Why I have so little time right now...

Hah! That's how I feel! Like there are two babies running around here. I cannot imagine how people with lots of babies do manage. They are blessed though, truly.

1. This past weekend there was much activity in my yard. My yard looks great, but I still have this insatiable need for more flowers. I put in different species of butterfly plants. Right now, I have no home set up for hatching the caterpillars, so I have been taking them to the school, and they are taking care of them. I have several species to it gets interesting and beautiful out there.

2. One of the reasons for the extra yard activity is that #1 son is getting married this Friday. Family and friends have started coming in today. Busy, busy, busy, lots of smiling and hugging. I cannot believe I am already tired!

3. I rarely have a week in which every day has something already in it, and now this week, I have things added to the things that have been added to the things of the things already in the week~! My calendar looks like a cave painting!! Please don't ask me to even pencil you in!!

A Wednesday List

1. I do post in random streams of consciousness. I don't post everything I think because sometimes that stream comes while I am washing dishes and then 'boom! like that!' it is gone. Sometimes it comes again, sometimes not...Sometimes it comes again at a stop light.

2. In my relationship I often find myself caught between the Catch and the 22 ... that is, I catch myself asking my husband 22 times to do something because I am forgetting that silence from him is actually an answer. I just don't always know what that answer is...

3. Found this quote today on the Daily OM sight --

"Our own sense of the truth, is the most important piece when taking in information from external sources." --

and yes, that is what people mostly forget to do. It is part of what is called, "thinking" ...

I read a lot. I read a lot of stuff written by the "experts" ...and I have found, as I have gotten older, that sometimes it might take me a while to figure out what it is I actually know about the subject, but sometimes, I realize, I know a whole heck of a lot more than I thought I did.

So don't take anything at face value, run it through your thinking process and make it real to you. Understand what it is you know, and why you think you know it ~

and for heavens sake, understand that You are You and I am I and He is He and She is She and not everyone thinks alike. If you learn anything, learn that.

4. Forgive everyone. You are not perfect and neither am I, or they or them.

5. Pray or meditate on good things. Good things for yourself and for everyone you know. Especially if you are aware of a friend in need; whether it be a monetary need or an emotional need, or any kind of something they might be lacking, pray for good things to come.

6. Always be kind. Always. No excuses. I know there are days I have failed at this, and I know I am always sorry. Just sayin' ...

7. Believe that something good is bound to happen. It always will. Your turn will come. Be ready.

From the School Front...

The first time I saw the little fellow was last year. I was on my way to pick up my nephews from the library at their school when I heard the screaming. One could not miss the commotion.

In the cleared hallway, you could see a tiny figure kicking and screaming in front of the library room doors. Three teachers were squatted around him. No one touching him, they were each trying, individually to talk to him, as no one is allowed to bring him up into their arms and hug him. It seems he did not want to leave the library and took a fit about it. That day, the school officials had to call the police who ended up carrying the child to the office.

I had been volunteering at my nephews school that year working in the office and encountered that little boy in the office quite often. He was never still. Ever. And, he is just as cute as a button and smart. He continued the rest of the year with these encounters of fits, and I would often see the counselor carrying him down the hall, kicking and screaming, as what seemed to become his usual pattern. And, I learned, there is a certain way in which the counselor is supposed to carry him. If he cannot get the child in that position, and the child is still carrying on, then the police will be called into the school to handle the situation (your tax dollars at work).

Then he began to break that pattern and so began running off school grounds. This little tiny fellow running away, with adults running after him, as he headed off toward the wooded areas that surrounded the school. And, think now, teachers cannot leave their charges, so help would have to be gathered quickly to accomplish this task.

This year, I volunteer in one of the kindergarten classrooms. As I was walking to the library yesterday with a bunch of papers to bound into booklets, I heard screaming. I stopped and looked around and at first didn't see anything, but knew that definitely was screaming coming from somewhere.

I paused at the library door. The hallways were empty. The screaming was now turning a corner. And I saw Mr. R, the main counselor, walking slowing towards the office with kicking legs and arms extending out in front of him. It was that little boy.

I enquired later as to what had happened.

What happened was the usual. His grandmother is called to the school to pick him up and take him home. She is 80 and walks with a cane. When she came in yesterday, the little fellow decided he did not want to go home and would not leave the office he was waiting in.

