We're living a modern version of the Tower of Babel. Literally. Everybody is talking over each other babbling incoherently (there's that word again) trying to persuade you that their line of thinking is correct and that you're a complete idiot if you disagree. Voices, words, images, are flying at us constantly. Does any of it make any sense?
Sunday, June 30, 2019
Saturday, June 29, 2019
Go Away
We are so bombarded with information coupled with people who want our attention it's exhausting. You are exhausted, too, with the constant pings, dings, interruptions, pleas for joining whatever social cause, and click bait. It's come down to this:
Do you owe me money?
Do I owe you money?
If the answer is yes to any of the two above questions you have my attention. If not, go away and don't bug me. Don't email me, don't call me, don't try to get in my face for any reason whatsoever. You will only enrage me. I don't need you telling me what I should or should not purchase. I don't need you telling me what I should or should not believe in. I will immediately discard whatever you're trying to push on me. Pestering me will not increase you're chances. Leave me alone.
Of course, this applies to those peddling goods and services and not personal friendships.
Do you owe me money?
Do I owe you money?
If the answer is yes to any of the two above questions you have my attention. If not, go away and don't bug me. Don't email me, don't call me, don't try to get in my face for any reason whatsoever. You will only enrage me. I don't need you telling me what I should or should not purchase. I don't need you telling me what I should or should not believe in. I will immediately discard whatever you're trying to push on me. Pestering me will not increase you're chances. Leave me alone.
Of course, this applies to those peddling goods and services and not personal friendships.
Friday, June 21, 2019
Exclusion at UC Berkeley
Oh yes, it's college admission/rejection season. Some will be happy and some will be disappointed. Each college has their own admission criteria. Here's what I observed: The most liberal college (UC Berkeley) has some of the most exclusionary admission practices. They all want open borders and opportunity as we are all equal, but they don't want open classroom doors at their university. They want to shove it in your face how 'special' they are. Why?
They are prejudiced and bigoted as well, it just shows up in a different form. Some of the snobbiest people are academics at so-called liberal colleges. They judge and discriminate based on your academic path. God forbid if you went to a community college. You are lower than dirt. They think they are better than everybody else.
I don't get why uber liberal colleges don't have an open door policy. After all, they preach that everybody is equal and deserves a chance. UC Berkeley hosts protests, marches, blah, blah, blah, for equality of all. If they truly believed that, they would accept all who apply. They don't.
They are prejudiced and bigoted as well, it just shows up in a different form. Some of the snobbiest people are academics at so-called liberal colleges. They judge and discriminate based on your academic path. God forbid if you went to a community college. You are lower than dirt. They think they are better than everybody else.
I don't get why uber liberal colleges don't have an open door policy. After all, they preach that everybody is equal and deserves a chance. UC Berkeley hosts protests, marches, blah, blah, blah, for equality of all. If they truly believed that, they would accept all who apply. They don't.
Monday, June 10, 2019
David Lee Roth - Just a Gigolo
This video came on while I was at the gym yesterday. I totally forgot about it, but when it played it brought back every second of that glorious year 1985. David Lee Roth, who was the lead singer for Van Halen, was a goof ball.
This video is a time capsule for the 1980's. I can't think of anything that captures the 80's like this video to bring us back.
This video is a time capsule for the 1980's. I can't think of anything that captures the 80's like this video to bring us back.
Sunday, June 9, 2019
2020 Census
It's coming up again, the census. Who checks for accuracy when people fill it out? All they can really count is how many get returned. There's no way the government can verify the information that's on it. The government is *not* that organized nor efficient. What are they going to do if you don't fill it out, put you in census jail? Jails and prisons are already overcrowded.
Sigh.
Now, how do count those who are in the country illegally? Should they be counted? How is the government going to accurately count them should it be decided they should be included at all?
Wait.
I can hear the arguments from both sides as to whether or not illegal non-citizens should or should not be included. Here's where we pull out our history books for resolution. Let's revisit the 1787 Constitutional Convention. Our Founding Fathers (some of whom had slaves) argued vehemently among themselves about whether or not slaves be counted for the census, which also determined the number of seats in the House of Representatives. After much arguing and deliberation, the 3/5 compromise was struck. Three out of five slaves would be included in the numbers.
