it is, of course, still true.
I was driving our eldest Granddaughter, nine years old, home after piano lessons. It was cold and dark and snowing, just a little.
The Dear Soul mentioned that Our Son, Jim, her Dad, frequently took the family sledding and that they would have hot cocoa on such occasions.
I asked her if they bought the cocoa at the sled sight.
She said no, they took it with them, that Dad took it in his – and here she thought a bit to get the right word – she could not think of it – and then she got it - she said that he brought them all cocoa in his thermometer.
I laughed. She laughed.
And her Dad laughed when we told him a bit later.
Kids are wonderful.
And it is, of course, still true.
I was driving our eldest Granddaughter, nine years old, home after piano lessons. It was cold and dark and snowing, just a little.
The Dear Soul mentioned that Our Son, Jim, her Dad, frequently took the family sledding and that they would have hot cocoa on such occasions.
I asked her if they bought the cocoa at the sled sight.
She said no, they took it with them, that Dad took it in his – and here she thought a bit to get the right word – she could not think of it – and then she got it - she said that he brought them all cocoa in his thermometer.
I laughed. She laughed.
And her Dad laughed when we told him a bit later.
Kids are wonderful.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
THOUGHTS ON A RAINY SUNDAY
The last week of January.
A rainy Sunday.
And relatively warm it is.
But we will light a fire anyway. And work on this or that task. And mix the drinks. And cook a pizza on our new ‘stone’.
And think about and comment on what in the world is going on.
A few of our perspectives on this ‘n that:
1 Folks are uptight about allegedly excessive executive compensation. The b.o. Administration likes to crucify American capital – the movers and the shakers – the N.G. ones – non-governmentals –
They are convenient whipping persons for this President.
he declares that Wall Street and bankers, etc., should not be paying allegedly excessive compensation to their folks at a time they are taking ‘bailouts’ and not granting floods of loans to peter and paul.
He says little, nothing, about the federal policies of encouraging, underwriting, even coercing said financial institutions into granting credit to folks who had not a chance of paying it back.
Imagine that! Not taking responsibility or telling the whole story. And then blaming the continuing credit crunch on the evil ‘captains of industry’. Not a word about barney or fannnie or freddie.
And not a word about not making clear to the job creators, the small business owners, of what will be their tax responsibilites during the great era of b.o. high-tax salvation.
Not a flaming word.
Imagine that.
And not a word about getting ready for a new flood of credit failures on loans already out there, failures which have not yet hit the fan.
Why indeed should banks, etc, that have suffered from loan lunacy now be leery of granting new loans without greater security requirements.
Why indeed?
Now where have I heard that term, that phrase before, the ‘captains of industry’? Oh yes, those were the evil characters of American history: Rockefeller, Carnegie, James Hill, J.P. Morgan, Henry Ford, etc., all those evil villains who did so much to weaken and destroy the United States of America.
I know, I have named only the industrialists, but that is because they are the ones I am most familiar with.
And they are relevant because they are the ones who enjoyed a symbiotic relationship with the bankers, the ones I cannot name off the top of my head, a relationship which allowed both sides of the economic aisle to prosper, the one earning for the other.
On second thought, I did name J.P. Morgan.
Yeah!
2 Heavenly day, the United States Supreme Court has declared that there should be no limit on free speech in the American political arena.
The ACLU does not know what to do.
Politicians are flabbergasted that such a ruling should ever be handed down, in spite of the fact that it corrects an unconstitutional, irrational law passed by the United States Congress [say what?] and despite the fact that the big-league donors will be required to report their political contributions for all to see.
The phrase is FREE SPEECH. It is not to be encumbered, especially in the area of politics.
3 national dem health care conniptions: Thank You, God, for whatever happened in Massachusetts.
Our hope at The Study is that b.o. and harry and nancy will press on with even grater vigor in their defiance of common sense and the American voter.
Do what you have to do guys – fight on – do a political kamikaze and good riddance to the lot of ye.
As the Scots might say, Do not haste ye back!
4 osama has taken credit for the underbomber of Detroit. May it be so. Our hope at The Study is that there will be a few more underbomber attempts in which they blow up their own midsections and nothing else whatever, thereby exposing the b.o. homeland security effort for what it is – far, far less than effective.