Grandma turned to the reception at the desk and said, "What the child needs is a good swat on the backside." The little fellow was finally talked into leaving the office and went home with his grandmother.

He is six years old.

Health Care Reform

I don't know what to say. I am not against Health Care Reform. So there. I said that.

Does that make me a socialist/communist/government-clueless individual? Leftist/Marxist dumb-dough? At this point, I am not really sure what it makes me, but since I am in debt because of medical issues ~ I can say I have felt the crisis of which people are speaking.

I found this little read interesting. It just seems that health insurance goes wild now and then, and ummmm, because it is something that people really, really, really need, well, that allows them to go wilder. No?

My heart goes out to those in my situation, and to those whose situations are way worse than mine.

I got up this morning and felt fairly normal. I didn't feel any 'ist' or anything at all. I felt kind and good and happy that I have my family to love and who love me.

I begrudge no one ill will. I wish that those that are sick could go to the doctor and not worry, and I also wish that those that think they might be sick could go to the doctor and not worry. So, I'm an 'ist' of some kind?

No, I don't want government in my personal business, but I do want my police force, my fire department, my roads worked on, my libraries open (Glenn-Beck-you-idiot), and yes, even the public schools. Although, I homeschooled my children for most of their years, there are others that don't or can't or don't know how or won't and then what we would do?

But there you go ~ if those thoughts make me an 'ist' of the bad ilk, then ...

I don't know what to say.

A Sharingly Good Idea

Dana at Rosecommon Acres has just posted a fantastic idea with her Share the Harvest and Challenge Giveaway.

I really like her idea ~~

she writes: "This Spring, we’re still deep in a recession with unemployment continuing to rise, and I wanted to do a little something to encourage you to help your neighbors and community by doing something gardeners have done for as long as there have been gardens: Share the Harvest! Except rather than “just” giving out of your unplanned surplus, I’d like you to consider planning now to plant a little extra, an extra row, an extra tomato plant, whatever you can squeeze in, so that you have a little more to give."

I really like that part about planning to give. Nothing keeps your heart stronger and motivated to peace than knowing you are giving to someone else.

I'm an uncommon gardener. I don't know much about gardening rules and live in sandy soil. I have had some success with lettuce, tomatoes and peppers (chili, red and green) and herbs. Once I grew a cantaloupe. I have a picture of it on my blog somewhere. It grew from my compost pile. I was so excited, I could hardly stand it!

Many things failed to actually produce anything but lovely foliage, but I was happy with that. However, as Dana mentioned in her post, the economic situation of the day would be made easier by free food from our yard.

This year, we have lettuce, tomatoes, broccoli, spinach and potatoes sprouting up already. Oh, and I bought a blueberry plant, but it is the kind that needs another plant to produce its fruit. I think I'll look through the catalog that Dana mentioned and maybe order some other things.

Dana has suggested that others link to her post and really dig in and share.

Brief notes from the Captain's Log

Star date ~

a Monday AM on the planet earth,

where many people abide and try to survive. Some are waking up as I am, some are laying their heads down to sleep...

somewhere in the world today, a child will go without something he needs. Lord my prayer is that someone will fill that need for them. Someone will hug them and listen and be there to make things right.

The sun shines through my windows and even though there are streaks, I can see the beauty of the sun and the sky through the panes. I can see the light and the love. I don't even really have to strain my eyes to see it. It's there.

People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is light from within. ~Elisabeth Kübler-Ross ...

Sometimes it's buried so deep in hurt and neglect and unloving situations that someone does not see it right away. I pray that the light and the love in each of us will be found by another before it's too late to enjoy it and feel it and experience it, while we are here for now in this realm.

In this place where I live, I have so many reasons to look forward. I am rich in those things that money can't buy. I have love. I have love to receive from my family, and I have love to give them. It overflows from my heart and my homestead. I mark it on my door that those that enter this house will be loved and cared for and offered more than they need. I will give as much love as God allows me to give, and I am finding him to be a source that is unending.

Through my life, I have felt pain, I have been physically and emotionally hurt by others but one day, I discovered that without love, one has nothing. I discovered that love is a never ending stream of consciousness with powers and properties to heal, and if one allows the beauty of love to flow through and shine out like light ~ one can change the world for the better without so much more strain than a smile and a helping hand.

It may not look to be changed in the minute ~ but love is timeless and active in time. Think of love as light.