Let's be blunt. Illegal immigrants are our modern day slaves. We all use them, especially wealthy democrats from Marin. It's so ironic that the bastion of blue-voting-equality-for-all democrats are the biggest consumers of slave labor. Well, at least Marinites want to count them as people - as long as the slaves don't live anywhere near them and are otherwise out of site.
See how little has really changed since our country was born? If the 3/5 Compromise worked back then, why won't it work now? That is assuming the government can do an accurate and thorough accounting. Don't hold your breath.
Sigh.
Now, how do count those who are in the country illegally? Should they be counted? How is the government going to accurately count them should it be decided they should be included at all?
Wait.
I can hear the arguments from both sides as to whether or not illegal non-citizens should or should not be included. Here's where we pull out our history books for resolution. Let's revisit the 1787 Constitutional Convention. Our Founding Fathers (some of whom had slaves) argued vehemently among themselves about whether or not slaves be counted for the census, which also determined the number of seats in the House of Representatives. After much arguing and deliberation, the 3/5 compromise was struck. Three out of five slaves would be included in the numbers.
Let's be blunt. Illegal immigrants are our modern day slaves. We all use them, especially wealthy democrats from Marin. It's so ironic that the bastion of blue-voting-equality-for-all democrats are the biggest consumers of slave labor. Well, at least Marinites want to count them as people - as long as the slaves don't live anywhere near them and are otherwise out of site.
See how little has really changed since our country was born? If the 3/5 Compromise worked back then, why won't it work now? That is assuming the government can do an accurate and thorough accounting. Don't hold your breath.
Friday, June 7, 2019
D Day
Yesterday was D Day. What was D Day? It was that infamous day that was the turning point for WWII. The allied forces stormed Normandy to meet a wall of Nazi weapons and bullets. Not many of the veterans are left. My fear is that once they are gone, history will repeat itself but perhaps with different names.
I had the opportunity to visit Normandy about 3 years and see first-hand Omaha Beach the the scars and pillboxes that are still there. We also visited the American Cemetery. I did not expect to get emotional, but I did. It was moving like visiting the tomb of the unknown soldier in Washington, D.C.
Back to Normandy. We were on a bus with other people during the tour. There were two schools of thought on seeing people now enjoy the beaches with their families having picnics. One school of thought by a veteran was that 'how dare they enjoy themselves on a sacred gravesite where so many died.' The other veteran's point of view was that he was glad families were enjoying themselves on the beach, as freedom to do so was what he was fighting for.
Who is right?
Both of them are.
I had the opportunity to visit Normandy about 3 years and see first-hand Omaha Beach the the scars and pillboxes that are still there. We also visited the American Cemetery. I did not expect to get emotional, but I did. It was moving like visiting the tomb of the unknown soldier in Washington, D.C.
Back to Normandy. We were on a bus with other people during the tour. There were two schools of thought on seeing people now enjoy the beaches with their families having picnics. One school of thought by a veteran was that 'how dare they enjoy themselves on a sacred gravesite where so many died.' The other veteran's point of view was that he was glad families were enjoying themselves on the beach, as freedom to do so was what he was fighting for.
Who is right?
Both of them are.
The Journey Inward
I'm an introvert by nature. What does that mean? It means I generally find people exhausting. Large parties and crowds are something I must endure. It's hard to be an introvert in an extroverted world as we are outnumbered pretty much 4:1. I live a quiet life in a noisy world. I'd much rather be home reading, gardening, cooking, contemplating the big questions.
I'll stop there. Contemplating the big questions.
You know the saying you are what you eat? Well, I must now be a finely aged cabernet wine. Mellow and smooth. LOL.
I am mellowing as I age. I am part of group of introverts speckled with a few extroverts here in Sonoma County who quietly get together to ask the 'big questions.' We talk, journal, read, discuss, observe. We challenge each others' viewpoints without judgement or anger.
