Escalate in Afghanistan?

I have been a great fan of author James Michener since I was about fourteen -- that's fifty years of reading and re-reading but who's counting? I loved the wonderful, well-researched lessons in history, culture, and geography that he taught in his novels as he wove "can't put it down" story after story of people and places both here and abroad.

And it's one of his novels that is very much on my mind these days and it causes me to look askance -- to put it mildly -- at President Obama's plan to increase our presence in Afghanistan.

Published in 1962, Caravans gives an excellent perspective of post WWII Afghanistan. It is, even now, a nation that holds tightly to its old ways. Change comes at a snail's pace. Tribal infighting and haggling for power among the varied Islamic sects are the norm and women and children are still chattels. The 21st century hasn't taken a foothold there.

This country has been in a state of civil war since the 1970s. The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979 and and spent nearly 10 years fighting there to no avail.
I would think that there would be a lesson for our leaders in that. These people don't appear to want change or freedom.

So why are we investing our money and our sons' and daughters' lives there? Ask your Congressman. I may be over-simplifying but the bottom line is that we can't afford to keep playing policeman to the world when there are pressing issues here at home.

Just my take.

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!

Kay

After Thanksgiving Thoughts

I hope y'all had an excellent Thanksgiving!! Mine was quiet. I did my volunteer work at the parish and, as always, it was gratifying. Of course, we were busy as you-know-what so I was tired when I got home. I made myself a plate of turkey and trimmings and ate. Had some chest pains that scared me and put myself to bed for a nap. When I woke up, I felt better and I called my stepmother and we talked for a while. She was delighted. I guess none of her many nieces and nephews visited or invited her to share their holiday. I understand how she felt. I did promise her that I will visit come Spring. Ohio winters are not fun for driving.

* I have to get a new planner for the new year. My schedule is filling up with doctor appointments (and not much else) -- yet another sign that I'm getting old and decrepit.

* I had dropped off necessary paperwork at a state agency back at the beginning of October. I never was notified of the changes that were supposed to be made. I called several times about it -- but refuse to sit on 'hold' for more than an 45 minutes (and that does a nasty number on my blood pressure). On Wednesday afternoon I called in hopes that people were getting ready for the holiday and 'hold' would be short. I got lucky and got someone to talk to after five minutes on hold. The young lady checked and yes, I did turn in the paperwork (duh?) and said she was placing me on emergency status -- good stuff, right? -- and someone would call me on . . . Monday. I hollered a lot and will holler again on Monday prolly IF they call as promised. If they don't, I will be on the phone to everyone I can think of to scream and yell. It's been costing me money that I can ill afford and I am done with their baloney.

* I have to get Brice over to bring up a few of the holiday decorations. Maybe it will cure my 'bah! humbug!' frame of mind. I simply can't get excited about holidays anymore. Some motivation might help.

* Dental work was denied and the dentist is resubmitting my claim. Need I say more?

* I sorta broke my Black Friday rule. I actually went shopping on today. However, I didn't go to the malls or The Evil Empire. I went to a Big Lots store located in an old, nearly empty shopping center. Surprisingly, it was a tad busy but manageable.
Unfortunately, I spent a tad more than I planned because they had some books I wanted really cheap! Books are always my downfall. I also bought some ornaments for my lil' Christmas trees. I hope they work. They will have red and silver baubles -- aka scarlet and grey -- in hopes that my Buckeyes win the Rose Bowl!!!!!

* I'm glad y'all enjoyed the old TV stuff -- I had a blast looking at it and trying to decide what to use.

I know I sound cranky and yeah, I guess I am. However, I do always land on my feet and I'll be all right. I'm just tired of not feeling well and dealing with bureaucrats. Hopefully, the docs will help with the former and that will make the latter easier. Pray.

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!

Kay

Television: The Early Days

Those of us who were born in the late 40s and before remember the advent of television depending on how old we were when our families acquired what was once called a 'television set'. Depending on your antenna and how close you lived to a big city, two or three stations. I recall my dad up on the roof and adjusting the antenna (using words he learned in the Navy) in the hope that he could he could watch a football game on a Sunday afternoon. There were a lot of variety shows in what has become 'prime time' and they were great fun. Here are the openings to a couple shows I enjoyed.

And awayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy we go!!!!



Sunday Night Fever!



And everyone loved uncle Miltie!



Hope you had fun with these blasts from the past!!!

Happy Blogging!!!!!

Kay

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This old Dutch hymn always reminds me of Thanksgiving. I recall hearing it when I was really small in my paternal grandparents' Protestant church. For me, it's lyrics transcend any particular religion and captures the spirit of the holiday as it expresses what I think is the true meaning of the holiday: coming together to celebrate the blessings of whatever faith we follow with those we love. While there were many videos, I chose this one because it reminds me of holidays past.



