Random Hectic Week Thoughts . . .

It's been a busy week and I'll be glad when it's over -- I'm tired and as much as I love Shaughnessy, I'm almost tired of him and his dad (Jeff) and his grandpa (Alec).  I'll be glad when Sunday and the open house is over and they all head for Florida.  I was invited/begged to go along but I'd rather stay here than open a can of worms.

* 'Weird' is the word for our weather here.  It's December 16th and we haven't seen so much a flake of the white stuff.  Now that I've typed it, we'll prolly get a foot dumped on us tomorrow.       

* I haven't done a lick of holiday shopping and hopefully will get an insomnia night so I can head for Wal-Mart at 3 AM -- I hate Wal-Mart but I hate holiday crowds more.

* I cleaned my place pretty thoroughly and tomorrow Bryce is going to help me deck the halls and I'm wondering why.

* Remember how we denizens of the Buckeye State killed the union-busting bill back in November? Well, we're at it again!!!! We have enough signatures to put the gerrymandering of Ohio on the ballot come spring. We Are Ohio and we are proud. Think may John Kasich is a one-term governor?

* A tip of my Thinking Cap to all y'all who signed Bernie Sanders' Saving American Democracy petition. If you haven't signed,just click the link. Corporations are NOT people no matter how many times Mitt Romney says it.

* A friend sent this along and it gave me good laugh:

* If you haven't seen it, here's my personal choice for the video of the week. I've always admired Barbara Walters' composure and poise in her interviews so this 1:13 minute video took me off guard. Jon Stewart had some fun with it, of course.



I'm hoping to grab some 'me' time and get around to visit y'all later!!!!

Happy Blogging!!!!!

Kay

Update and Food for Thought

Here are the 'highlights' of what's landed in my email the past week or so and an update on Jeff.

* Jeff is doing well after bypass surgery and will be coming home -- probably tomorrow. Isn't it a miracle how the technology of medicine has improved? Shaughnessy and I have been holding down the fort (and he's wearing me out!) and Alec will take care of him with help from me until we figure out how to get Jeff and Shaughn to Florida. Alec asked me if I'd like to come down, too. I was a good girl and said, "No, thank you." A girl's gotta know her limitations.

* Here's Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Cleveland) with a little over a minute of logical thinking. And people wonder why we love him in Ohio. If you're not angry about the secret bailout of the banksters, here's why you should be:



* Justice Clarence Thomas is about to rule on President Obama's healthcare plan despite that his wife, Ginny is a leading lobbyist for the healthcare industry and they have earned hundreds of thousands of dollars as a result lobbying against the plan. Can you say "conflict of interest"? I knew you could. Now go here to read more and sign that petition to demand that he recuse himself from this case.

And here's my favorite of Ohio's delegation, Marcy Kaptur (D-Toledo) to Congress with about two minutes of good sense on the budget.



* Just a thought: I have had plenty of friends,  male and female, help me when I've gone through difficult times and never was asked to sleep with anyone.  Then again If Gloria Cain believes it didn't happen, she's really in denial. It's one thing to stand by your man; it's another to be naive.  

* Speaking of philanderers, check out Rain's post today on Newt Gringrich here.

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

Happy Blogging!!!!!

Kay

It's Just Another Day in Paradise . . .

I'm still buried and it's gonna be worse until it gets better. Sigh. Just when I thought I was making inroads on all the things on my 'gottado' list, the damned phone rang. Sunday Alec called to tell me that Jeff was in the hospital and could I please go take care of Shaughnessy for a couple days. Yikes!!! Of course, I can't turn Alec down so my list just got longer. It seems the Jeffer had a heart attack and needs some surgery. Alec had talked to his doc and asked him to contact Cleveland Clinic and send Jeff up there because they are the best. By the time he called me, he had made arrangements to fly to Cleveland (it's December so he's in Florida) tonight to be there for Jeff so I'll be taking care of the Shaughn until he brings Jeff home and we'll work from there. Soooo I'm trying to get my stuff done and wrangling that spoiled overgrown puppy. I'm trying mightily to get caught up with y'all and still get ready for the the holiday madness.

I'll try to keep y'all updated on how things are going with the Jeff -- the good folks up there are really excellent so I'm 99.9% sure that he'll be driving us all nuts again in record time.

Have a great day!!!!


Happy Blogging!!!!