Light gives of itself freely, filling all available space. It does not seek anything in return; it asks not whether you are friend or foe. It gives of itself and is not thereby diminished. ~Michael Strassfeld ...

You never see it travel, but you know it does. You never see how fast it moves, but you know it does. Love and light travel together through all the broken parts of us, through all the hearts that are born ...

"Ring the bells that still can ring.
Forget your perfect offering.
There's a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in."
~~Leonard Cohen ...

Ahhh, the morning ~
rich in great thoughts.

Thoughts of others...

1. In the United States today, there is a pervasive tendency to treat children as adults, and adults as children. The options of children are thus steadily expanded, while those of adults are progressively constricted. The result is unruly children and childish adults. ~Thomas Szasz

2. It is not easy to be crafty and winsome at the same time, and few accomplish it after the age of six. ~John W. Gardner and Francesca Gardner Reese

3. "I must do something" always solves more problems than "Something must be done." ~Author Unknown

4. Most of us can read the writing on the wall; we just assume it's addressed to someone else. ~Ivern Ball

5. I don't see the point of being a human being if you're not going to be responsible to your fellow human beings. Selfishness thefts away the human and reduces you to just a being. ~Candea Core-Starke

A reason for tenderness

The child must know that he is a miracle, that since the beginning of the world there hasn't been, and until the end of the world there will not be, another child like him. ~~Pablo Casals ..

My granddaughter copies just about everything I do now. It's amazing that every word she says does mean something. I feel frustrated at the times when I can't understand them.

When she's pointing and saying something and I can't figure it out ~ I'm thinking to myself, what must it be like for her? 15 months old. Doubtful you will remember anything about this time but I hope you remember the love.

Movement speaking out against the Pearls

A terrible thing has happened. It's an incident that will be very disturbing to your soul. The story headline reads Paradise parents face murder, torture charges.

A Paradise couple Tuesday were charged with the murder of their 7-year-old adopted daughter during a discipline session at the family home last Friday and the "torture" the previous day of her 11-year-old sister, ....

Finding this out, reading this, just breaks your heart. In the name of discipline a child is killed? How outrageous is that? How cruel is that?

Because of a connection to the philosophy of Michael and Debi Pearl and their "chastisement" theories, there has been a lot of blog activity speaking out against the Pearls and a call for book dealers to stop carrying their material.

Because my head is still all over the place with the thoughts of this horrible, cruel, evil injustice done to this little child, Lydia Schartz, I am going to link others who are speaking out much more clearly than I.

I wish to pass that information on. I am siding with those who wish to speak out against Michael and Debi Pearl. I'm choosing this blog Quiet Garden to link as she is showing a list of other bloggers who are speaking out.

Rebecca's Ramblings has read the Pearl's material and is writing about it on her blog. Tulip Girl has also been following the Pearl's misguided ideas for a long time.

Tulip Girl featured a link to this blog, which tells of this mom's experience with the teachings of the Pearls. Her link here also list others who are speaking out.

In the good and humble opinion of this blogger, any child rearing idea that thinks babies should be spanked needs to be totally disregarded as hogwash. Any child rearing idea that says one should carry a spanking tool around their neck and place one in each room, IMGAHO, should be totally disregarded as hogwash. Now, who, on God's green earth, could not agree with that? I am perplexed to think there would be anyone.

Turtles Can Fly ~ The Movie

I just watched this film, and it was amazing. The story is a hard one. But, truth told is often brutal and ugly and makes you cry.

This is a story of children in a refugee camp that is located in Kurdistan and what they do to survive which is disabling land mines. It takes place just before the American invasion. There are no trained actors in the film. These children are real.

A quote from the director, Bahman Ghobadi:

"This is the first film that has been made in Iraq after the fall of Saddam. Prior to anything, here, I should confess that from a Kurd's point of view, I'm very glad that Saddam's dictatorship has finally fallen. That is when I have decided to make a different kind of film.

I traveled to Iraq along my film and camera crew in order to take a variety of images from different subject matters. We captured many shocking images, if we chose to display all of them, they would be so unbearable to the audiences. Whatever is seen in the film is absolutely and truly documented and the comedy and funny parts have mostly come from the local people and some from myself."