A rainy Sunday.
And relatively warm it is.
But we will light a fire anyway. And work on this or that task. And mix the drinks. And cook a pizza on our new ‘stone’.
And think about and comment on what in the world is going on.
A few of our perspectives on this ‘n that:
1 Folks are uptight about allegedly excessive executive compensation. The b.o. Administration likes to crucify American capital – the movers and the shakers – the N.G. ones – non-governmentals –
They are convenient whipping persons for this President.
he declares that Wall Street and bankers, etc., should not be paying allegedly excessive compensation to their folks at a time they are taking ‘bailouts’ and not granting floods of loans to peter and paul.
He says little, nothing, about the federal policies of encouraging, underwriting, even coercing said financial institutions into granting credit to folks who had not a chance of paying it back.
Imagine that! Not taking responsibility or telling the whole story. And then blaming the continuing credit crunch on the evil ‘captains of industry’. Not a word about barney or fannnie or freddie.
And not a word about not making clear to the job creators, the small business owners, of what will be their tax responsibilites during the great era of b.o. high-tax salvation.
Not a flaming word.
Imagine that.
And not a word about getting ready for a new flood of credit failures on loans already out there, failures which have not yet hit the fan.
Why indeed should banks, etc, that have suffered from loan lunacy now be leery of granting new loans without greater security requirements.
Why indeed?
Now where have I heard that term, that phrase before, the ‘captains of industry’? Oh yes, those were the evil characters of American history: Rockefeller, Carnegie, James Hill, J.P. Morgan, Henry Ford, etc., all those evil villains who did so much to weaken and destroy the United States of America.
I know, I have named only the industrialists, but that is because they are the ones I am most familiar with.
And they are relevant because they are the ones who enjoyed a symbiotic relationship with the bankers, the ones I cannot name off the top of my head, a relationship which allowed both sides of the economic aisle to prosper, the one earning for the other.
On second thought, I did name J.P. Morgan.
Yeah!
2 Heavenly day, the United States Supreme Court has declared that there should be no limit on free speech in the American political arena.
The ACLU does not know what to do.
Politicians are flabbergasted that such a ruling should ever be handed down, in spite of the fact that it corrects an unconstitutional, irrational law passed by the United States Congress [say what?] and despite the fact that the big-league donors will be required to report their political contributions for all to see.
The phrase is FREE SPEECH. It is not to be encumbered, especially in the area of politics.
3 national dem health care conniptions: Thank You, God, for whatever happened in Massachusetts.
Our hope at The Study is that b.o. and harry and nancy will press on with even grater vigor in their defiance of common sense and the American voter.
Do what you have to do guys – fight on – do a political kamikaze and good riddance to the lot of ye.
As the Scots might say, Do not haste ye back!
4 osama has taken credit for the underbomber of Detroit. May it be so. Our hope at The Study is that there will be a few more underbomber attempts in which they blow up their own midsections and nothing else whatever, thereby exposing the b.o. homeland security effort for what it is – far, far less than effective.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
THEATER – NEW
Meadowbrook Theatre [British correct here] is currently showing
Boeing-Boeing, a superb comedy examining the joys and dilemmas of one man managing, at one time, three fiancés, a maid, and the arrival of a high school friend.
The play is funny, fast-paced and spiced with just the right amount of adult fun.
The Friday night performance was well attended and the ending was … a joy in itself.
We have been going for years and are often dismayed at the poor attendance.
The Theatre is fully professional and rents space on the campus of Oakland University.
The Theatre is self-supporting.
It is a sad testimony to whatever that suburbanites are willing to pay higher prices and to journey to Detroit for ‘road shows’ whilst ignoring this most enjoyable venue of largely local talent.
Kudos to the Meadowbrook faithful.
Something else to theater lovers who disdain the local for the ‘big city’.
Boeing-Boeing, a superb comedy examining the joys and dilemmas of one man managing, at one time, three fiancés, a maid, and the arrival of a high school friend.
The play is funny, fast-paced and spiced with just the right amount of adult fun.
The Friday night performance was well attended and the ending was … a joy in itself.
We have been going for years and are often dismayed at the poor attendance.
The Theatre is fully professional and rents space on the campus of Oakland University.
The Theatre is self-supporting.
