Friday, May 30, 2014

How I engage in the process...........

I get so pissed, frustrated and angry when I read such stupid, uninformed, deliberately lying comments emanating from the mouths of Republicans*, all because they intensely hate President Obama, among other things.

Some examples:

1.  Ken Langone, the founder of Home Depot says people in the 1% should be proud to be there because, "while money doesn't buy happiness, try poverty.  That doesn't do very well, either."  Does he think those in poverty are trying it out to see if they like it?

2.  Remember Joe the plumber?  The favorite peabrain of the Republicans!  He had this to say to those families  whose kids were killed on the UCSB campus:  " Your dead kids don't trump my Constitutional rights."  I can only envision what he'd think if one of his g-d guns took the life of one of his kids.  I feel sorry for his kids, knowing they rank behind their dad's guns in importance.

3.  Dr. Ben Carson, a conservative Christian, said on Fox news that the VA scandal is a "gift from God," and placing the blame directly on President Obama.  Never mind that because of two unjust wars, the VA is overloaded with vets who need help.  This can clearly be laid at the feet of the Bush/Cheney cabal.  Now, President Obama has to clean up this damn Republican mess.

4.  Ted Cruz, purported to be a Senator from Texas, but in reality is a lying lunatic posing as a Republican.  His latest dustup:  He claims that Senate Democrats will be voting on a constitutional amendment to repeal the First Amendment, thereby muzzling the political speech rights of U.S. citizens.  The man is giving the Mad Hatter a run for his money.

5.  Blake Farenthold, R-Texas congressman told veterans who lost their disability checks due to the GOP government shutdown that they had make sacrifices!  This extremely fat jackass apparently hasn't made any food sacrifices.  But he has sacrificed the use of any brain material he might have had.

There are so many more examples but a few names should remind you all of the amply moronic utterings of some really stupid, sly and mean people:  Louie Gohmert, Scott Walker, Marco Rubio, Rick Scott, John Boehner, Eric Cantor, Phyllis Schlafly, Rand Paul, Mary Fallon, Bobby Jindal and the incomparably brain-deficient Sarah Palin.

Reading about these people day after day (there's no escaping it) can really make me crazy, frustrated and highly angry.  BUT, at my stage of life, what can I do about it?  I tweet (after doing research), I sign petitions and add personal comments to them, I write to my Congressional delegation (and get only automatic replies that have no meaning or connection to what I wrote), I tweet to these same people and let them know my positions, I write and tweet to government entities like the FCC and the FDA and let them know where I stand.  I used to share a lot of political stuff on Facebook but I'm trying to cut that down and keep that stuff on Twitter only.  And I BLOG!  This is where I feel I can vent.  I read voraciously and research everything so I don't sound as if I've shooting from the hip.  I support those who I feel have the intelligence and the ability to do the most good for the most people; who care about all U.S. citizens, not just the rich; who will uphold the Constitution (and not reinterpret it with their own narrow-mindedness)  and keep religion out of government; who will make sure women are treated with equality; our veterans are cared for.  You get the idea.

I don't think I can get physically involved (canvassing for signatures, hosting a meeting, etc.)  so, if any of my tweets, petition signings, letter writing and/or blogging help to educate, elucidate, and or clarify the myriad issues I'm interested in then I've done my job.

And then my attention gets turned to all the good things that are in my life.  And I revel in the wonderful family I have:  my two magnificently wonderful sons and my fabulous, comedic husband; our extended family in Chicago, Massachusetts, Nebraska and California; our incredible friends in Connecticut, Virginia, New York and Florida.  And the best furry friends in the world.  Ah, life is good.

And I want life to be good for everyone so I will continue to speak out, to write and hope that someday the unintelligent, highly partisan, narrow-minded, misogynistic, bigoted, racist, lazy nut jobs that make up Congress and many governorships will disappear to be replaced by those whose education embraced science, technology, the arts, social studies (not just white history) and a working knowledge of how the world actually works and endeavor to do what's right for everyone, not just a select few.

A caveat: *Republican
When I refer to Republicans, I'm talking about the really crazy, Tea Party types, NOT my Republican friends who are erudite, thoughtful, intelligent, kind and don't go along with the extremely far right wing of their party.  They are usually described as moderate and have valid concerns and positions.  I value their friendship.







Saturday, May 17, 2014

Will it show up?

I know what sentimental value is.  I know it is priceless.

For decades I have worn a simple chain around my neck with a Torah charm hanging from it.  It was a Chanukah gift from my sons so many years ago.  I rarely took it off.  It was a part of me.  Earlier this week, after it fell off my neck twice, I took it off to have the clasp repaired.  I placed it on my bureau until I could get the repair done.  It has simply.......... disappeared!

I have torn the house apart looking for it, checking the pockets of everything I have worn in the past two weeks, moved the bureau,  dusted and mopped everywhere, opened and checked every drawer, checked every pocket in every purse, looked in rooms that I KNOW it wouldn't be in.  It just is not anywhere!

To say I am devastated is an understatement.  First of all, I treasured that piece of jewelry because it was a gift from my sons.  Secondly, how does something disappear into thin air, for gawds sake???

Unfortunately, this is not the first time I lost something so dear.  Just before we moved to Arizona, we were out with friends and I had on a very unusually designed pearl ring that my dad had given to me when I was 15.  I lost that ring that night.  And even though we scoured the car, the restaurant, the sidewalk to and from that restaurant, it, too, just disappeared.  I am still heartbroken about that because my dad gave it to me.

Neither of these items are very expensive.  But their sentimental value is beyond measure.  The ring is a lost cause but the Torah on a chain?  Maybe it will turn up when I least expect it.  That's what Warren keeps telling me.  Gawd, I hope he's right.

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Mother's Day

The last time our 3 year old son saw my mother was on Mother's Day, May 12, 1974.  It was in the hospital as she was struggling to recover from a variety of medical problems.  But on this day, she was able to walk to a visiting area where we all sat down to visit.  She was surrounded by everyone in our respective families who loved her.  The picture of that day is indelibly etched in my mind's eye and I treasure it.  I was pregnant with our second son at the time and I was so grateful that she knew another grandchild was on his way.  She passed away on May 22nd, just eighteen days after my dad passed away, on May 4th.

So, Mother's Day presents conflicting emotions in me.  It was difficult for years after her passing.  But after a while, the difficulty gave way to enormous joy because I was the mother of two extraordinary sons and my happiness and pride knew no bounds.

Mothers can be incredible people.  But I don't think it's necessary to set aside a day to celebrate them.  It has been reduced to such a commercial holiday, driven by the flowers and gift industries to generate  enormous amounts of money for these companies, a whole load of sadness for those who have lost their moms (or other special women who have made a wonderful impact on their lives), and a huge amount of guilt for those whose mothers didn't live up to the sappy verses on Mother's Day cards.

My sons give me love and tremendous joy all year round.  I don't need a special day to feel what they so freely give all the time.  Having said all this, I want to share, again, a blog I wrote about my mother on October 6, 2009.  It is a love story of sorts.  And it's one way I like to remember my mother, of blessed memory.

http://www.lifeismorethansoundbites.blogspot.com/search/label/Tikkun%20Olam

or

http://bit.ly/1ivKemh