There were no Special Features to tell me about the makers of the film and the fantastic young actors, so I Googled for information and was surprised to find that, although, the film was given many awards (scroll down) and a 90% on the Rotten Tomatoes film thermometer, some people thought it was supportive of the American invasion of Iraq.

This is where my dumbness begins to show as I cannot understand, how, if one watched the film, they would get this idea.

My emotions on this topic run deeply and wildly and my expressions may not be coherent, so I have linked others who give information better than I ~~

Roger Ebert gives a great detailed review.

This article from a London Film Festival writer Shahram Heidar gives information I was happy to read:

With financial help from friends and colleagues, the blind toddler has been operated on his eyes in Baghdad and hopefully soon will regain his eye sight. We also supplied health insurance for the handicapped kids so that they would also receive a little financial help for the rest of their lives. The young girl who acted in the film lives in "Soleymanieh" and holds a job at the local TV channel and the youngster boy who played "Satellite" desires to become a director. He is to accompany me in my next film as first assistant director.

We have a responsibility to children in this world, do we not? I did not support the invasion in Iraq; an invasion that would eventually became a war that would be called a war on terror, an abstract term for fear, and then would become what looks like, endless, and God knows I hope I am so wrong about that.

Man has spent much of his time on this planet robbing the innocence of children. I do not understand this concept, and I am grieved at the thought.

Watch this film if you think you can stand becoming emotionally connected with the world.

The Syrian Bride

The story ~ A young woman is getting married. On her wedding day she will leave her family and never see them again. They are all aware of this. It's what the land they live in dictates.

The place ~ The Golan Heights which is a very small area of land bordering Israel and Syria. Who knew it was there? Not me. Actually, this link of Roger Ebert tells you the story of The Syrian Bride, as well as I could if I felt like writing it all out.

The movie was enjoyable, there were subtitles which I do like for a change now and then, but more interesting than the actual film, I found, was the interview with the actress Hiam Abbass. I had checked out the film from the library and her interview is in the part called Special Features.

She speaks of what it is like to be a Palestinian born in Israel. She is Palestinian blood, but because she was actually born in Israel, she is considered an Israeli. She was raised in a Muslim household.

She spoke of the unrest in her part of the world and said that if others would stay out of it, she feels they could resolve their differences on their own. Wouldn't she know better than some of us?

She also mentioned that the film was a collaboration of Israelis and Arabs. The differences known to the world of their dislike for each other did not touch that film set. Gosh, it really makes one wonder, what is going on in this world, you know? What is real and what is fake? Why such effort to keep hate brewing for something different than yourself going? What's it all about, Alfie?

It just makes no sense, sometimes, no sense at all.

Clouded illusions or Lying?

I want to understand why the people who say that the profits of insurance companies "has not shown an increase", don't understand how tax returns work for corporations. Their profits don't go up because they revel in the deductions which turn out to be benefits for them.

1. Bonuses are a deduction

2. Big parties a deduction

3. PAY RAISES a deduction

4. Profits are a DECISION. The companies decide what is profit and what is not.
4a. That means big pay raises for CEO's which don't count as profit,
4b. and on and on ad infinitum.

5. Look it up, seriously.

Corporations DO NOT file their tax returns the same as the regular EVERYMAN. Never have, and most likely, never will. Corporations have long held this advantage.

The profits of the poor little ole insurance companies are being misrepresented. That is my opinion stated from what I know of stuff. Maybe from what you know of stuff, you have something different to say and can defend the insurance companies - health and otherwise -- who are now standing with their brother and sister corporations and taking over things they have no business taking over --

Which is ~ making a profit from someone's illness.

All that blather and I want to add one more thing:

I think there are some up there in Washington who are fully aware of what I am fully aware of, and I wonder how it is they sleep at night. I wonder how it is they really think that causing financial disaster to ill and dying people is in any way a good thing.

For all the thinking I have done about it, I can't see where that decision is the best and better one.

Just sayin' ...

1. I do not care what Tiger Woods and Toyota have in common. I prefer hummus to hubris. I did not give my time over to the 14 minutes Tiger talked about his major mess up. Tsk, tsk, tsk ~ it's a fine mess that you have both gotten yourselves into, Ollie.

2. There is something different about Peanut M & M's these days. I haven't figured it out yet, but they look, uh, different. They are all funny and odd shapes and have just a wee bit of nut in them. I have got to get a photo.