It is a sad testimony to whatever that suburbanites are willing to pay higher prices and to journey to Detroit for ‘road shows’ whilst ignoring this most enjoyable venue of largely local talent.
Kudos to the Meadowbrook faithful.
Something else to theater lovers who disdain the local for the ‘big city’.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
LET THE PROCESS CARRY ON
There is a new Senator from Massachusetts.
It has taken a year to get the message across.
My o my
What can the matter be?…. as the song lyric says.
The majority, a slight majority, of Americans voted into office a man they did not understand.
He and his minions have been doing what they said they would do.
And now, perhaps, just perhaps, the voters who did not know any better, are getting a real view of what they did to our country last fall.
May the reality, the truth, really sink in.
b.o. and co. are bad for our nation.
Their political power must be diminished.
They must be voted out wherever and whenever possible.
Let the process carry on.
It has already begun, we hope and pray.
It has taken a year to get the message across.
My o my
What can the matter be?…. as the song lyric says.
The majority, a slight majority, of Americans voted into office a man they did not understand.
He and his minions have been doing what they said they would do.
And now, perhaps, just perhaps, the voters who did not know any better, are getting a real view of what they did to our country last fall.
May the reality, the truth, really sink in.
b.o. and co. are bad for our nation.
Their political power must be diminished.
They must be voted out wherever and whenever possible.
Let the process carry on.
It has already begun, we hope and pray.
MOVIES – NEW
Most of the movies I see are at home – in the library of The Study. But yesterday was an exception.
Dear Wife and I and a Dear Friend embarked on a viewing of The Young Victoria – a splendid film dealing with one of the most important individuals in modern history – in all of history.
The reviews have been splendid – and our take on the film was that it was/is outstanding.
The old memory banks I claim as my own are foggy – but much of the film strikes me as the real thing.
Victoria, Her Royal Highness, Queen and Empress – I think the Latin is Regina et Imperiatrix - Sovereign of the largest and perhaps most important empire in the history of the planet.
It is the story of her meeting and falling in love with and marrying Prince Albert –
There are windows opened upon some of the personalities around the Court – bits and pieces of the politics of The Era – the beginnings of the Victorian Age – an Era so greatly misunderstood by virtually all people today, except those who take more than a casual interest…
Anyway, if you have within you an ounce of romance and love of even a part of our cultural past, see this film.
It is splendid.
Dear Wife and I and a Dear Friend embarked on a viewing of The Young Victoria – a splendid film dealing with one of the most important individuals in modern history – in all of history.
The reviews have been splendid – and our take on the film was that it was/is outstanding.
The old memory banks I claim as my own are foggy – but much of the film strikes me as the real thing.
Victoria, Her Royal Highness, Queen and Empress – I think the Latin is Regina et Imperiatrix - Sovereign of the largest and perhaps most important empire in the history of the planet.
It is the story of her meeting and falling in love with and marrying Prince Albert –
There are windows opened upon some of the personalities around the Court – bits and pieces of the politics of The Era – the beginnings of the Victorian Age – an Era so greatly misunderstood by virtually all people today, except those who take more than a casual interest…
Anyway, if you have within you an ounce of romance and love of even a part of our cultural past, see this film.
It is splendid.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
DIRTY LINEN
Politicians and smoked-filled rooms, we are told, was the way it used to be done.
Bismarck said that those who like sausages and politics should never watch either being made.
Prominent citizens and celebrities used to at least attempt to hide their…questionable activities, at least some of the time or at least when they could.
The b.o. team, the national dems, have set a new benchmark for politics: they do their skullduggery IN PUBLIC.
They have no shame; they have no iota of respect for the acuity of their voting public.
Or maybe they do, maybe they have gauged their constituency and have found that they are as corrupt as the party is.
God save us.
At least in the old days, the actors hid their dirty linen.
The new edition of dems show it off proudly.
Bismarck said that those who like sausages and politics should never watch either being made.
Prominent citizens and celebrities used to at least attempt to hide their…questionable activities, at least some of the time or at least when they could.
The b.o. team, the national dems, have set a new benchmark for politics: they do their skullduggery IN PUBLIC.
They have no shame; they have no iota of respect for the acuity of their voting public.
