State of the Union

Today in Washington, the House passed a bill to repeal the much sought after health-care reform that was passed in 2010. As it was something sought during several administration I can only conclude that the repeal is simply based on its not having been passed during a GOP administration and the fact that it was not supported by the major insurance companies who have historically supported the GOP candidates with their money.(I worked for 20 years in the insurance industry and at a level that I sat in on meetings where these agendas were discussed.) If you look carefully at the planned reform and not just the political blurbs, you will see that it does favor the citizen over the large corporations that have controlled health care access and cost for years. Unfortunately we have, for the most part, become a country of uninformed voters who will support a party line based on one issue agreement rather than looking at each issue with a fresh eye.

In another, partisan act, a ranking member of the GOP stated that he would not attend functions for China's President Hu. How do they expect to improve relations and therefore be in a better position to influence how this, one of the largest developing nations, merges into the world community.

It is time that our government and We, The People, remember that they are suppose to be working for us when they sit in Washington.

What Makes A Photograph Art.?

Someone told me recently that he had lost interest in photography now that anyone could "make" a good picture rather than taking a good photograph. Even though I am one of those who appreciates the fact that I can now take some of my less than stellar "snaps" and by cropping and other filter options that are available on most photo softwares, can create good from poor. I disagree, however, on whether or not this diminishes the work of the photographer who sees objects in ways that others do not, who is able to draw the viewer into the photograph by use of shadow, lines, angles, etc. The great photographer shows us what he sees but also leaves us thinking about the subject matter, lets our imagination fill in the "blanks" that are suggested by the way the photo is presented to us. When you see a subject looking out of a window, for example, while we can admire the light and shadow and how it sets a mood, it still leaves us with questions. What is the subject looking at?

I enjoy taking my old, "throw away" photos and by scanning and using programs like Photofilter can salvage part of the picture or even the photo as a whole by using various "artist" tools to manipulate the image. This does not make me in anyway like the many wonderful photographers that start with an image better than my final product and then, perhaps, use these softwares to merely enhance the image not create it.

Moving in the Right Direction: High Speed Rail in Wisconsin

High Speed Rail

http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2010/nov/30/scott-walker/governor-elect-scott-walker-says-milwaukee-madison/

Our Governor-Elect had said during his campaign that he would kill this project and use the grant money for other needs within the state. He failed to understand that without the project, the money would not be there but would go to another state that was willing to implement the high speed rail project. He, also, failed to understand that the Spanish company that as a result of the project had targeted Milwaukee as the site of their plant to build trains and would create jobs for Wisconsin. Now that company is looking for another state. We need to let Mr Walker know that we have looked behind the curtain and have seen the problems with his plans. Speak out!

Meetings will run from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.:
Tue, Nov. 30 in La Crosse at the Best Western Riverfront Hotel, 1835 Rose St.
Wed, Dec. 1 in Eau Claire at the Best Western Trail Lodge Hotel, 3340 Monovi Rd,
Thur, Dec. 2 in Fond du Lac at UW-Fond du Lac
Tue, Dec. 7 in Madison at the WisDOT SW Region Office, 2101 Wright St

Roswell

It has taken me a couple of weeks but I have finally watched the complete series Roswell. I started watching it when it was actually on TV but then life got in the way as often happens to most of us. It was a good series but the cancellation and network changes forced the storyline. There were some good actors involved and I would love to see them reunite for the 10 year reunion of the Roswell High Class of 2002.


Yes, we know that Max and Liz got married but what else happened? Did they continue their quest to save others from the "unit"? Did Isabel get back with Jesse? What happened with Michael and Maria? And let us not forget Kyle, did he get powers? Are they all now superheroes?

There's A Monster In The House

The above title is also the title of a children's song that I have listened to a lot recently with Sol.It is one of his favorites. I was reminded of the song the other night as I sat here at the computer. I was alone and for once there was no music playing as I attempted to get some writing done. Several times my concentration was broken by a faint noise that I quickly attributed to a car passing by the house. Some time passed before my concentration was again broken by a noise and this time it was clear that this was not coming from outside the house and that it was not mechanical in nature. It was a sort of snorting, squeaking, and heavy breathing sound. I tried to ignore it and get on with my task but this was not to be. Finally I got up to go investigate. I climbed the stairs, moving toward the now growing louder sound and when I reached the top of the stairs, what should I find? In the song, when the child calls for his parents upon hearing the monster, the monster goes quiet and only starts his noise again after the parents have gone back to bed and it is then that the child realizes that the monster is really his sleeping dad. My monster turned out to be Keitel (our dog) lying at the top of the stairs, legs kicking, growling and snoring in the throes of a doggy nightmare.

