Can I call 'em, or what?

Beth --

I have some important news that I want to make official.

I've chosen Joe Biden to be my running mate.

Joe and I will appear for the first time as running mates this afternoon in Springfield, Illinois -- the same place this campaign began more than 19 months ago.

I'm excited about hitting the campaign trail with Joe, but the two of us can't do this alone. We need your help to keep building this movement for change.

Thanks for your support,

Barack

 

Tags: Barack Obama, Joe Biden

Two varieties of high speed

 

 

 

"Even the patience of the brothers was being tested by our slow Internet."

 

 

        ~~Father Daniel Van Santvoort, Cistercian monk, on his Welsh monastery's decision to get broadband access

 

 

Apparently a slow connection maddens monks as much as any of the rest of us! Who knew?

 

My poor Dad...they live in a remote enough location that they can't get a high speed connection, so he's still on dial-up. I hope a company can get a line out to them soon, because I know he really enjoys getting emails, but who knows. Dad can still get emails, but the connection is so slow that he only checks every couple of days. I sent some hummingbird pictures to him a while back, and he was able to get all of those okay. He could get satellite, and although they could probably afford it, they're still on a fixed income and Dad can't justify the cost.

 

We can't get DSL at our place, but we were able to get cable. I don't think I could handle dial-up now. My head would probably explode! I know how I react when something locks up, or I get frustrated by the computer. A few choice words start flying, believe me! It's funny to imagine how a monk might react. "Curse thee, Vista!" Ha!

 

A new Olympic sport in Beijing is BMX racing. I have to say...I love it! Motocross is big around here, which I think uses a similar track, but  motorbikes instead. I think BMX is probably another southern California thing. I was captivated as I watched these riders soaring over these hills and taking the curves high-up on the track. It became apparent very quickly that the first curve was a killer, and people were wiping out all over the place. When one guy wiped out, he usually took 2 or 3 others with him, and in one race, I think there were only 3 people that crossed the finish line out of 8 or so starters! No one seemed to be seriously hurt, though.

 

Ken thinks it won't last as an Olympic event, because there were just too many injuries, whether serious or not. He could be right, but I hope they give it a chance again. I thought it was fun to watch. Ken thought it was the equivalent of snowboarding in the winter Olympics, and I think he's right! We enjoyed watching that a lot a couple of years ago. These are certainly non-traditional sports, but they can be quite entertaining, and while the athletes also might be non-traditional, they're definitely athletes. I like bike-riding, but you'll never see me riding hell bent for leather like these guys do! Considering my general klutziness, I'd probably take out every single rider in the race! "Ohhhh! Look at that, Bob, Beth R.--they call her Extra Arm, you know--has wiped out yet again, and in the process, she's caused a massive wipe out...and it looks like it involves every rider in this race! Looks like no one is going to be crossing the finish line in this one, Bob. Oh, and by the way, hi Skippy." [You can find that reference here.]

 

Yeah, that would be about the way it would go for me.

Tags: High speed Internet, BMX racing

Thanks, we needed that!

 

"It's just a rainy day at Nutwood...it's the day I hung an innocent man...." [sung to the tune of "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia]

 

Don't worry, I haven't hung anyone!

 

Val writes a second journal she calls "Joy in the Rain," with jokes and quotes that are both fun and inspirational. Today I am experiencing my own joy in the rain, as we're getting some much-needed precipitation!

 

I know this fascination with rain doesn't mean much to a lot of folks, but in an agricultural area, it means the world. Things were getting awfully dry, and we were almost 2½ inches below normal. We got a fairly steady rain for a while there, so this should help a lot.

 

One person who isn't quite so thrilled with it is Sheeba. For some reason, thunder really bothers him. For quite a while this morning, he was hiding behind the shower curtain, then he finally slunk off to the basement. He goes way in the back, where I guess the sound isn't as loud. Poor little guy, I always feel so bad for him, but there's nothing I can do. I just try to check on him once in a while and give him a little pat. He'll come slinking out when it lets up.

 

I was going to run out to the store today, but nothing is pressing, and I think I'll just stay home and enjoy the rainy day. I know I won't melt or anything, but nothing is urgent.

 

Speaking of rain, Dad told me yesterday that he heard that Daytona Beach got something like 20 inches of rain. Yikes! Since Daytona is just a few miles north of New Smyrna Beach (where our timeshare is located), I thought I'd better check into things. I sent the lady who sold us the timeshare, Lori, an email asking if everyone was okay, and I heard back from her this morning:

 

"We are lucky the storm went completely around us... no flooding no high winds no nothing...no damage at all."