Here's what I'm getting to. This process has brought me not only to my external observations/issues with the world, but also internal. I'm beginning to recognize the hypocrisy within myself. If I'm going to talk the talk, I'm going to walk the walk.
It's going to be a *very* long walk........
I'll stop there. Contemplating the big questions.
You know the saying you are what you eat? Well, I must now be a finely aged cabernet wine. Mellow and smooth. LOL.
I am mellowing as I age. I am part of group of introverts speckled with a few extroverts here in Sonoma County who quietly get together to ask the 'big questions.' We talk, journal, read, discuss, observe. We challenge each others' viewpoints without judgement or anger.
Here's what I'm getting to. This process has brought me not only to my external observations/issues with the world, but also internal. I'm beginning to recognize the hypocrisy within myself. If I'm going to talk the talk, I'm going to walk the walk.
It's going to be a *very* long walk........
Thursday, June 6, 2019
Nuclear Family Experiment
The more things change the more they stay the same. Everybody is complaining about affordable housing. What does that mean? The cultural experiment of the nuclear family was created post WWII. Prior to that several generations lived in the same house together. Nobody ever really moved out or away.
Back then people could not "afford" to move out of their parents' house.
What's old is new.
Back then people could not "afford" to move out of their parents' house.
What's old is new.
Wednesday, June 5, 2019
Carole King
Today I went with two friends to the Golden Gate Theater in San Francisco to see the musical Beautiful which is about the life of the singer/songwriter Carole King.
Who is Carole King? I know you know her....even if you say you don't.
Carole King is the music I grew up with, but never really paid attention to the source and the soulfulness of her talent. There are so many hit songs she wrote for artists with varied genres. You couldn't peg her to just one. She wrote for The Monkeys, The Animals, The Shirrells, The Drifters...all of that BEFORE she struck out on her own singing her own songs that became huge hits.
Here's her first hit she wrote with her husband for The Shirrells.
And some years later when she sang the songs she wrote
Thank you, Carol, for the many, many songs you gifted to us.
Who is Carole King? I know you know her....even if you say you don't.
Carole King is the music I grew up with, but never really paid attention to the source and the soulfulness of her talent. There are so many hit songs she wrote for artists with varied genres. You couldn't peg her to just one. She wrote for The Monkeys, The Animals, The Shirrells, The Drifters...all of that BEFORE she struck out on her own singing her own songs that became huge hits.
Here's her first hit she wrote with her husband for The Shirrells.
And some years later when she sang the songs she wrote
Thank you, Carol, for the many, many songs you gifted to us.
Sunday, June 2, 2019
The Wedding
My son and his husband had their spiritual bonding ceremony yesterday. They have been married legally for a couple years now, and that was a 5 minute paper signing deal at the courthouse in San Diego where I was not even there. So yes, there were two steps here: the legal aspect of marriage, and the spiritual bonding ceremony. In this instance, they were separated out where the 'traditional' format is having the legal and spiritual aspects take place at the same time.
Well, do you expect a gay wedding to be traditional?
My California bestie, M, hosted the event at her home that was built in 1886. Her house is teaming with spiritual activity from past residents, and the spirits like it when celebrations happen. M wants to open up her house to be a wedding venue, and this was the first one she did. The guests actually thought it was an actual venue as the house and property are so well laid out. M and I have along history of cooking for crowds and we put it all together. Help came out of nowhere. It was heart-warming to see friends and family volunteer to: lend a hand, make an appetizer, set up tables, do photography, run last minute errands, etc. I was so moved by it all I actually cried with gratitude.
My son and his husband did not want a stuffy fru-fru wedding. They wanted everybody to come, relax, wear shorts and flip flops, and witness their spiritual ceremony. And people did.
The man who did the officiating was a teacher my son had in high school. He is now retired, but he has touched so many young lives with his compassion and wisdom. He was a mentor to many lost souls floating about.
The food? What do you think foodies are going to serve? And the drinks? Let the wine and beer flow.