This got me wondering what a dog's dream was like. Does he see images, hear sounds, smell? What is taking place in those dreams when the legs are kicking and he is growling? Does he remember his dreams when he wakes up? What triggers the nightmare versus the peaceful dream? Do other animals dreams?

How to Dial a Rotary Telephone

I remember when I was a kid and our phone was a party line which meant that you could only make a call if no other members of your "party" were using the phone. There would always be the one person who talked for what seemed like forever and you would pick up the phone over and over,hoping that their call was done, and each time you hung up with a little more emphasis.  There was also the intricacies of calling someone on your party line, dial their number, hang up and wait for the ring, then quickly pick it back up. And with skill and timing we managed to have "conference" calls with all of our friends. We would set a time, one person would make the initial call and then all of the others would pick up as soon as the first two parties had connected.

Nature's Illusions

The other day as I sat at the computer, I glanced out the window and saw a perfect yellow 5-point star clutched in the out stretched limbs of my lilac tree. The tree was bare of leaves except for this one burst of yellow. I got my camera and went out to grab a picture but from that view it was simply a leaf from a nearby tree, blown by the wind, and snagged in the lilac and no matter how I maneuvered I could not recapture the vision of the star.

 Back at the desk I could once again see it so I was content to simply watch it until later that day another gust of wind sent it sailing away.

Underwire Perils

There are days when I want to go back to the wonderful days of the 60's and burn my bras, Especially those with an underwire! Not because of any theories regarding health but simply that I am tired of having the damn thing suddenly decide that rather than serving as a support it is a weapon. From somewhere a sharp spear emerges  and proceeds to stab a most delicate area. This usually happens when I am in a location that precludes reaching in to dislodge the offending spear. By the time I can do so discreetly there is at the least a red welt to mark the success of the attack. There have even been days of blood and bruises.

So why do I wear them? For years I have tried different styles and found that the underwire gives the best look under my garments.I give in to fashion and wear one much like the women who for years suffered with the corset. I know that one of these days I will give in to the urge to once more go bra-less once more but by then I will simply be considered "that eccentric old lady down the road".

As to the health issues, there has been no scientific research to prove or disprove any connection with cancer and the underwire. Allergic reactions are no more common than with any other  contact allergies.

We The People

I did my part. I let my voice be heard prior to the mid-term elections. I supported my choice. I encouraged others to get involved in the process. I voted.My candidates lost. I should be feeling defeated but I am not. Instead there is a renewed interest in getting people involved.

All of the analysis of the election results show that voters were disappointed in how the incumbents had handled issues that were important to them. Most political analyst will tell you that it is next to impossible to get anything of importance changed quickly without stepping on some feet. This administration did  step on some feet but with what had to be done in such a short time it was necessary. If you look at the full scope of what was accomplished this has been an administration that did what was needed at the time regardless of how special interest groups and the member of certain media groups might portray these accomplishments. . Obama has been doing what was needed to give us that jump start to recovery.
The last President to do as much was Lyndon Johnson

If we expect and hope that there will be more moving forward during the balance of the current administration, then we as The People, must continue to make our voices heard between elections. Make sure that your representatives here from you and let them know that their continued occupation of an office is directly dependent upon how well they represent all of their constituents and just those with the large bank accounts. Let them know that you expect them to work together as a project team with all other representative and not just those of their party. Compromise might be necessary and should not be thought of as poor politics. Some times changes must be made in small steps. Those who vote strictly by party should find themselves in trouble when the next elections rolls around. It is time to change the way that we are represented. It is time for WE, THE PEOPLE, to do our part. Get the Facts. Speak up! Be Heard!
  http://www.contactingthecongress.org/

We, The People

I did my part. I let my voice be heard prior to the mid-term elections. I supported my choice. I encouraged others to get involved in the process. I voted.My candidates lost. I should be feeling defeated but I am not. Instead there is a renewed interest in getting people involved.

