I'm one of those fools who got up well before the crack of dawn yesterday to do my Black Friday shopping. I had a list of things that I wanted to buy, some of which were on sale for fabulous prices, but there was nothing on my list that I felt was worth killing over. Unfortunately, some shoppers at a New York Wal-Mart didn't agree with me. A store employee was knocked down and trampled by hordes of hateful shoppers. He died on that floor beneath the feet of greedy, hateful, awful specimens of humanity. Is the X-Box 360 with Guitar Hero for $199 really worth taking the life of someone over? I think not. I hope that, on Christmas morning, when the people who helped take this man's life present their precious gifts from Wal-Mart to their loved ones, that they can tell them, "Here, honey. I love you so much that I killed a man to buy this for you." Oh, and several other people also were injured in this same incident.
Two men also were gunned down in a Black Friday melee at a Toys 'R Us yesterday morning. Some reports indicate that it was due to a long-standing feud between the two, while others indicate that the deaths were due to an on-sale toy. No matter which reason, it's a miracle that no children were caught in the crossfire.
My faith in humanity is more than a little shaken by these incidents. Are we really so horribly greedy that we don't care if we kill someone over a good sale? Is the price of human life that worthless?
Luckily, I had a little of my faith in the world restored this morning when I popped open my laptop to read the day's news. Recently in Wichita, Kansas, a young girl and her mother found $7,000 in a Salvation Army. With no questions asked, they immediately turned it in and helped track down the owner. In a grocery store in Washington, a carry-out/bag boy found $10,000 in cash on the floor of the men's room during his break. Without hesitation, he turned it in -- and in the ensuing interview I watched this morning, said that the money would have been nice to have, but that his reward was in knowing that he did what was right and knowing that it'll build his character.
So, maybe...just maybe, for all of the horrible people out there in the world, there are at least a few good ones. That's what I'm telling myself because otherwise, it would be really hard for me to want to wake up and face the world each morning.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Sitting in a Laundromat...
I'm sitting in a laundromat this evening, just about eight blocks from my house. Somewhat unbelievably, I'm actually able to pick up the wireless signal from my house, but, I digress.
Why am in sitting in a laudromat? I needed to wash my comforter and wanted a jumbo-sized washer to do the job. So, much like in college, I decided that the washers and dryers might find a comforting backdrop for me to work. I packed up my laundry stuff and my laptop, and here I am. And, yes, I actually accomplished some work before I turned to blogging.
For some reason, laundromats bring back good memories for me. Yes, they, like this one, can be kind of scary, but still, the good memories are there.
When I was a young child and the lines for our washer were blocked or frozen or something (god only knows - we lived on a ranch and were forever having problems), Mom would pack up the laundry on a Saturday afternoon, and me (Jill usually stayed home with Dad), and we'd go to the nearest town to wash the clothes. It was just a tiny laundromat -- probably only had like eight machines, and I'm sure that it wasn't fun for her, but she always made an adventure out of the day. I usually took along my ubiquitous stuffed rabbit, Ben, and she would let me push him around the building in one of the laundry carts. We'd play games she made up and she'd tell me stories. Sometimes, I'd bring a book and she'd read to me. I was just a tiny kid, but I still remember those afternoons. Looking back, it probably wasn't that often that we went, but my mom always turned it into an adventure.
Perhaps it makes me sound like a hick or a child who had nothing that I found trips to the laundromat with my mom fun, but that's not the case. Those trips were simply stolen moments of time from my childhood -- fun times that I'll always remember having with my mom. I just wish that she were here tonight to help entertain me!
Why am in sitting in a laudromat? I needed to wash my comforter and wanted a jumbo-sized washer to do the job. So, much like in college, I decided that the washers and dryers might find a comforting backdrop for me to work. I packed up my laundry stuff and my laptop, and here I am. And, yes, I actually accomplished some work before I turned to blogging.
For some reason, laundromats bring back good memories for me. Yes, they, like this one, can be kind of scary, but still, the good memories are there.
When I was a young child and the lines for our washer were blocked or frozen or something (god only knows - we lived on a ranch and were forever having problems), Mom would pack up the laundry on a Saturday afternoon, and me (Jill usually stayed home with Dad), and we'd go to the nearest town to wash the clothes. It was just a tiny laundromat -- probably only had like eight machines, and I'm sure that it wasn't fun for her, but she always made an adventure out of the day. I usually took along my ubiquitous stuffed rabbit, Ben, and she would let me push him around the building in one of the laundry carts. We'd play games she made up and she'd tell me stories. Sometimes, I'd bring a book and she'd read to me. I was just a tiny kid, but I still remember those afternoons. Looking back, it probably wasn't that often that we went, but my mom always turned it into an adventure.