Kay

Quick Note: On the Road Again

I'm off, despite misgivings to the contrary, to wander through The Great Swamp of Toledo aka my childhood home.  I'll be returning on Sunday as Dr. Jody and Dr. K. have tests scheduled.  The former has, in addition to blood work, ordered me to have an EMG which sure doesn't look like fun and is a new one on me.  The latter has my annual bone scan (a no-brainer) to see if the tiny bit of osteoporosis is getting any worse.  Sigh.

In the meantime,  I'll be meeting dear, dear Gene for lunch and heading up to Toledo to spend a few days with my stepmom which is usually fun.  Hopefully I'll return refreshed and ready to blog my little heart out and face all the challenges ahead.

Here's an two-minute oldie that fits my mood!!! Gotta love CCR!!!! Enjoy!!!!



Have a great day!!!!!!!  Happy Blogging!!!!

Kay

Wednesday Insomnia Post

I couldn't sleep all last night and I have a busy day ahead. I have to go buy a gift for little Ana across the street because today she has reached the immense age of one year old and I am invited to the celebratory dinner and cake party this evening. I remember taking Bryce and Gracie and their Grandma to see her when she was only hours old and all she's done since is get cuter and more fun -- and she's decided she adores me and crawls all over me!!! (HUGE smile)

Here are a couple short videos that I think are pretty great!!!!

Here are workers down in SW Ohio picketing at John "I got 98% of what of I wanted."
Boehner's office. They were mad because the doors were locked and Boehner was up in Dublin (a wealthy suburb of Columbus) playing golf at a fund raiser! The signs are funny but sadly true.



Dylan Ratigan went viral and was right on the money!!! It's about time somebody said it!



Happy Blogging!!!!!!

Kay

Trying Hard

It's been busy and weird here and I'm getting this posted late because I realized that the Hall of Fame parade is tomorrow morning and, since I live a block and a half off the major artery where it's held, I had to get my errands done before they shut it down making navigating the city difficult at best. I haven't felt well due to lack of sleep and God knows what else and am trying hard to get things right here. What helps is that my neurologist has a sleep clinic and I meet with him next month. I hope he has help. I talked with my counselor, Dr. Gerri, and she was helpful and supportive of my current concerns.

* Last night I was Ana Michelle's playmate. She almost one year old and pure delight and I'm her big buddy. She's beginning to walk now and climbs in my lap grinning all the way. I love babies and am glad her mommy and grandma share her with me. Then again, her grandma says that I'm family and I am greatly honored.

* A question that keeps nagging at me about Michelle Bachmann's candidacy for 2O12 is this: She states that she submits to her husband. If she were elected (and I hope not), would we be governed by her or her husband? Either way, we lose. Just my take.

* Governor Chris Christie (who I usually think is nuts) gets a big round of applause for his no holds barred defense of his appointment of a Muslim judge. Guess who opposed it and yammered about Sharia Law? (hint: it begins with 'Tea')



* Sarah Palin trashed Mit Romney. She has a hard time with people who aren't batsh*t crazy.

* Texas Governor Rick Perry, who may be running for president, called Catholicism "a Godless theology of hate." Y'all know what I think of that. As a Catholic child, I was taught that Jesus loves me and "The Golden Rule" just like any other Christian child and I know my church's shortcomings all too well. I don't know what brand of Christianity Perry practices, but if that's what it teaches, it's obviously in Never-Never land.

I'm fed up with the whole damned mess!

Hopefully, I'll get some relief and can get back to regular posting and visiting all y'all.

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!!

Kay

Adventures in My World

It's been a weird couple days, so when Michelle hollered for me to come over last night to join her, her bro, and a gal friend for a cold one, I went. The current drama in her life has taken more horrendous turns and we all marveled at the sickness and lies that some people seem to perpetrate at the expense of nice people like us and Jeff (her bro) provided some pretty funny gallows humor.  In the midst of it all a kid who just moved in with his mom came up the street shouting Scripture and tried to pick a fight with Bryce. At least one of the neighbors called the cops and they came out and talked to him -- his mother came out and hollered at the cops and at us (and y'all know how well I took that but I don't talk when our Finest is involved). 

They obviously understood that the problem wasn't going away because less than ten minutes later, the kid was back out hollering and the cops must have been just around the corner watching because they were back wrestling the kid into the cruiser to take him to the psych ward. His mother came this close >< to going, too, and was blaming us, the System, and and everyone else in the world for her son's problems and shouting that she knew the Mayor.  (So do I and I know him well enough to call him 'Jamie' and can tease him about his grocery-bagging days -- guess who he would listen to?)