All of the analysis of the election results show that voters were disappointed in how the incumbents had handled issues that were important to them. Most political analyst will tell you that it is next to impossible to get anything of importance changed quickly without stepping on some feet and that is what the administration did if you do not look at the full scope of what was accomplished. The last President to do as much was Lyndon Johnson.

If we expect and hope that there will be more moving forward during the balance of the current administration, then we as The People, must continue to make our voices heard between elections. Make sure that your representatives here from you and let them know that their continued occupation of an office is directly dependent upon how well they represent all of their constituents and just those with the large bank accounts. Let them know that you expect them to work together as a project team with all other representative and not just those of their party. Compromise might be necessary and should not be thought of as poor politics. Some times changes must be made in small steps. Those who vote strictly by party should find themselves in trouble when the next elections rolls around. It is time to change the way that we are represented. It is time for WE, THE PEOPLE, to do our part.


http://www.contactingthecongress.org/

Autumn Is Here

Think Pink

Breast cancer used to be a word that was rarely spoken of without some sense of dread. It was like hearing a death sentence being handed down. Now it has become a word that is tagged with pretty pink bows as more and more this type of cancer is diagnosed early enough for successful treatment. More and more survivors are out there to tell their story.

I am one of those women. The diagnosis was first given when I was in my early forties. I had yet to have gone in for the recommended baseline mammograms so I was fortunate. My symptom was a simple tingle across the nipple when fabric rubbed and it was not a pleasurable tingle but one that was a daily irritant. I finally mentioned it when seeing my physician for something completed unrelated. Luckily for me, he insisted that it was time for me to have that mammogram and it showed a small tumor lying just behind the nipple. A tumor that I would not have found by self-exam until it had grown much larger. A simple surgery and biopsy confirmed the diagnosis and treatments began. Six weeks of chemo and three years of follow-up care until another tumor was found and again I went through treatments. It has now been over ten years without any further evidence of its return so I call myself a survivor but I have learned to be more careful with my health. I adhere to the prescribed, age appropriate exams.

So wear your Pink and support the cause of cancer research but don't forget to take care of yourself!

First Frost

When I got up this morning and stepped out onto the back deck, I could still see traces of the light frost from the night before as it slowly gave over to the sun. And though the sun was bright, the temperature never made it beyond the low 60's so I spent most of the day sitting in a pool on sunlight, curled on the couch with afghan and book.

I am reading bit and pieces of Jimmy Carter's White House Diary. It is one of those books that you do not have to read from first page to last but simply pick a date that interests you and go from there. Carter was very straight forward with his documentation of his days in Office and pulled to punches in putting down how he truly felt. It was interesting to read about his thoughts on the day that Reagan was sworn into office and he stood next to him, looking as if he was not at all following the ceremony. In fact,as he states it his thought were all on the hostage negotiations and he was praying that there would be no last minute change of mind from Iran that would leave the delicate negotiations in the hands of one who would screw it up. As we all know there was no last minute change of mind and the hostages were freed and Reagan gladly took the credit for it.

For One Who Inspires

Kiss From A Rose

Sissel Kyrkjebø - You`ll Never Walk Alone

For Sol

Many Worlds & Friendship

When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares. ~Henri Nouwen

As I have each year since 2001, I have thought about friends and family a lot this past weekend. There have been choices made that have altered relationships and the thought of "if I could only go back and do it over.." surfaces. I know that I would not want to go back and do over because each choice made affected something else in my life and the uncertainty of which things would no longer be is the lock on the time machine door.

Friends, unlike family, can decide to no longer be friends or at least to cease being there for the other person. I place a high value upon my friends. They are treasures beyond price and I fight with everything within me to hold on to those friendships. We might not see each other for years, separated by the different paths that we choose but I know that any time that our paths happen to cross that bond of friendship is still there.

And I would like to think that if the "many worlds" theory is true that each of these friends still travel with me on my life's journey. Those that, for one reason or another, choices made, were not as close as one would wish in this world, are the nearest and dearest in one of the other realities.

Friends not made in this world are within my circle there. Losses are spared by different choices that are made. Somewhere out there, in one of these worlds I am with my first love..in another it is the second, and so on. If one thinks on this for any length of time the possibilities are endless and it puts sorrow into the background.