A Couple of Links

Love all y'all and your comments on Bernie and Marcy and the birthday of the GOTW!!!!  I never thought the last would ever last this long!!!!  It just proves that y'all like a good (?) laugh as much as I do! And your thoughts on both on Marcy and Bernie show that we really haven't totally lost our minds in this country and the common sense our parents taught us is alive and well.  I'm still moving slow but trying hard to feel better and get caught up on a lot of things!

Here are a few good links that (I hope) will keep y'all thinking and smiling!

* In my never ending search for truth, I discovered Undernews, the online reports of the Progressive Review. It's commentary runs the political gamut and here's a quote editor Sam Smith published yesterday and yeah, it's irreverent but it is so very true:

"Entitlement" my ass, I PAID cash for my social security insurance! Our benefits aren't some kind of charity or handout. Congressional benefits -- free premium federal health care, enormous retirement packages, 67 paid holidays, 3 weeks paid vacation, unlimited paid sick days -- now THAT is welfare! And they have the nerve to call my retirement "entitlement"? - Facebook entry

I bet y'all did, too!

I'm sending it to every politician on my list -- including Obama!

* Speaking of Obama, the White House website states that all letters to POTUS will be answered. They lie. I wrote last week -- no answer!

* I swiped this from Ricky over at Cause for Concern who proves that not everyone down on the River is batsh*t crazy like John Boehner and our governor, John Kasich! This is a hoot!!! I think they had fun making it!!!!! Someone called it 'shocking' (and I took them to task); I call it fun.



I have to get busy here -- my sleep patterns are worse than ever and I have to do as much as I can while I can.

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!

Kay

Random Sunday Thoughts

It's a sunny quiet Sunday and I'm more or less vegetating. Here are some thoughts I've had and things I've found in my travels around the 'Net.

* I sincerely hope that recent passage of the gay marriage bill in New York is just the beginning of a wave of the States' passing such bills -- especially here in Ohio -- and not because I have a stake in its passing but because it would be the right thing to do and another real slap at our idiot governor on top of our getting the referendum on SB7 on the ballot . Think maybe Kasich's a one term governor? My daughter said long ago that "Everyone is entitled to the 'wrongs' of marriage". That might explain why she isn't married.

* For you grannies out there, I tripped across this cool new site, Pottermore from J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books. It sounds fascinating and will open in October but y'all can pre-register now here. Ms. Rowling talks about it:



I sent the link to my grandsons.

* I liked this Supreme Court cartoon that says a lot about where these bozos should be working after their decision this past week. We have the best judges money can buy.

* Here's a quiz I found at the AFL-CIO site. It's funny and sad all at once. I passed it.

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

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!!

Kay

Reading Is Fundamental

Cartoon by Dave Walker. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons.

I'm really pretty buried today but I want to get a post up today albeit a bit late in the day. If y'all could see my "Gottado" list, you would understand why I'm running behind here. Today was errand day and, of course, I'm running behind because everything takes longer than I planned --I think that's one of the corollaries to Murphy's Law. I was up at the Foundation for my annual mammogram.

The reason I mention that is to remind you ladies to make an appointment if you've forgotten. My mother is a 10-year breast cancer survivor because her doctor caught it early enough and she still has both breasts intact. Also, you guys should remind your lady, too. (And yes, this is also a reminder about health care legislation -- raise hell with your Congressman.)

More than a couple of y'all have commented on the number of blogs I read and I thought that should clarify how that works.

First of all, I don't read 200 blogs a day. I use Blogger's 'follow' feature for over 200 blogs which means that, if any blog of those 200 blogs post, it shows up on my dashboard. The bulk of the those blogs are personal blogs. Not all of you post every single day and some are dormant or abandoned and maybe I should get rid of them but I'm too busy to do the housekeeping. Another large chunk are political, news or economics blogs that I use for reference and blog ideas. Yet another group are the blogs of causes and charities I support because I like to stay up-to-date

I am one of those people who read rapidly and I'm guessing that on a normal day, I spend 3-4 hours reading blogs and I probably read about 75-100 blogs a day and comment on most of them.

Now I have to finish putting away groceries and will hopefully get around to visit y'all later!!!!

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

Happy Blogging!!!!!!

Kay

Creative Blogger? Moi?

The answer to the above question is 'yes' according to dear Claude over at Blogging in Paris. She has nominated me for a Creative Blogger Award!!!! Talk about making my day! I am extremely honored to have earned her esteem and can't begin to thank her. She is also Creative Blogger Award winner and probably more deserving than I. If you haven't checked out her blog, it's a true work of photographic art and I urge you to check it out!