Or maybe they do, maybe they have gauged their constituency and have found that they are as corrupt as the party is.
God save us.
At least in the old days, the actors hid their dirty linen.
The new edition of dems show it off proudly.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
HAITI AND THE HATED YANQUI
Disaster has once again struck this tiny ill-governed and impoverished Caribbean nation.
And once again the devils incarnate, the hated monsters from the north, are mobilizing a rescue effort.
And if the effort is too slow, if anything goes wrong, and in such situations things will go wrong, the devil of the north will be blamed in a variety of condemnations.
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t is the phrase which has and which will apply to the role which the United States of America will play in the unfolding drama.
Gramma and others used to and do say from those to whom much has been given, much is expected.
This is a hard truth, a tough act to carry out. A costly act.
The United States is the only means by which significant relief can be delivered to Haiti.
The prediction is easy: the relief will be delivered; there will be glitches and the relief will take effect; the nation will eventually achieve some sort of recovery; thanks will be given; and then, very likely while the relief is still being given, the attacks on the great satan will continue and/or resume.
Such is the way of the world.
Such is the way of nations, of people, even of individuals.
Help must/will be administered – and reactions will follow, by no means all favorable.
As Kipling said, it matters not whether you win or lose – but rather how you play the game [quoted loosely].
Perhaps being respected is, after all, more important than being loved, at least in the complex world of reality.
But it is nice to win a few too.
And once again the devils incarnate, the hated monsters from the north, are mobilizing a rescue effort.
And if the effort is too slow, if anything goes wrong, and in such situations things will go wrong, the devil of the north will be blamed in a variety of condemnations.
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t is the phrase which has and which will apply to the role which the United States of America will play in the unfolding drama.
Gramma and others used to and do say from those to whom much has been given, much is expected.
This is a hard truth, a tough act to carry out. A costly act.
The United States is the only means by which significant relief can be delivered to Haiti.
The prediction is easy: the relief will be delivered; there will be glitches and the relief will take effect; the nation will eventually achieve some sort of recovery; thanks will be given; and then, very likely while the relief is still being given, the attacks on the great satan will continue and/or resume.
Such is the way of the world.
Such is the way of nations, of people, even of individuals.
Help must/will be administered – and reactions will follow, by no means all favorable.
As Kipling said, it matters not whether you win or lose – but rather how you play the game [quoted loosely].
Perhaps being respected is, after all, more important than being loved, at least in the complex world of reality.
But it is nice to win a few too.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
2010...A NEW YEAR?
13 January 2010 – bright and sunny - young, like the New Year.
Except the year is not really new, is it?
It really is just the next one, the one that has grown out of the old one.
Problems and successes and situations continue- at least, their aftermaths continue.
If the aftermaths and continuations are positive and constructive, well and good, as Gramma used to say. Thank the Good Lord.
If they are not good, not so well and good. Pray a lot and deal with them, as intelligent people said and do say.
The point is that we do, if we are so blessed, have a new chance to have a go, as the Brits like to say, but the Dear Old World does go on.
And it is the same old world – just a calendar cycle away from what was.
A new number designation – 2010 instead of 2009 – and a new month name – January instead of December.
But the one flows out of the other.
It is good to remember this, for one of the primary lessons of life, one of the most important, is that for every action, there is an opposite and equal reaction.
In short, there are consequences.
What we have done matters. What we do and will do matter as well – indeed, what we are doing now is the most important – but what has preceded is soooooo important as well.
And so we face 2010 – with hope and confidence as well as with our panoply of concerns and worries.
I use the word panoply advisedly inasmuch as said concerns and worries can bring out the best in us – so we are told.
So, with all of the above in mind, we at The Study wish health and success and joy and justice for all.
We pray for confusion to the enemy and for victory for the Good Guys.
We hope and pray that we can be among the Good Guys – that we will have the wherewithal and strength and health to do that which ought to be done.
Take very good care and do what you have to do.
Except the year is not really new, is it?
It really is just the next one, the one that has grown out of the old one.
Problems and successes and situations continue- at least, their aftermaths continue.
If the aftermaths and continuations are positive and constructive, well and good, as Gramma used to say. Thank the Good Lord.
If they are not good, not so well and good. Pray a lot and deal with them, as intelligent people said and do say.