 

Amazing! There's something about that area--I don't know if it's the current, geography, or what--but it seems to be fairly well-protected. Lori told us that's why they put Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral. They had some damage a few years ago, the year of Frances and Charlie (and one other major one), but all in all, they've been very fortunate. It's our home away from home, so we're glad all is well!

 

Remember I mentioned that it's been fun talking politics with my Mom? She called me a few minutes ago, and said, "Hi Honey! I was just wondering who you think is going to be Obama's running mate!" Ha ha! She tickles me to no end! Her and Dad were watching the news, and I guess there was a lot of speculation going on about it. She said they were saying that it could be Hillary. I said I'd be very surprised, and my gut tells me that it's going to be Joe Biden. We should be hearing something today. I'll probably get an email about it, and I told Mom I'd give her a call when I hear anything.

 

I'd like to go on record and say that I do not like the word "veepstakes," and I won't be using it. I'm not sure why that word bugs me, but it does!

 

Oh, and I almost forgot: Yes, Ziggy, opossums are marsupials!

 

 

Tags: Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Barack Obama, Joe Biden

Beatnik Beach--it's really neat!

 

What a blast to watch Peter Garrett Phil Dalhausser--he rocks!--and Todd Rogers win the gold in beach volleyball tonight!

 

We were a little worried going into the third set, but Dalhausser came up big and they smoked the Brazil team.

 

I'm not sure why, but I told Ken that other than watching Michael Phelps make history, beach volleyball has been just about my favorite thing to watch in these Olympics. To me, it seems like the "party game" of the summer Olympics, with loud music playing, the crowd totally into it, and then there's the whole sun and sand aspect that makes you think of fun in the sun!

 

All that's missing is a fire pit, roasting weenies, and a little shindig on the beach, with all the cool cats and kitties havin' a kicky blast while they bend the gig outta shape!

 

Ken and I got a kick out of driving along Malibu Beach and seeing the dozens of volleyball nets on the beach. I guess I didn't realize this, but southern California was the birthplace of beach volleyball.

 

Hey! I think it's time to revisit Los Straitjackets, surf music band extraordinaire! Turn it up, enjoy the guitar whammy, do the Pony, and throw a little Watusi in there while you're at it!

 

 

Tags: Phil Dalhausser, Todd Rogers, Peter Garrett, beach volleyball, Los Straitjackets

An urgent plea

 

I'm afraid that my dear husband has reached his breaking point.

 

He's had it with the sniping and grousing, the negativity, the lies, and the idiocy.

 

He can no longer stomach the constant arguments, the endless debates about finances, and the never-ending discussion of who is smarter than who (although it's quite obvious).

 

He has chosen to take matters into his own hands and has made a decision that I am proud to support. I give him 100% of my backing, and I have committed to working tirelessly on behalf of the endeavor he has chosen.

 

He has made a major announcement on his journal. Please read his entry here, and I hope you will choose to support his--and our--efforts to forge a stronger and better, and more well-behaved, America.

The Evolution of Super Cat

 

It's a large furry bird! It's a small furry plane!

 

NO! It's Super Cat!

 

Late one night, while prowling the neighborhood for tasty morsels of small rodents, and/or tasty morsels of kitty cats of the feminine persuasion, young Philo the Feline stumbled across a garbage can full of interesting odors. While Philo had no knowledge of chemicals, a strange combination of turpentine, Elmer's glue, coffee grounds, and cantaloupe rinds drew him like a tasty moth morsel to a flame, and he quickly knocked over the garbage can and wallowed in the enticing aroma and almost palpable fumes.

 

Philo woke up the following morning under a shrub at the home of the people who he kept as pets, his face half-buried in mulch. While he found the humans' antics only slightly amusing and extremely insulting, they worshipped him and gave him food. The nasty dry crap was irritating, but they occasionally fed him tasty meat morsels from their own plates...so he kept them around.

 

As Philo went about his kitty business of the day (he had made a list the night before, but had misplaced it while canvassing the neighborhood), he felt a surprising energy that he had not previously felt in his young kitty life. As he leaped along the sidewalk, his "air-time" seemed longer; as he chewed the shoestrings on the male human's boots, his teeth seemed stronger; and as he leaped onto the kitchen counter, he realized that he was airborne...and he wasn't coming down! Philo thought, "Holy crap! I can FLY!"

 

As the days passed, Philo explored his new-found powers. Not only could he fly, he realized that his eyes glowed with laser-like intensity. His constant purring lulled his humans--and their enemies--to sleep, allowing him to move about at will. When Philo visited "the facilities," he was able to induce screams of horror in his humans as they ran out of the room because of the enhanced odor.