I hope all y'all are having a wonderful holiday with those you love and who love you back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't eat too much!!!!!!

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!

Kay

Some Random Thoughts from My Soapbox

It was another 'fun' day in Kay's World as I mustered my courage to deal with bureaucracy and assorted other nonsense on the never-ending list of gottados.
(Why do I have the urge to have a good stiff drink before I deal with some of these people?) And I didn't get it all done. Sigh.

* I spent over TWO hours on the phone with Medicare trying figure out what I have and don't have for coverage. Some of it came as a huge surprise to me. I don't know about y'all, but when I first got Medicare I was bombarded with enough paper from various medical companies to decimate several forests. I didn't bother to look at moat of it. And finally, I just opened mail from Medicare or CMS which usually tells me little or nothing. It turns out that because I am low income, I was assigned Part D coverage but never was notified of it and never got a card which angers me because I've been paying more than I should for my prescriptions. This Medicare stuff is so damned confusing that they need a class called Medicare 101 to clarify it. I am a pretty intelligent, well-educated person and if I find it difficult to navigate, I can only imagine how many people find it a challenge. The good news was that the ladies I talked with were patient, courteous and knowledgeable when I explained my plight.

* Question to y'all: Is a Medicare Advantage plan worth it? I talked with someone about it briefly and need to check to see which one(s) my doctor takes. (Y'all can email me at the addy in the sidebar if you have a lot to say about it.) I really do want to hear what y'all have experienced with it.

* The bad news is that I still have to make some more bureaucracy calls tomorrow if I can muster the courage. Argh!!! Then again, I might actually get through to talk to someone without sitting on hold for 45 minutes since most people will be getting ready for Turkey Day.

* I'm going to be doing my usual routine on Thanksgiving Day and volunteering at my parish's dinner for the homeless and hungry. I hope we don't have to turn anyone away. With 12% unemployment here and no end in sight there are many who will be in need. I haven't decided what my Thanksgiving dinner will be -- prolly what ever I scavenge from the fridge 'cause I'm damned if I'm walking in a grocery store today.

* AND y'all know I won't participate in Black Friday -- there's nothing I want so badly that I would risk life and limb to get it. I think that I'm just going to mostly ignore the holidays.

There were a couple other things on my alleged mind that seem to have disappeared (I gotta start taking notes) and it's the wee hours and I'm finally tired -- if my sleep patterns ever get back to normal it will be a miracle -- so I'm going niters.

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!!

Kay

Busy, Busy, Busy!!!

I've been trying mightily to catch up on visiting y'all and assorted other nonsense and time got away from me so no post today!!!! Hopefully, tomorrow will permit me to get something done.

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!!!

Kay

Go Bucks -- Six in a Row!!!! And Update

Yesterday The Ohio State University Buckeyes met the the University of Michigan Wolverines on the gridiron 21-10!!!! I can guarantee that they're dancin' in the streets in Columbus. We did a lot of whoopin' and hollerin' here, too!!! It was a really good game -- any time the U of M's freshman quarterback gets intercepted for times there's plenty of cause to celebrate. They also captured the Big 10 crown and a berth in the Rose Bowl!!!!!!

I do want to add that Ohio State's players wore Breast Cancer Awareness stickers with the initials 'S.S.' on their helmets in memory of Stefanie Spielman -- wife of former Buckeye and Pro Bowl linebacker, Chris Spielman -- who lost her 10-year battle with breast cancer this past Friday at age 42. I thought it a lovely tribute to a lovely lady who worked very hard speaking out for and supporting breast cancer causes. We in my county are especially touched by this because both Chris and Stefanie are from here where they were high school sweethearts and lived for a while after they graduated from college.

* The party at my house was sort of a bust because not many came by but we had fun anyway. I asked everyone to bring their own beverage and something to share and I provided coney dogs, sloppy joes and chips. I think that I don't have a big TV might have been a mitigating factor. Oh well! Then again, that I've been such a hermit of late could also be a factor. The grapevine has it that some people are annoyed with me. Oh well.

* I'm trying to decide what I'm going to be doing here and I'll be sharing that with y'all soon. The groaners will return in some form and I will still ask that you send them to me. Posting them in comments is NOT an option as I've said in the past.

* I'm still struggling to get caught up on email from my absence here. Please forgive me. I'm also trying to get my blog roll organized. There are over 100 blogs on it and not all are on blogger's following feature. All of this takes big chunks of time and is tedious at best. Mea culpa.

* I'm still tired a lot. Hopefully, that will be addressed when I go to the endocrinologist in two weeks.

Not much more to say. I'm probably forgetting something but that's okay. it was probably silly anyway.

Hope y'all are enjoying the weekend!!!!!

Happy Blogging and Yayyyyyyyyy Buckeyes!!!!!!!!

Kay