Perhaps it makes me sound like a hick or a child who had nothing that I found trips to the laundromat with my mom fun, but that's not the case. Those trips were simply stolen moments of time from my childhood -- fun times that I'll always remember having with my mom. I just wish that she were here tonight to help entertain me!
Friday, November 21, 2008
Keep Your Death Wish to Yourself, Please
This evening after work I decided to run over to the edge of the city to pick up a couple of items that I needed at Garden Ridge and Hobby Lobby. Great idea, but it seemed like several people around me had a death wish.
It all started when I pulled up to get gas. I was standed there filling my car and minding my own business when a car rattled up and shuddered to a stop at the pump beside me. A teenage girl emerged with a cell phone in one hand and a lit cigarette in the other. Oh, and she also left her car running. She proceeded to begin filling her car, all while talking and smoking. The brain cells that girl must have! I almost said something to her, but I didn't feel the best, so I chose not to, out of concern for telling her what I really thought. Truly, if she's got a death wish, I'd say all she needs to do is continue fueling her car in that same manner and it'll be just a matter of time. If she manages to make her wish come true, I'm relatively certain she'll receive a Darwin award. Just please, don't take me down with you.
I go to the city, buy my items, and am on the way back when I am nearly forced out of the left lane by a small red SUV. The SUV whizzes around me and then yanks right back in front of me. As I continue to follow this driver, the car slows back down to a crawl, so I feel the need to pass. I pull around into the left lane to pass and discover that there's ONE person in the entire vehicle - the driver. She's on the phone, eating something, and looking at her GPS, all while a movie plays on a portable DVD player on the dash in front of her. Seriously? I'm the first to admit that I often talk while driving, and yes, frequently even eat. I've been known to text, and in emergency situations, send e-mail while driving, but I'm very cognizant of what's around me. This woman scared me. I passed and went on down the highway and before I knew it, she was flying by me again. All I could think was that I hoped that I got off of the highway before she killed someone.
Oh, and then you have the little white car that literally straddled the line between the lanes pretty much continually.
If you have a death wish, keep it for yourself. I like life.
It all started when I pulled up to get gas. I was standed there filling my car and minding my own business when a car rattled up and shuddered to a stop at the pump beside me. A teenage girl emerged with a cell phone in one hand and a lit cigarette in the other. Oh, and she also left her car running. She proceeded to begin filling her car, all while talking and smoking. The brain cells that girl must have! I almost said something to her, but I didn't feel the best, so I chose not to, out of concern for telling her what I really thought. Truly, if she's got a death wish, I'd say all she needs to do is continue fueling her car in that same manner and it'll be just a matter of time. If she manages to make her wish come true, I'm relatively certain she'll receive a Darwin award. Just please, don't take me down with you.
I go to the city, buy my items, and am on the way back when I am nearly forced out of the left lane by a small red SUV. The SUV whizzes around me and then yanks right back in front of me. As I continue to follow this driver, the car slows back down to a crawl, so I feel the need to pass. I pull around into the left lane to pass and discover that there's ONE person in the entire vehicle - the driver. She's on the phone, eating something, and looking at her GPS, all while a movie plays on a portable DVD player on the dash in front of her. Seriously? I'm the first to admit that I often talk while driving, and yes, frequently even eat. I've been known to text, and in emergency situations, send e-mail while driving, but I'm very cognizant of what's around me. This woman scared me. I passed and went on down the highway and before I knew it, she was flying by me again. All I could think was that I hoped that I got off of the highway before she killed someone.
Oh, and then you have the little white car that literally straddled the line between the lanes pretty much continually.
If you have a death wish, keep it for yourself. I like life.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Is It Really Fall?
As I was driving home from the gym tonight, windows down, sunroof open, and thermometer in car indicating that it was 74 degrees at nearly 6 pm, it finally dawned on me that today is November 20. Weather like this makes it feel like late September, not a week out from Thanksgiving!
As a child, we always had apple cider to drink during the fall months. There's nothing quite like the tang of chilled cider. For the past two years, however, I haven't had any because of the carbs. I still haven't had any this year, but just a few minutes ago, I decided I wanted a drink to help me relax. I found a bottle of Lindeman's Lambic Belgian fruit beer in my refrigerator that I bought about six weeks ago. I'd forgotten I'd purchased it. I love their raspberry flavor, but had decided to take a chance and try the apple flavor. I was more than a little cautious as I uncorked the bottle tonight, but immediately upon taking my first sip, I was hooked! This stuff is like appled cider for grown-ups! I don't think that anywhere in Hell Ghetto carries it, though, so I'll have to pick some up in the city this weekend. Good stuff -- I recommend that you try it! Oh -- and "fruit beer" isn't anything like it sounds -- it's more like a rich fruit wine that's not cloyingly sweet.