I just got in from the Ribs Burnoff and Concert and I was checking in at my blogs and had planned to write about it on mine. Since Blogging in Paris is always one of the first I check (I'm an alphabetical order kind of girl). I, of course, got derailed. (Can you say shocked?). I'll tell y'all about it all tomorrow if I can grab some time at work. This weekend is going to be a lulu for a LOT of different reasons!

The best part of being nominated a Creative Blogger is that I get to nominate five bloggers myself for the award! As Claude said, it's really hard to choose. I haven't counted how many blogs I read daily but it's a lot and growing. My Thinking Cap is spinning at the task but I think I have it.

Introducing Kay's Class of Creative Bloggers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And an august and varied group they are!

~ Joy of Joy of Six was one of the very first to comment here and welcome me to the Blogosphere. Her blog is a potpourri of information and laughter punctuated by her very special Pieces of Me, her beautiful poetry. She is a dear, dear person who is counted as one of the best of the people I call Friends I Haven't Met Yet.

~ Always Question of Always Question and The View from Where I Sit is another long time friend I met p.b. , i.e., pre-blogging. He encouraged me to wander down this path called blogging where I found a home. He writes a lot on the state of the world in which we live and does so with a calm and kindness not many can muster. As retired military, he gives a unique perspective. He is a person of conviction and humor although the latter is low-key so y'all had better pay attention! :)

~ Joared at Along the Way is a fellow Buckeye and Ohio State fan -- stay away from us during football season! She delivers beautiful, deep thoughts on a variety of subjects. When I first started blogging, she was just commenting (often at length) on various blogs I visited. When she finally started her blog, I wasn't a bit surprised to see how good it was! And it just keeps getting better and better! I never leave her place without something to think about.

~ Winston at Nobody Asked . . . aka The Center for Artificial Indifference has his tongue planted firmly in his cheek and a knack for turning a witty phrase. His posts on a variety of subjects often give me pause to think and usually a smile. What's not to like about a guy who likes Thoreau?

~ And last but certainly never, ever least: my twin sister from a previous life, Judy at Imagine What I'm Leaving Out. Judy is always fun! I don't know where she finds some of her stuff but it's always an adventure at her blog! I don't know how she finds time to blog because everywhere I go in the Blogosphere, there she is leaving another sweet comment! What she's leaving out sends my mind reeling!

Now for all of you here who have been nominated, go here and pick up your award. You may have to re-size it (as non-techie moi will have to do later) depending on your blog. And all y'all get to nominate five of your favorite bloggers for this award.

Hope the rest of y'all find time to check these folks out if you haven't already met them and who knows? You could be next!!!!!! And remember, I had a long list of great blogs from which I chose these people -- it was really a tough job! You're all great!

I gotta get to bed -- it's gonna be a long weekend for the old gal!

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

Kay

At Long Last: Another Ramble Through the Blogosphere

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know this is overdue but the Kay is a busy girl and it hasn't been all skittles and beer.

I've done quite a bit of wandering across the blogosphere and found some wonderful blogs from some really great folks. They cover a wide range of topics and locations from New York to California and from the Deep South to Canada. These blogs have made me laugh and they have made me cry and every one of them has taught me a great deal and since learning is a cornerstone of my life, each is special to me as are the people who created them. Let the Ramble begin!

Dave Barry's Blog was a no-brainer. He's a pro -- his syndicated columns have left me laughing for several decades! His blog is him in weird mode and I love it. Today's blog is about the TV program "24" and makes sense to me 'cause I find it confusing as I seem to have missed a couple seasons. Mark at Going Like Sixty is Barry's antithesis. He calls himself a rookie and perhaps he is, but he is dedicated and prolific. He posts several interesting and funny posts a day and I think we'll see him soon on the Elderblogger list. Hey, Mark? Can I borrow a cup of energy?

Rain's Rainy Day Thoughts is well-named as it is very intelligent and well written as she explores a variety of subjects of import to all of us whether she's addressing our government or life in general. AmbivaBlog brings her long experience as a well-published critic writer and journalist to her personal blog with commentary on issues and insights to a fascinating woman.

Many blogs I've added are about the authors' lives and all are both interesting and fun. Terri, another published writer, is Writing Away on Cedar Key about all sorts of interesting topics and includes some great photos, too. Chancy at Driftwood Inspiration talks about her day-to-day life, loving remembrances of things past, and whatever else strikes her fancy. Fran addresses the Sacred Ordinary (I love that title) as she shares her world -- both the joys and sorrows. Mr. Bee asks Can You Hear Me Now? and shares his life in Kentucky and his love of music -- he introduced me to Loreena McKennitt, an Irish singer I hadn't heard before via a lovely song of hers called "Dante's Prayer". Toom WithaVu enjoys retirement and the glories of living right on Georgian Bay. How I envy him! Bev gives us the Random Thoughts of an Aging Artist as she talks about her crafts, her life both present and past, and her family. Naomi is A Little Red Hen who is an aspiring playwright and lives in the Big Apple -- her tales of life there are wonderful. Marty is the proprietor of TravelinOma's Library is another from whom I want to borrow a cup of energy. The woman is a whirlwind of ambition as she whizzes through her life setting goals -- and achieving them, travelling and adoring her grands. And last, but never, ever least is a riotously funny, straightforward lady who calls her herself the unlikely name of poopie and has two blogs: Poop Happens and A Stained Glass Life. The former is a grin a minute as she talks about her work as an Allied Health professional and country life in Tennessee. I love a woman who can laugh in the face of adversity. At her other blog she is serious and shows her excellent writing skills.