After they took him away, Mom kept talking loud and badly enough about us and Michelle decided to go over and talk to her despite her bro and I telling her not to go.  She did and Mom finally shut up. We talked until the wee hours about life, the Universe and everything  and eventually, we all decided that 'sleep' was a good word. I'm ready for another vacation.

Just another day in the paradise called Kay's World.  Here's a video of an oldie I like that came to mind:




Happy Blogging!

Kay

  

Thursday Thoughts

A lot has been going on here. I'm happy to report that Michelle is doing very well and working hard to get things back on track and I have no doubt that with the determination she has, all will be fine. I teased her that her debacle merited The National Enquirer and she laughed and said she'd talk to them for a couple million bucks -- but not a cent less!

* Dr. Maria's nurse called and told me to call the neurologist -- the newest member of The Legion (the burgeoning cast that oversees my health problems) -- and make an appointment so I did and the soonest I can see him/her is September. Grrrr I'm not certain why she decided that was in order so I'll just take the same list I took to her. I need to call Dr. Maria today, too -- the drops didn't work so I'm guessing there's an Ear, Nose & Throat doc in my future. Sigh. I have to schedule my annual bone scan because I'm the poster child for osteoporosis and since there's a little in one hip, we have to watch it and I take mega-doses of calcium and vitamin D.

* Carl Bernstein (remember him from the Watergate scandal?) has an excellent perspective on Rupert Murdoch's recent woes and y'all can read it here. One can only hope that by the time it's all over, it will bring down Fox News! There was something I heard/read elsewhere that indicated that criminal charges against Murdoch in the U.S. may be in order.

* I'm so glad y'all (mostly, anyway) liked Bernie and Bill. The two of them make a lot of sense. (Note: if you want to argue, please at least be respectful.) And Nance, Bernie's almost 70 so I doubt if he's considering a run for The White House.

* Good news from Wisconsin: Their recall elections worked and all the GOP candidates who supported Gov. Walker's "union-busting" lost as did the "fake Democrats" that they put on the ballot. Y'all can read more here.

I am trying to get caught up on visiting y'all. I made a dent yesterday and hopefully, I won't be interrupted too much today.

Hope y'all are having a great day!!!!

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

Kay

Mea Culpa!! Life intrudes . . .

Life takes some nasty turns and bad things happen to the nicest people. 

I had a call from my neighbor/good friend Michelle's mom, who has also become a good friend, called late Thursday night and she asked me if I would come to get her (she doesn't drive) and take her to Michelle's and gave me a very short reason why.  I, of course, pulled myself together and said, "yes" because she wouldn't ask if it weren't important and saved my questions (Why?) until I saw her. 

As we rode back to the 'hood, she explained a bit more  -- it's a short drive -- of what had happened and I was thoroughly disgusted and appalled and all  but destroyed any faith and trust I have left in my ability to judge someone's character.  The upshot was that Shirley came over later and told  me  more -- adding to my anger.  Michelle came over later after she made sure the kids were asleep (her brother stays with them) and I grabbed glasses  and a bottle of wine and said, "Talk!  It's good for you!" And she did.  It sounded like a story ripped from the tabloids and she was wreck and  we all talked and talked and cried until 5 AM and the result of that was that I slept all day and didn't get a post here.


The good news was that Michelle was doing better yesterday -- she's a very smart young woman and has been through enough to be resilient -- and trying very hard to pull herself together and keep her 'game face' on for the kids. She invited me over for homemade lasagna and I'd never miss that!  I'm sparing y'all the gory details because it isn't my story to tell and too tawdry to share here.  Blessedly, Gracie is away for a few days and Bryce is old enough to understand and little Ana, too young.

And the kicker on all this is that yesterday was her birthday. Life really get nasty sometimes, doesn't it? I've promised to help any way I can and God only knows how messy things will get but I will try to keep up with y'all and my blog.

Kay

A Truly Excellent Day!

Yesterday was one of the nicest days I've had in a long time.
And quite welcome after a less than stellar (read: lousy) weekend but that's another blog and the results aren't in yet.

Miss Ruby and I put our worries on hold and headed west. She seemed ready and eager -- despite a bit of rain -- to get out and about to Wooster,
Ohio a lovely farming community and home to Rubbermaid and the College of Wooster, an excellent liberal arts institution.