The point is that we do, if we are so blessed, have a new chance to have a go, as the Brits like to say, but the Dear Old World does go on.
And it is the same old world – just a calendar cycle away from what was.
A new number designation – 2010 instead of 2009 – and a new month name – January instead of December.
But the one flows out of the other.
It is good to remember this, for one of the primary lessons of life, one of the most important, is that for every action, there is an opposite and equal reaction.
In short, there are consequences.
What we have done matters. What we do and will do matter as well – indeed, what we are doing now is the most important – but what has preceded is soooooo important as well.
And so we face 2010 – with hope and confidence as well as with our panoply of concerns and worries.
I use the word panoply advisedly inasmuch as said concerns and worries can bring out the best in us – so we are told.
So, with all of the above in mind, we at The Study wish health and success and joy and justice for all.
We pray for confusion to the enemy and for victory for the Good Guys.
We hope and pray that we can be among the Good Guys – that we will have the wherewithal and strength and health to do that which ought to be done.
Take very good care and do what you have to do.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
KRAUTHAMMER ON b.o. AND THE WAR ON TERROR
He says it so well, so clearly, so succinctly.
Why is it so hard for so many to understand?
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/printpage/?url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/01/02/war_what_war_99742.html
Why is it so hard for so many to understand?
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/printpage/?url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/01/02/war_what_war_99742.html
Saturday, January 2, 2010
RUSH LIMBAUGH
Rush Limbaugh is about to be or has been released from hospital.
Doctors do not know the cause of his chest pains.
He will take a short rest from his broadcast duties.
Rush is an important figure. He is not...wishy washy....
The left hates him.
The left believes that he is evil.
At least some of them do...lots of them do.
Really nice people say astounding things about Rush.
They are not nice when they say those things.
Rush is an entertainer. Rush knows a lot of things. Rush knows how to say those things to inform and to entertain.
Lots of people listen to him.
We are glad Rush is on the job.
When the bad guys or the folks in error [take your pick] do not like you, you are doing your job.
Get well, Rush.
The Good Guys need you.
Doctors do not know the cause of his chest pains.
He will take a short rest from his broadcast duties.
Rush is an important figure. He is not...wishy washy....
The left hates him.
The left believes that he is evil.
At least some of them do...lots of them do.
Really nice people say astounding things about Rush.
They are not nice when they say those things.
Rush is an entertainer. Rush knows a lot of things. Rush knows how to say those things to inform and to entertain.
Lots of people listen to him.
We are glad Rush is on the job.
When the bad guys or the folks in error [take your pick] do not like you, you are doing your job.
Get well, Rush.
The Good Guys need you.
BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT
Five members of Blackwater were hastily charged with ‘voluntary manslaughter’ by the Government of the United States.
They were protecting US personnel in Iraq.
They were charged with unjustifiably killing 17 Iraqi civilians.
All charges have now been dismissed.
We are not sure, but we believe that over the course of the conflicts in Iraq and elsewhere, although Blackwater personnel have been wounded and killed – none of the folks they have been protecting have been lost.
We hope the defendants are not guilty of wrongdoing. We don’t know. In light of our ignorance of all the facts, we prefer to give the benefit of doubt to those forces protecting our people.
We prefer not to jump to the conclusion that our own forces are guilty, as our Government did in this case.
They were protecting US personnel in Iraq.
They were charged with unjustifiably killing 17 Iraqi civilians.
All charges have now been dismissed.
We are not sure, but we believe that over the course of the conflicts in Iraq and elsewhere, although Blackwater personnel have been wounded and killed – none of the folks they have been protecting have been lost.
We hope the defendants are not guilty of wrongdoing. We don’t know. In light of our ignorance of all the facts, we prefer to give the benefit of doubt to those forces protecting our people.
We prefer not to jump to the conclusion that our own forces are guilty, as our Government did in this case.
SOPHIE AND I KNOW
The second day of the new year has come and is about to be gone - 2 January 2010.
To paraphrase, This is the…[era] the Lord hath made…Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
It was a clear, sunny day today - a sunglasses day – and windy and very cold.
Single digit last night – probably same tonight.
The peanut and corn cob feeders are full for the squirrels; the thistle and seed and suet feeders are full for the birds –
A prayer for the wee beasties who inhabit the landscape would be in order tonight.