3. According to recent reports, the use of marijuana is increasing for Baby Boomers. And well, I guess so. Their need to relax increases as the continuous accusations of their being at fault for the breakdown of the country continues daily!

They are, after all, the cause of everything! Health care going bust, retirement care on the rise, tax burdens and ad infinitum. Everything is the fault of the Baby Boomers. So, they light up another joint and try to deal ...

4. The Democrats and the Republicans continue to fight about how to fix health care. Shame on them all for not just coming up with a plan that treats everyone fairly that needs health care and that keeps us all from going broke. If they would just let their prejudices fall aside, and do this for the good of people, I think they could work it out. But nooooooo ...

5. A training program on laughter as a health benefit costs $349.00 per person for a two day class. Somehow, I don't find that funny. That is a lot of money IMGAHO. But, one does get a t-shirt and a box lunch on day two. And a continued education certificate is available at an additional cost. Maybe that would make someone at least smile?

War. Why can't we just say no?

"War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today."
~ John F. Kennedy

Last night we viewed the Academy Award nominated film, The Hurt Locker.

I am not really sure what to say about this film. It is about a special military unit in the Army - the bomb squad - stationed in Iraq. It's a day to day count down, almost appearing documentary at times, which is what makes the realism of that so sad.

The film's subject matter I don't like ~ war ~ but, if there is going to be war, and people are going to allow lives to be sacrificed, then they should probably view this film.

There were times I had to look away.

I could not understand what made the film's main character tick. I could not understand why taking a risk was such a thrill for him, but I couldn't help imagining that, perhaps, if there was not a war for him, that he would maybe have found happiness in bungee jumping or climbing Mount Everest.

Whatever reason we might come up with to have a war, my prayer is that it is a damned important serious kick ass reason. Otherwise, I cannot, can not, allow myself to support such a venture.

So, as far as the film is concerned, be warned. The material is delicate, and those viewing will have to deal with the cold hard fact that this is going on, and also, that you, yourself, may have supported such an atrocity.

I did not, will not, and shall not.

"Prayer is meaningless unless it is subversive, unless it seeks to overthrow and to ruin the pyramids of callousness, hatred, opportunism, falsehoods.
~Abraham Joshua Heschel

Today my daughter is 20

I have always labored over birthday cards, always feeling that I could do better than the words written in them and just despising the cost these days, but, I found this card, and I would compliment the writer from Hallmark --

How to Make a Beautiful Life

Reflections for a Daughter on her Birthday

Love yourself.
make peace with who you are and where you are at this moment in time.

Listen to your heart.
If you can't hear what it's saying in this noisy world, MAKE TIME for yourself. Enjoy your own company. Let your mind wander among the stars.

Try.
Take chances. MAKE MISTAKES. Life can be messy at times, but it's also full of surprises. The next rock in your path might be a stepping-stone.

Be happy. When you don't have what you want, want what you have.
MAKE DO. That's a well-kept secret of contentment.

There aren't any shortcuts to toromrrow. You have to MAKE YOUR OWN WAY. To know where you're going is only part of it.
You need to know where you've been, too.

And if you ever get lost, don't worry. The people who love you will find you. Count on it.

Life isn't days and years. It's what you do with time and with all the goodness and grace that's inside you.'

MAKE A BEAUTIFUL LIFE...
The kind of life you deserve.

No sense, some ability

Today I thought I was some kind of super gardener. I decided to transplant a geranium.

I thought I could use a very large shovel with one hand. No. I have not mastered this skill.

I dug up the geranium and with a very large shovel in right hand and geranium in left hand, I decided to dig a hole, one handed. I would not recommend this.

The shovel handle flew up in my face. And it felt like a knock out punch. I thought to myself, "Stupid is as stupid does." (Stupid)

Curious things...

My sister solved a mystery:

I had mentioned that I am reading Beyond Consequences, Logic, and Control.

My sister told me to read this book because one day, last week, and the reason I mention , last week - is because I called her right after I left my parents house because I was freaked out (again) that my father makes me so uncomfortable when he comes into, what I would consider, my personal space,

and I am thinking that this should not bother me any more. So, I shouldn't feel like I'm going to come out of my skin any more, I was thinking. So, I felt a little freaked out and even guilty, and I just knew that was weird and uncalled for at this autumn season of my life!