We had: bbq pulled pork and chicken, buns, macaroni salad, pasta salad, baked beans, green salad, brie and goat cheeses with crackers, shrimp cocktail, sandwich wheel roll-ups, stuffed olives, potato chips, vegetables, dips, deviled eggs, cheesy potatoes, coleslaw, Lutheran sushi (look it up ha ha ha),
pistachios, smoked almonds, tortilla chips w/ salsa, and an edible fruit arrangement with the cake.
Whew. We did the food ourselves without any catering. Granted, we had help and each food item were family recipe favorites that have been passed down for generations. I loved having the family recipes there along with my grandmother's serving platters. Everything meant something.
How did we keep the food items chilled during the set up? A bathtub filled with ice makes a nice, flat, wide bed to place platters on. Keep the drain open so the ice does not melt and drown your food.
Today I'm exhausted. I'm going down to M's to tear down the tables and chairs. Again, I have help. My sister and niece are here from Minnesota along with my nephews. My daughter and her boyfriend are also here to help.
It was so meaningful to have all these family and friends come together to make the day truly special and heartfelt. The love in the air was thick.
So, a rundown of do-it-yourself wedding.
Decorations: Chinese lanterns (available at any party store)
Table centerpieces: Recycled wine bottles with a picture of the 'brooms' as a label. Place a sprig of rosemary or baby's breath inside. Cheap. Hearty. Original. Also placed personalized wine bottles sporadically around venue.
Tables: Rented rounds with table cloths along with highboys for placing items on during for arrivals for the appetizer portion of the day. Make sure tables are placed in shade and get umbrellas if you don't have shade. Cheap umbrellas are $30 at discount stores OR Craigslist or borrow some.
Dinnerware: Bamboo plates and biodegradable utensils. Wrap the utensils together with high-quality disposable napkins with a paper ring to add an elegant touch without the guilt of plastic plates and the mess and stress of doing dishes.
Cake: Local supermarket puts pictures on sheet cakes. Used the image that was on the invitations. Personalized. Used edible fruit arrangements as bookends for pizazz. It turned out really well. Cost of the cake? $45. Where else can you get a cake for that price.
Drinks: Used pitchers and beverage dispensers (you can rent them) for water, iced tea, and lemonade. Also used coolers and plastic tubs to chill bottled items. Had "one" signature drink (margarita). Beer - Costco. Wine - Trader Joe's. Trader Joe's has surprisingly great wine for cheap. Don't be afraid to take a risk, but do taste some prior to buying cases. I was able to get 8 cases of wine for $2.99 a bottle during one of their closeouts. The TJ employee encouraged me to buy one bottle to check it out. He said I would be back. I was.
Music: Just about anybody can DJ these days with a computer and speakers. Your genre is unlimited.
Food: Accept offers of help. Everybody has a family favorite to share. It's amazing how people came out of nowhere and offered. I did not assign cooking duties to anybody. The offers of help were VOLUNTARY. I did not solicit any - they appeared like angels. If you don't have culinary talents nor the network of volunteers, Costco has pretty much everything.
Clean up: Hired my friend's young adult kids to bus, refill, bar tend, etc. They were happy to make a few bucks.
Bathrooms: No, you don't want people using the private spaces of the house. There are now flush-able port-a-potties complete with sinks. You can rent one for about $175. Flush-able ones take the grossness factor out.
Photographer: Hired my talented niece who was more than happy do get some $ to help fund her Europe trip. Certainly you know a family member or friend who has a flair for photography. The shots will be genuine as family and friends intuitively *know* how to capture special moments without looking staged.
One last thing: Get an event insurance policy in case somebody trips, falls, drives home drunk, etc. Cost $175.
Well, do you expect a gay wedding to be traditional?
My California bestie, M, hosted the event at her home that was built in 1886. Her house is teaming with spiritual activity from past residents, and the spirits like it when celebrations happen. M wants to open up her house to be a wedding venue, and this was the first one she did. The guests actually thought it was an actual venue as the house and property are so well laid out. M and I have along history of cooking for crowds and we put it all together. Help came out of nowhere. It was heart-warming to see friends and family volunteer to: lend a hand, make an appetizer, set up tables, do photography, run last minute errands, etc. I was so moved by it all I actually cried with gratitude.