Dear Grandma used to say on such a night – The poor little devils!
New Year’s Eve was joyful – was spent with family at our Elks Club. The evening was a gift. The ambience [nice word] and staff and entertainment and fellowship were superb.
We danced and talked and dined and laughed and remembered, at 11:00 and more especially at 12:00 – all those folks who were not, who could not be with us.
We have been around this old world for a while now. It is an old world and we are glad to have been, to be, a part of it.
God grant that we can do something(s) to help it be as good an old world as possible.
Yesterday and today have been days of rest – of splitting more wood; of fires in the fireplace; of writing. Tomorrow is Church and looking ahead to what is to come.
Dear Grandkids have been here all day and are now snugly tucked into bed – 10:00 as I take keyboard to monitor.
A full moon shines down – not a good day to be on the road.
We repeated the four-movie tradition again this year: It’s a Wonderful Life; Bishop’s Wife; Going My Way; and Miracle on 34th Street.
One movie a night for four nights. We’ve been doing this for years now and we usually find something new in several of the movies.
And we usually shed at least a tear or two, here and there.
And we invariably learn something or are reminded of some truth as we watch these old films. Wonderful Life impressed me the most this year - the idea that everyone counts, that everyone has made a mark - that no one leads a meaningless life.
There used to be a TV by the fireplace. Now the fireplace stands alone – just the fire.
The TV that was there is a four hour drive North at Camp. We watch our four movies in the combination library, music room, and now TV room.
The debate recurs: is it better to watch movies in the theater or in our library?
There is nothing like sitting in your own chair, your own dog and beverage at your side, and when you are done you can go up to the computer or to bed.
The rest of the family likes the theater better.
Dear Sophie and I know what we like.
To paraphrase, This is the…[era] the Lord hath made…Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
It was a clear, sunny day today - a sunglasses day – and windy and very cold.
Single digit last night – probably same tonight.
The peanut and corn cob feeders are full for the squirrels; the thistle and seed and suet feeders are full for the birds –
A prayer for the wee beasties who inhabit the landscape would be in order tonight.
Dear Grandma used to say on such a night – The poor little devils!
New Year’s Eve was joyful – was spent with family at our Elks Club. The evening was a gift. The ambience [nice word] and staff and entertainment and fellowship were superb.
We danced and talked and dined and laughed and remembered, at 11:00 and more especially at 12:00 – all those folks who were not, who could not be with us.
We have been around this old world for a while now. It is an old world and we are glad to have been, to be, a part of it.
God grant that we can do something(s) to help it be as good an old world as possible.
Yesterday and today have been days of rest – of splitting more wood; of fires in the fireplace; of writing. Tomorrow is Church and looking ahead to what is to come.
Dear Grandkids have been here all day and are now snugly tucked into bed – 10:00 as I take keyboard to monitor.
A full moon shines down – not a good day to be on the road.
We repeated the four-movie tradition again this year: It’s a Wonderful Life; Bishop’s Wife; Going My Way; and Miracle on 34th Street.
One movie a night for four nights. We’ve been doing this for years now and we usually find something new in several of the movies.
And we usually shed at least a tear or two, here and there.
And we invariably learn something or are reminded of some truth as we watch these old films. Wonderful Life impressed me the most this year - the idea that everyone counts, that everyone has made a mark - that no one leads a meaningless life.
There used to be a TV by the fireplace. Now the fireplace stands alone – just the fire.
The TV that was there is a four hour drive North at Camp. We watch our four movies in the combination library, music room, and now TV room.
The debate recurs: is it better to watch movies in the theater or in our library?
There is nothing like sitting in your own chair, your own dog and beverage at your side, and when you are done you can go up to the computer or to bed.
The rest of the family likes the theater better.
Dear Sophie and I know what we like.
Friday, January 1, 2010
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND THE NEW YEAR...FOLLOW UP
Below is a link to thoughts which might help an Episcopalian face the denominational challenges of the New Year.
Check it out.
What do you think?
Being an adult is not an easy thing.
http://afmclavier.wordpress.com/2010/01/01/new-year/
Check it out.
What do you think?
Being an adult is not an easy thing.
http://afmclavier.wordpress.com/2010/01/01/new-year/
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