I mean, after all, he is just approaching me to talk (and talk and talk) and because I keep backing up or moving away, he keeps coming closer, and I become extremely uncomfortable and experience a flight or flight response.

Since I am, now, older than Jackson Browne and constantly working on becoming a better person and conquering ego and all that higher evolving stuff and trying to practice love and forgiveness, I really thought I was 'over it' with my dad (as our relationship was sharp edged and rocky.) But, I knew his story now, how he was abandoned and mixed up and confused as a child~

Anyway, so I called my sister this day - last week - and asked her, "What in the hell is wrong with me!? I know dad is trying to be kind in his old age, but I cannot stand for him to get that close to me! Why does this keep happening!?"

And she said, "Because he threw a mattress on you."

I didn't answer right away. The mattress incident is such a mystery to me, but from the eyes of a 7 year old, here is what happened:

One day I walked into my parents room, cannot remember why. My parents were doing something with the mattresses, or something like that, and I looked up to see a mattress falling on me. I began to smoother. I did not call out, and was very, very scared. I thought my father was aware of the situation and did not care that I was in it. I was afraid of him, so I fought for breath until the mattress was lifted off.

Neither of my parents acknowledged that I was under the mattress, let alone close to passing out.

The incident has perplexed me a good portion of my life and certainly did nothing to endear me to my father and left me in a state of confusion about my mother. My father has always scared me. I think I have some kind of sensitivity disorder and loud yelling at random moments directed at me for reasons I did not know, made my heart beat uncontrollably.

I realize now, he knew nothing about parenting in the emotional sense. My parents were 17 and found themselves in a situation, and dealt with it best they could.

In the book, I found information in Chapter One that addresses the memories of trauma in a child's life. I would consider the incident with the mattress, trauma.

And so what happens, apparently, is that when my father gets close to me, that memory and the others that are trauma like and as unresolved as the mattress incident, produce the feelings that make me want to back up into the wall and keep going as far away from him is I can, and it makes me feel really strange.

Just reading the information in this first chapter, turned my head in another direction. Today when I saw him, I didn't feel the fear.

That's all I can say about this right now. But, that is better than the way it was.

A book I'm reading

"Beyond Consequences, Logic, and Control",
Author Heather T. Forbes, LCSW
and B. Bryan Post, PhD, LCSW

I have read very little of the book yet. My sister has suggested it, and I was reading through the Foreward last night. It is a book that is attempting to help a parent (or person) deal with disrupted attachments.

Attachment is something that happens from the beginning moments of life in this realm. When a child is placed in our arms for our protection, something begins that will affect things forever.

More later.

I so can cook...and I found my potato peeler

On the home front ...

1. Today was a day off for me, and it kind of turned into an off day. I spent my time cleaning out one drawer in my bathroom. The top left drawer. It was a major task, of sorts, I will not lie. I think everything I own had made it's way into that one drawer.

I have this really bad habit of putting anything left over in my hand in that drawer (How fortunate to find my potato peeler!). That way, I can be sure to find whatever it was later (in another life maybe).

Only, the day had finally arrived in which the point of ~ drawer saturation ~ had been reached. (It can happen.) A coup dʼétat, one may say, as the drawer had reached its limit of tolerance for my total disregard of putting anything away, away.

My catch-all, sure safe, no-lose anything drawer was no longer able to allow me to sustain my need for the ability to identify one single item without moving and shifting and lifting just about everything in it. So, I gave up, and today I cleaned it. I dumped the contents on my bed. (And the bed collapsed.)

I filled 5 of my empty candle jars with items from aforementioned drawer. I wrote on the jars with black permanent marker to help me identify the contents at a glance. Like one say "eyes". And I drew an 'eye' on it. (I guess, just in case, it would be late at night, and I couldn't read my own writing or see what was in the jar??) I put all my contact cases, refresh tubes of eye stuff in ~ and then I was thinking, "why do I need 9 contact lens cases?" Since I did not have an answer to that question, I put the jar in the cabinet with all the eye related materials and moved on.

My favorite jar is the last one I did. I got tired of cleaning out the drawer, so I marked one the jars 'miscellaneous', threw the rest of the stuff in there, and voilà! I was done~ and reveled in my brilliance. The drawer is now mostly empty. (I am tempted to put a piece of paper with the date in it and follow up on how long it takes to fill it up again.) All jars fit perfectly in the cabinet!