My son and his husband did not want a stuffy fru-fru wedding. They wanted everybody to come, relax, wear shorts and flip flops, and witness their spiritual ceremony. And people did.
The man who did the officiating was a teacher my son had in high school. He is now retired, but he has touched so many young lives with his compassion and wisdom. He was a mentor to many lost souls floating about.
The food? What do you think foodies are going to serve? And the drinks? Let the wine and beer flow.
We had: bbq pulled pork and chicken, buns, macaroni salad, pasta salad, baked beans, green salad, brie and goat cheeses with crackers, shrimp cocktail, sandwich wheel roll-ups, stuffed olives, potato chips, vegetables, dips, deviled eggs, cheesy potatoes, coleslaw, Lutheran sushi (look it up ha ha ha),
pistachios, smoked almonds, tortilla chips w/ salsa, and an edible fruit arrangement with the cake.
Whew. We did the food ourselves without any catering. Granted, we had help and each food item were family recipe favorites that have been passed down for generations. I loved having the family recipes there along with my grandmother's serving platters. Everything meant something.
How did we keep the food items chilled during the set up? A bathtub filled with ice makes a nice, flat, wide bed to place platters on. Keep the drain open so the ice does not melt and drown your food.
Today I'm exhausted. I'm going down to M's to tear down the tables and chairs. Again, I have help. My sister and niece are here from Minnesota along with my nephews. My daughter and her boyfriend are also here to help.
It was so meaningful to have all these family and friends come together to make the day truly special and heartfelt. The love in the air was thick.
So, a rundown of do-it-yourself wedding.
Decorations: Chinese lanterns (available at any party store)
Table centerpieces: Recycled wine bottles with a picture of the 'brooms' as a label. Place a sprig of rosemary or baby's breath inside. Cheap. Hearty. Original. Also placed personalized wine bottles sporadically around venue.
Tables: Rented rounds with table cloths along with highboys for placing items on during for arrivals for the appetizer portion of the day. Make sure tables are placed in shade and get umbrellas if you don't have shade. Cheap umbrellas are $30 at discount stores OR Craigslist or borrow some.
Dinnerware: Bamboo plates and biodegradable utensils. Wrap the utensils together with high-quality disposable napkins with a paper ring to add an elegant touch without the guilt of plastic plates and the mess and stress of doing dishes.
Cake: Local supermarket puts pictures on sheet cakes. Used the image that was on the invitations. Personalized. Used edible fruit arrangements as bookends for pizazz. It turned out really well. Cost of the cake? $45. Where else can you get a cake for that price.
Drinks: Used pitchers and beverage dispensers (you can rent them) for water, iced tea, and lemonade. Also used coolers and plastic tubs to chill bottled items. Had "one" signature drink (margarita). Beer - Costco. Wine - Trader Joe's. Trader Joe's has surprisingly great wine for cheap. Don't be afraid to take a risk, but do taste some prior to buying cases. I was able to get 8 cases of wine for $2.99 a bottle during one of their closeouts. The TJ employee encouraged me to buy one bottle to check it out. He said I would be back. I was.
Music: Just about anybody can DJ these days with a computer and speakers. Your genre is unlimited.
Food: Accept offers of help. Everybody has a family favorite to share. It's amazing how people came out of nowhere and offered. I did not assign cooking duties to anybody. The offers of help were VOLUNTARY. I did not solicit any - they appeared like angels. If you don't have culinary talents nor the network of volunteers, Costco has pretty much everything.
Clean up: Hired my friend's young adult kids to bus, refill, bar tend, etc. They were happy to make a few bucks.
Bathrooms: No, you don't want people using the private spaces of the house. There are now flush-able port-a-potties complete with sinks. You can rent one for about $175. Flush-able ones take the grossness factor out.
Photographer: Hired my talented niece who was more than happy do get some $ to help fund her Europe trip. Certainly you know a family member or friend who has a flair for photography. The shots will be genuine as family and friends intuitively *know* how to capture special moments without looking staged.
One last thing: Get an event insurance policy in case somebody trips, falls, drives home drunk, etc. Cost $175.
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