Our intent in our visit was nothing to do with any of of the above. Our mission was to meet my good friend, as well as one of my favorite commenters here, Gene from Bellevue, OH for lunch! I also got to meet her nice husband and they presented me with a dozen organic, lo-cholesterol, healthy eggs laid by their hens. Great, huh? Her nice hubby headed down to Charm, OH (where I hope to take y'all sometime this summer) and Gene and I sat down, ordered lunch at an the excellent restaurant, and talked like we'd known each other for decades. Time just flew by as we talked and talked over our excellent meal. Y'all can holler at me because I completely forgot that I had my camera with me! (blush)

We will see each other again next month when I head to Toledo as Bellevue -- a very pretty little town --- is on my way. Hopefully, I'll remember to take photos!!!!

Y'all gotta know I'm going to be eating some serious omelets this week courtesy of their kindness. And I truly look forward to seeing Gene again -- she is really a terrific and interesting person. Meeting her was just what I needed to chase (what Hemingway called) the Black Dog from my doorstep and I feel very blessed that I met her and can count her as a friend as I do all y'all who I visit and who visit me.

Happy Blogging!!!!!!

Kay

I Survived!!!!!!

I had my cataract surgery yesterday and it seems to have gone pretty well but the final word will come later this morning after I see Dr. Jamie. It seemed a lot more difficult than my previous surgery and it gave me pause to consider the differences from that time and the present. First and foremost was my mindset. At the time of my first surgery, The Man and I had just begun our relationship and he was at my side and wonderfully supportive the whole time. This time my upstairs neighbor took me and sat in the waiting room -- which was good because she raises my blood pressure with monotonous regularity. I probably should have gotten someone else but my efforts weren't worth the bother. I'm always the first to ask what I can do to help my friends but it seems that isn't forthcoming when the situation is reversed. And I went home to an empty house and ate a lot.

I also slept a lot and noticed a lot of discomfort that's finally subsiding so I'll be okay to drive myself to Dr. Jamie's office later today -- and y'all didn't see me type those words. Bryce came over after school to see what I needed and made sure my trash was put out at the curb and stayed a while to talk. He is my best buddy these days. Michelle (his mom) brought little Ana Michelle over so I could see her crawl (at 7 months!)! I count my blessings where I find them. Jeff called and wanted to bring supper. I said "No thanks".

I'm heading to bed when I finish this as I'm exhausted. I've always wondered why surgery always affects me this way but it does.

A tip of my Thinking Cap to Dick Klade aka Gabby Geezer for his flattering comment the other day!

Happy Blogging!!!!!!

Kay


Hope y'all are having a great day!!!!!

Just Stuff and More Stuff

I was a good girl yesterday and ran around and gathered paperwork and delivered it to the proper agencies. Fortunately, much of the ice around Miss Ruby was disappearing and when we got home, I went to work with the sidewalk salt. I checked the mail and there was a letter from another agency telling me that my rent is going up $17 a month on April 1st. It was not an April Fool's joke. Sigh. So of course I had to call the agency where I dropped off paper yesterday and asked them if they needed this letter -- silly me. (Duh!) And today I had to go drop it off which was okay since even more ice had melted and I could reach Miss Ruby without terror of breaking something important and had determined that she and I would be visiting the pharmacy to refill my scrips and make a much needed trip to the laundromat. (Ugh!) Four hours later, we returned home with three large hampers with reasonably well-folded, clean clothes and bedding and a basket of socks to be sorted while I prop my feet up and watch a movie -- after I crack a much-needed brew, of course. :)

And here are a couple things I want share with y'all . . .

More Truth than Poetry:

Last week on ABC News Ron Reagan, son of President Ronald Reagan, was asked "Who was your dad was most like? Barack Obama or Sarah Palin?" and he answered:

"Just on the basis of intelligence, you would have to say Barack Obama. I don’t think my father has anything in common with Sarah Palin whatsoever,” Reagan told Top Line. “I'm a little offended that we even have to talk about Sarah Palin, who has nothing interesting to say."

"Of course my father cut taxes when he was in office, but he also raised taxes as well when he was governor of California. He signed one of the most liberal abortion laws in the country and offered amnesty to illegal immigrants as well. That probably wouldn't sit too well with the tea party of today. But again, those were different times."

A tip of my chapeau for this to Gryphen, my favorite Alaskan blogger.