2. Because I spent so much time cleaning a drawer, I didn't get to the grocery store. I really did need to go there. But I am getting really experienced at this, that is making dinner from what appears to be nothing ...as that is what it did appear to me. Here is what I had: one pound of hamburger and for my vegetarian daughter, one can of refried beans.

So. What could I add to that? I had one half an onion and one quarter of a red pepper, so I sauteed the onion and the red pepper, then added the ground beef. And since the refrigerator was so bare, I could plainly see some green salsa. (That stuff can adjust the flavor of anything to the positive for us!) After the meat was finished, I drained off all the fat, and added the green salsa.

I searched the cabinets and discovered a jar containing a cup of white rice. We stopped eating white rice a long while ago, but white rice never dies. And, an added bonus!~ I found a wayward package of enchilada sauce. Oh happy day~!

I got the rice going and divided the enchilada sauce between the beans and the meat (being careful not to mix the spoons, you know, my daughter the vegetarian?)...but I still needed something green, and I wasn't sure I could count the salsa as a vegetable.

The freezer held very few items, but I could clearly see a folded package of something in a zip lock bag and lo and behold~! Peas!!

I rinsed the peas off really, really well and sprinkled them with Nature's Seasoning and garlic powder (which I also sprinkled in the meat the the beans). As soon as the timer went off for the rice (yes, I cook with a timer, a most needed tool for me) I added the peas and let it sit for 5 minutes ...

And wow!!
What a dinner!

3. I'm ending the day rewatching Sense and Sensibility. And thinking of myself as one that may have no sense, but comes through on the ability.

Can you see the forest?

Miscellaneous stuff I need to get out of my head to make room for other stuff:

1. Sarah Palin's palm notes (or as other writers noted: Sarah's Palm Pilot). Those who love Sarah and the Republican party jumped to her defense with this type of logic:

-- remarks akin to 'doesn't everyone use palm notes, or notes'?,

--and, as far as I can tell, which really who knows how far that is, that wasn't the point of pointing out the palm notes ...

-- *I* think the point was that she was referring to President Obama as "a charismatic guy with a Teleprompter". So, in effect, she created an oxymoron. (Hilarious!)

We can look at both of these people and their prompters, albeit their palm or their teles, and study them intensely with bold headlines and front page news and read blogs which takes stances on either sides of the matter, but in the end, you have two human beans who need notes to remember what they want to say. Oh my, the humanness of it all. (Such deep discovery.)

But, what I find fascinating about myself regarding both these issues is that:
I really don't care.

2. I have been told I am a Swing Voter. I was actually hoping that had something to do with dancing. But apparently, it does not. Upon further study of this discovery, I find the term - Swing Voter - fits me finely. I am independent, and I do like to dance, and even though I try always to be kind, I really don't like to be told what to do.

To some people being a swing voter means that I am throwing my vote away. (Bless their hearts.)

To some other people it means that because there is such a thing as a swing voter, politicians play harder directing attention towards my area of concerns, meaning they try to stay to the center of whatever side they are really leaning towards, which means I am responsible for their presenting a false front of sorts, or as some term that is loosely used in areas such as these --- *lying*. (Now, I have a headache.)

I have been lectured by people, who are party dominated, boldly noting the regards of the importance of stating a case for concrete distinctions in decision making and the all importance of choosing a party plan to support. (Bullocks of a headache, now.)

I feel this type of thinking leaves nothing for a margin of error, of which there always is and this fact of life which is often ignored, does need to be considered.

So, I just go in the voting booth and boldly vote how I want. Every time. When something is so concrete, and so set in stone ...Yikes! That is just to scary! We are talking about ideas here, not statues in a park!

Politicians should not know everything about how things are going regarding who is going to vote for them; they should stay a little edgy and keep sharp, and concentrate on telling us the truth about who they are and what ideas are really in their hearts.

Swing voters make them a little nervous, as one never knows what a swing voter is going to do, -- and no politician should ever have it so easy that he/she thinks that votes will be there for them like lovely presents, all nicely wrapped under the tree on Christmas morning.

They need keep sharp and on their toes; learn to deal with the unexpected, the maybes, and the could bes and learn to think about that existing margin of error, because, it. is. out there.


3. President Obama is setting a trap for the GOP. Oh man, oh man ... this one is still rolling around in my head, but I have got to admit...there is a lot of laughter going on in that space.