And just when I'm making a Herculean effort to get my blog up to speed, others over there>>>>>>>>>> are making new blogs. Ronni Bennett of Time Goes By has added The Elder Storytelling Place as if she wasn't as busy as triplets already. I'm going to write a story for it soon (I hope) and hopefully she'll accept it. I've already told y'all that Millie Garfield of My Mom's Blog has added Millie's Yiddish Class and it's really fun! How she finds time with all her TV appearances I'll never know. I can't wait to see her on Ellen. Judy, who's been telling us to Just Ask Judy, now wants us to Imagine What I'm Leaving Out. It's a fun and interesting place and this mind reels at what she might be leaving out! Hal of Always Question (who was always thought-provoking there) now does great political commentary at his new blog, The View from Where I Sit. I'd like to see him and The Man have a discussion in that vein sorta like Point Counterpoint on 6o Minutes.

Hope y'all go pay these fine people a visit! All are a worthwhile read!

I'm busy as hell getting ready to head North on Wednesday to spend the holiday with The Man so this may be my last post until next Wednesday. Happy holidays to y'all as we remember those who have gone before us and . . .

Happy Blogging!!!!!

Kay

Kay's World: Rambling through the Blogosphere

This has been an interesting week for me -- blog-wise that is. Editing & republishing my blog was not so unusual. I am a compulsive nit-picker when it comes to my writing. The words "I'm done." & "This is as good as I can make it." seem to be missing from my vocabulary. (huge sigh) My blog is full of drafts that I can't bring myself to finish & publish just as The Great American Novel, as I laughingly refer to it, languishes on my hard drive. I suppose that will preclude my becoming a fixture on the New York Times Best Seller's List if I don't get off my asker.

A nice thing that happened was that I received a lovely note from Ronni Bennett at Time Goes By informing me that she is adding me to the ranks of Elderbloggers. I was flattered, honored and delighted as she wrote, "It's not just anybody, you know. I have my standards and you do meet them already." I love her blog and envy her ability to turn out such great posts on a daily basis. She is an inspiration to all of us here in my not so humble opinion and her posts are a welcome interlude each day to those of us of a certain age.

I've been exploring the blogosphere to see what others are doing here in hopes that it will impel me to more productivity and I am ever so pleasantly delighted to be in such great company. The creativity that abounds here is phenomenal.

AlwaysQuestion, a long time chat friend who encouraged me to begin blogging, writes inciteful commentary on the state of politics in the U.S. -- that I mostly agree with him is purely incidental to my admiration of his writing here. The Limerick Savant, my neighbor to the north in Cleveland, always brings a smile with his witty, well-versed rhymes (pun intended) on news items. Baghdad Burning is paints heart-breaking, graphic pictures from the other side of the world of a country in turmoil and gives me at another perspective of the mess in Iraq. Andrea, who is "colouring outside the lines", provides interesting art with witty anecdotes & comments. Dave Pollard at How to Change the World appeals to my need to find out who I am & coming to terms with the mentality, or lack thereof, in my country. And what I think is going to be a particular favorite to visit is Andy Borrows' lovely blog: older, but not wiser. His camera captures glorious pictures and his miscellaneous musings on life, the universe & everything touch my heart & my mindset. It put me in a very nice introspective mode which will probably bear fruit and appear here soon -- if I get beyond "draft" status. Should I ever venture to the U.K., I think I'd have to meet him down the pub and buy him a pint.

Needless to say, this exploration has definitely cut in on my addressing those unfinished drafts but I feel it was worth it. I learned a lot about a lot of things and an integral part of my personal philosophy is that any I day I learn something new is a good day and the wealth of things I learned in my ramble provided some sunshine in my lackluster week. Thanks to all of the above-mentioned people for their insights, wisdom and -- dare I say it?-- entertainment. As a matter of fact, I will be updating this thread from time to time as I really love seeing how others are approaching the blogosphere & enjoy sharing my discoveries.

Happy blogging!!!!!!!!!!

Kay


P.S. Just as proof of my proclivities described above, I'm confessing that when I finished this I hit "Save as Draft" instead of "Publish Post." Another bad habit in my repertoire! LOL