From my Pick-on-someone-your-own-size Department:

Glenn Beck took to his bully pulpit to castigate Canadian teen heartthrob Justin Bieber for supporting the health care bill. Bieber won my heart (as well as Jon Stewart's) as the cutest, wittiest guest on The Daily Show in recent memory. His performance was quite charming and left me laughing. And yeah, I'm using it to remind y'all to sign the petitions here and here and boycott the advertisers on Beck's show as well as those on Fox News. It really is working. Our friends and neighbors across the pond signed on and Beck's show has been with out sponsors for almost a year in the UK.

One of Kay's Heroes needs our help to help ourselves:

Y'all know that I think Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-NY) is really a great guy. His brash style and straightforward, no holds barred attitude toward the GOP has won my admiration and I'd love to see him as our first Jewish President. One thing for sure, we would always know how he really feels! I get his newsletter and recently he asked me to sign a petition. I did and am asking y'all to join me in this effort. The Supreme Court is going to be asked to hear an initiative/appeal of health care reform's constitutionality. Anthony Weiner is demanding that Justice Clarence Thomas recuse from any such cases. Why?  Because Thomas' wife, Ginny, is a vocal opponent the health care bill and is a lobbyist for the health care industry earning a high six-figure income. Can y'all say "conflict of interest"?  I knew you could.

If you want to know more or sign the petition, y'all can go here. I believe strongly that Justice Thomas should definitely recuse himself and now -- to do otherwise would violate the oath he took as a member of the Supreme Court. (If he doesn't, I think even stronger action should be taken.)  Please consider joining Congressman Weiner and me and countless others this effort.

Hope y'all are having a great day!

Happy Blogging!!!!!!

Kay

Post-Election Chill Out

Do any of y'all feel completely drained after the election? I do and I am already tired of all the post-Election analysis. The bottom line is we're stuck with the results and have to live with it for better or worse. It might require an unholy alliance or two but nobody's gonna see Congress all join hands and sing "Kumbaya" so we'll just have to wait and see.

This "whatever-the-hell-it-is-I've-got" is still very much with me. Sigh.

Yesterday was sorta fun -- Michelle asked if I'd watch Racy Gracie after school and, of course I said yes and had chocolate chunk cookies and milk waiting for her to her delight. She showed me her books and read to me and I was truly impressed because she reads extremely well for a second grader. We watched a Harry Potter movie until mommy came to get her. I enjoyed having her immensely and delight in that Michelle needs my help a few more times. I'm smiling.

When Brice came home, he asked if he could borrow my leaf rake and did my yard as well as theirs. Good stuff!!!! He's not a scholar but he's a hard worker and that will definitely take him a long way in this world. I made a crack about getting old and having to go to a nursing home some day and he said, "I'll visit you every week." I chuckled and he said, "I'm serious -- I've been to nursing homes and those old people get left alone too much -- I'll be there for you!" For fourteen, he's got a great heart.

My neighbor upstairs brought me a HUGE chunk of a really yummy chocolate cheese cake and we discussed getting rid of our neighbor and I told her that Michelle was with us. We're all tired of her and her kids' behavior and think she needs to be reported.

I'm planning to stay away from politics for a while. However, if the idiots do something truly dastardly, I may have to vent in defense of my blood pressure.

I just saw Bill Maher's New Rules from his Friday broadcast and I laughed myself silly. Hope y'all do, too.



Hope y'all are recovering from Election 2010!!!!!!!!

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

Kay

Type-Casting C'est Moi!

'Tis the season to be witchy. There are those who say I am one all year long and that it's type-casting or showing my true colors but it is my favorite garb for Halloween. Brice took this goofy photo of me when he and D.O.G. came to visit while I handed out treats to the kids today. We had a giggle when a little girl (about 4) came dressed as Dorothy complete with ruby slippers and her daddy told her I was a witch and she got scared until I told her that I was a good witch. The crowd was bigger than usual and I nearly ran out of treats before it was over. The tie I'm wearing says: This is my costume and I wore it with a long plain black dress to a Halloween/Ohio State game (yeah, the Buckeyes stomped Minnesota 63-10!) party last night

Here's Brice who kept me company while I handed out treats:



D.O.G. came over to help, too! And yes, he got his treats, too!!!



Little Ana is the cutest teddy bear around and helped her mommy!!!!!! She doesn't much like her suit but we all deemed her adorable.



And my buddy Russ posted this for those who are naysayers bout Halloween. I liked it and hope you do, too.

We all had a fun afternoon!!!

Hope y'all are having a great day!!!!!!!

Happy Blogging!!!!

Kay