Anyway, even though it's still pretty warm tonight, I've got a pot of soup simmering on the stove, a Lindeman's in my hand, and am getting ready to start a fire in my chiminea, assuming I have some wood. Life is good!
As a child, we always had apple cider to drink during the fall months. There's nothing quite like the tang of chilled cider. For the past two years, however, I haven't had any because of the carbs. I still haven't had any this year, but just a few minutes ago, I decided I wanted a drink to help me relax. I found a bottle of Lindeman's Lambic Belgian fruit beer in my refrigerator that I bought about six weeks ago. I'd forgotten I'd purchased it. I love their raspberry flavor, but had decided to take a chance and try the apple flavor. I was more than a little cautious as I uncorked the bottle tonight, but immediately upon taking my first sip, I was hooked! This stuff is like appled cider for grown-ups! I don't think that anywhere in Hell Ghetto carries it, though, so I'll have to pick some up in the city this weekend. Good stuff -- I recommend that you try it! Oh -- and "fruit beer" isn't anything like it sounds -- it's more like a rich fruit wine that's not cloyingly sweet.
Anyway, even though it's still pretty warm tonight, I've got a pot of soup simmering on the stove, a Lindeman's in my hand, and am getting ready to start a fire in my chiminea, assuming I have some wood. Life is good!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
How Must it Feel?
All of my life, I've known that my mom loves me. Even during the sometimes tumultuous teenage years, I've knew that she loved me unconditionally, although I'm sure there were plenty of times when she wanted to throttle me. (My father's a different story, but I'm not going into that here.)
So many people don't have that unconditional love, even though a parent's love is supposed to be a given. As I read about the children who have been given up (or abandoned) under Nebraska's Safe Haven Law, my heart just breaks. For these children and parents, it often appears that the love is conditional, which is horribly sad.
Under Nebraska's Safe Haven Law, any "minor" can be left at a hospital if the parent feels as though he or she can no longer care for the child. The problem is that there is a major loophole in the law -- the word "minor" was not defined; thus, as of today, 31 children have been abandoned at hospitals -- children of all ages, up to and including 18. One father abandoned nine of his 10 children. I completely understand the rationale behind these laws that many states have -- they're to prevent parents from just throwing away babies, as they're typically designed to protect infants.
I can only imagine how these children must feel. The infants and small children probably won't remember being left, but what about the older children? How must it feel to have your parent actually say that you are unwanted, and in some cases, truly unloved?
Some argue that these children now are able to be in a better place, which might be the case in some instances. Hopefully that's true. Hopefully these children now are in a place where they are loved, cared for, receive counseling, and know that they have a happier future. Hopefully these children will eventually know unconditional love.
This just underscores that I'm a very, very, very lucky and blessed person. I know that I am loved and can rest warm with that thought tonight. In fact, I think I'm going to call my mom and tell her how much she is loved.
So many people don't have that unconditional love, even though a parent's love is supposed to be a given. As I read about the children who have been given up (or abandoned) under Nebraska's Safe Haven Law, my heart just breaks. For these children and parents, it often appears that the love is conditional, which is horribly sad.
Under Nebraska's Safe Haven Law, any "minor" can be left at a hospital if the parent feels as though he or she can no longer care for the child. The problem is that there is a major loophole in the law -- the word "minor" was not defined; thus, as of today, 31 children have been abandoned at hospitals -- children of all ages, up to and including 18. One father abandoned nine of his 10 children. I completely understand the rationale behind these laws that many states have -- they're to prevent parents from just throwing away babies, as they're typically designed to protect infants.
I can only imagine how these children must feel. The infants and small children probably won't remember being left, but what about the older children? How must it feel to have your parent actually say that you are unwanted, and in some cases, truly unloved?
Some argue that these children now are able to be in a better place, which might be the case in some instances. Hopefully that's true. Hopefully these children now are in a place where they are loved, cared for, receive counseling, and know that they have a happier future. Hopefully these children will eventually know unconditional love.
This just underscores that I'm a very, very, very lucky and blessed person. I know that I am loved and can rest warm with that thought tonight. In fact, I think I'm going to call my mom and tell her how much she is loved.