 

However, Philo quickly realized that he must use his powers for Good, not Evil. He felt pity for his human pets, for they seemed weak, and were obviously unable to hunt for their own tasty morsels. Instead, they had to purchase such morsels at a place where the prices were outrageous and the quality marginal. Philo resolved to protect his puling humans, for they were too unintelligent to realize just how lame and vulnerable they were.

 

While his humans entertained guests, Philo patrolled the area. When they weren't looking, he would sail past the window, his laser-eyes peeled for all threats, including weapons of mass destruction that the visitors might be concealing. Philo's efforts and vigilance allowed the humans to enjoy themselves in their insular little world, never knowing that they were in incredible danger.

 

Philo's nine lives were extended unto infinity, and he remains ever-vigilant, ever-faithful, but as susceptible as always to a good belly rub.

 

 

Talkin' with the Parental Units

Does anyone know what those black and blue butterflies are called?

 

["The ones that have been in a fight!"]

 

All right, who's the wiseguy? Hardy-har-har. No comments from the peanut gallery!

 

They're pretty common around here, and today on my way back from the compost bin, one flew right up to me. There was another one sitting on a butterfly bush. They're the prettiest things--mostly black, but at the bottoms of their wings, they have blue spots and a few orange spots. If I were a butterfly, that's what color I'd want to be, but then I look good in black. <grin>

 

Getting some laundry done, and got caught up with my folks. I talked with Dad for a long time about our various wildlife sightings, then talked with Mom even longer. Whew! She may be getting close to 80, but she can still talk a blue streak! All the Florida relatives are doing well, if a bit waterlogged. Mom and Dad are going on a short trip to Kentucky, not this weekend, but the following. I know they'll enjoy that. Salyersville has a festival each year in which the geneological society features a particular family. My Mom's family was featured several years ago, but now another branch (her mother's father) is being featured. They're picking up my Aunt June on the way down, and I'm sure they'll have a blast!

 

Mom told me something interesting about my young cousin Russell, Aunt June's grandson. He'll be 18 this December, but he's been taking flight lessons. He had his first solo flight the other day. Wow, a pilot license at 17?? Way to go, Russell! I asked if he wants to be an airline pilot or something, and my Dad thinks that he may be wanting to get into one of the service academies, e.g., West Point. I hope it works out for him, if that's what he chooses to do. He's a nice young man.

 

Mom isn't any too pleased with Sen. McCain's negative behavior---

 

Whoops! Sorry! Warning: Political Content Ahead!

 

---as of late, but she liked Sen. Obama's response, something to the effect of how John McCain doesn't believe the economy is in trouble...but he can't remember how many houses he owns, when there are people that are close to losing the ONE home they have! Mom laughed and said, "I thought that was pretty good." They recently watched a couple of specials about the lives of both candidates, and she said they were really good. She said she doesn't think it's cool (I'm paraphrasing there--Mom doesn't really talk like that) that McCain cheated on his first wife, and that led us to John Edwards. She asked me, "What do you think about that, Honey?" I said, "I think he's toast." Mom laughed and said, "He IS toast!" She said that everyone seems to like his wife, and for him to cheat on her when she had cancer was pretty awful. I said, "Oh, but he says she was in remission when the affair took place...like THAT makes it better!" Mom agreed that that was no excuse.

 

I've talked politics with Dad for years, but Mom and I usually talk about other things. It's pretty fun to talk politics with Mom! Who knew?! She tells it like she sees it, and I'm enjoying getting her perspective on things.

 

When talking about Edwards, a song popped into her head, and she sang a little bit of it to me. She says it's an old old song she remembers from when she was a girl, and when I did a search, I found it right away!

 

You Can't Do Wrong And Get By

Lethal A. Ellis 1929

Oh you can't do wrong and get by
No matter how hard you may try
So just do what you  please and try to feel at ease
For you can't do wrong and get by

No hypocrite can do wrong and get by
No matter how hard you may try
Salvation you say you've got but God knows you've not
So you can't do wrong and get by

No liar can do wrong and get by
No matter how hard you may try
For when you have to die you can't tell a single lie
And you can't do wrong and get by

I wonder if Elizabeth is walking around the house singing that song to John? And maybe every so often, she says, "Hey John, did you know that song was written by a guy named Lethal?" Heh heh....

My cousin Bill (I still want to call him Billy, like I want to call his brother Tommy...old habits die hard) in Texas sent me some neat pictures today. The subject was "capturing the nanosecond," and all the pictures were snapped at an amazing moment, resulting in some wonderful and unique pictures. Here is my absolute favorite! It's Super Cat! I might have to write a profile on Super Cat soon....

 

 

 

 

 

Tags: John McCain, Barack Obama, John Edwards, You Can't Do Wrong And Get By