Thy Name is Greed
I read an interesting article this evening: http://www.propeller.com/story/2008/11/12/rush-limbaugh-gives-caller-a-new-suv/?icid=100214839x1212526438x1200860963
Essentially, Rush Limbaugh, king of conservativism and controversy extraordinaire, decided to give a woman who called in to his radio show a gift -- a book and a brand new car. Pretty cool to be given a brand new free car for just calling in to a radio show, but I won't go in to how you would have to give me a lot more than a free car to listen to just one of Limbaugh's episodes!
So, what bothers me about this? Jealousy? Nope. It's the fact that the woman was given this car because she was lamenting about how she and her husband are worried how they, as small business owners, are going to afford to live under an Obama presidency. Said woman then proceeded to pick out a brand new, fully-loaded $58,000 Chevy Tahoe. Maybe it's just me, but if I truly was worried about money and was given a brand new car, I'd probably pick something a little more economical. The tags, taxes, and insurance on that thing probably won't be cheap, and while the cost of gas has decreased recently, fueling that thing definitely could break the bank - especially if gas prices increase again! I guess she must not be as worried about being able to afford to live as she claims.
Essentially, Rush Limbaugh, king of conservativism and controversy extraordinaire, decided to give a woman who called in to his radio show a gift -- a book and a brand new car. Pretty cool to be given a brand new free car for just calling in to a radio show, but I won't go in to how you would have to give me a lot more than a free car to listen to just one of Limbaugh's episodes!
So, what bothers me about this? Jealousy? Nope. It's the fact that the woman was given this car because she was lamenting about how she and her husband are worried how they, as small business owners, are going to afford to live under an Obama presidency. Said woman then proceeded to pick out a brand new, fully-loaded $58,000 Chevy Tahoe. Maybe it's just me, but if I truly was worried about money and was given a brand new car, I'd probably pick something a little more economical. The tags, taxes, and insurance on that thing probably won't be cheap, and while the cost of gas has decreased recently, fueling that thing definitely could break the bank - especially if gas prices increase again! I guess she must not be as worried about being able to afford to live as she claims.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
There IS Change
Earlier today, I heard a couple of people talking about if the world today had changed from the world it was yesterday. Both individuals agreed that they felt the world was unchanged. Initially, I thought they were right, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that they, and I, were wrong -- lots has changed.
Last night as I watched election returns from the comfort of my couch, under the haze of migraine drugs, I watched history be made with the election of the first minority to the office of the United States President. As I stepped into that voting booth yesterday, I helped cause that change. As I pulled my political signs from my front yard this morning and held the Obama/Biden support sign in my hands, I swear to you -- I could feel the difference in the world right there in my hands.
So, what has changed? I truly feel that there is hope in the air today. There is hope for a brighter future -- hope for a better economy -- hope that there really is a light at the end of the tunnel. I'm not naive enough to think that everything can be healed and is totally better with just a snap of the fingers, but I feel like there is hope that we are on the way to becoming a stronger nation.
I'm a true blue democrat and make no secret of that fact -- never have; never will. HOWEVER, I think that it's time that we, in this country, put aside our political affiliations and our biases and work together in a bipartisan manner to make our country as strong as she can be. Would I feel this way even if John McCain had won the election? Yes. I might not be as positive about the fact that change has been made, but I would still feel like it's time to pull together to fix what ails us.
Peace, love, and happiness -- that's all I want. Oh, and a stable nation. I think we're well on our way!
Last night as I watched election returns from the comfort of my couch, under the haze of migraine drugs, I watched history be made with the election of the first minority to the office of the United States President. As I stepped into that voting booth yesterday, I helped cause that change. As I pulled my political signs from my front yard this morning and held the Obama/Biden support sign in my hands, I swear to you -- I could feel the difference in the world right there in my hands.
So, what has changed? I truly feel that there is hope in the air today. There is hope for a brighter future -- hope for a better economy -- hope that there really is a light at the end of the tunnel. I'm not naive enough to think that everything can be healed and is totally better with just a snap of the fingers, but I feel like there is hope that we are on the way to becoming a stronger nation.
I'm a true blue democrat and make no secret of that fact -- never have; never will. HOWEVER, I think that it's time that we, in this country, put aside our political affiliations and our biases and work together in a bipartisan manner to make our country as strong as she can be. Would I feel this way even if John McCain had won the election? Yes. I might not be as positive about the fact that change has been made, but I would still feel like it's time to pull together to fix what ails us.
Peace, love, and happiness -- that's all I want. Oh, and a stable nation. I think we're well on our way!
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