How I Came to Lose Trust in the Media

Anne Applebaum in Slate Magazine writes this:

"There is no nihilism like the nihilism of a 9-year-old. "Why should I bother?" one of them recently asked me when he was presented with the usual arguments in favor of doing homework. "By the time I'm grown up, the polar ice caps will have melted and everyone will have drowned."

Which prompts me to relate this tale from the dark halls of history.

When I was a Sophomore in college I had the most intense crush on Andy Williams. Yes. You have it right. Andy Williams.

He had a weekly show back then and I could never, NEVER miss it. We only had one TV in the dorm and it was in the community room called the smoker where couches and ashtrays also were present. On the week night of Andy's show, I would arrive with whatever I was trying to study and a pack of cigarettes (yes, I smoked and who didn't?), turn on the channel and await his opening number. Most of the other occupants would groan and complain and often, I was the only one left in the room to worship at Andy's pedestal. So now, you have the picture.

The night of the Cuban Missile Crisis Andy Williams was on. Every student was lined up to call home. We only had pay phones in the center of the hall on each floor of the dorm. I saw the length of the line and realized it would be long after Andy's show before I got to call the parents and say goodbye which was what everyone was doing. We also had an exam the next day in some course or other and I should have been buckled down with the text and notes to ensure a good grade. I thought it over and said..."I am watching Andy Williams and then waiting in line and then going to bed. I'd rather be asleep and unaware when the big one hits. As for the test? Why bother with that? The world is ending tonight."

It didn't. I am almost ashamed to say that I was very disappointed that next day. I believed the hype and never studied for that test. I think was the beginning of the cynicism I have developed for the press and politicians. I should never have believed them then and I don't now.

The end of my story. I am glad, however, that I watched Andy Williams. I still have a soft spot in my heart for him.

Can I have an Opinion Now?

Oh. By the way. If it's all right to criticize Tiger Woods' behaviour and not be accused of racism, is it ok now to criticize Barack Obama's leadership methods, or economic theories, or strange need to apologize to every country in the world for my country without being called a racist? Is it?

Wild and Wet and Windy

Wild and windy outside my windows. The puppy girl and I just returned from her morning constitutional and let me tell you, the umbrella? when it blows inside out is quite a jolt to the pup. She picked up the pace each time and it happened way more than once. The wind is so wild and weird. It sounded like a car coming up behind us and as I turned to be sure, the umbrella would go again. I was never comfortable, when I heard that sound, that there wasn't a car coming up on us and so, over and over I repeated the move like some obsessives do. I think I have a tad of that going on.

Well. We got home safe and sound if not wet and cold. I wish that I had taken my camera so that I could have pictures of that HUGE ocean. It is all puffed up and chopping away. Glad to be on land.

Stay dry and warm where ever you are. I'm thankful it's rain and not snow or we would be dealing with this again. Brrrrrrrr - that Global Warming is killing us!

Hold on and Pray

What a week and it's only Wednesday. The brother of one of my very dear friends died unexpectedly over the week end. It was a terrible shock for her most certainly and for the rest of us as well. Another dear friend is having gargantuan financial woes and is trying to sell a building to undo some of that. There is a person in her life doing everything he can to make this effort as difficult as he can and he is trying his best to be sure that she will be even further in debt after the sale than she is now. It's a long and nasty tale and they never had a relationship other that business, imagine how bad it would be otherwise.

I feel so helpless. I have talked with both ladies and really have nothing to offer but a sympathetic ear and a shoulder to cry on. There is nothing I can say to make any of this better. In both cases I can truly empathize since I have suffered both the loss of siblings and panic inducing financial issues. It really doesn't help though in the advice area....I have none other than hold on and pray for strength.

I hope the rest of the week smooths out. Tomorrow I go to the cardiologist for the results of that stress test I took two weeks ago. A sense of dread is hovering over me thanks to the week so far. I guess I'll take my own advice. I'll hold on and pray for strength regardless of the outcome. God is on His throne after all and He will work everything for good for those who love Him and I do.

The Day After

Well, the refrigerator is filled with leftovers and I am here waiting for the downpour to abate so that I can walk the dog without drowning. She may have to cross her legs for a while. It appears that we will have rain all morning and it is pounding down driving rain. It's very hard to hold her and the umbrella and the pooper scooper.

I learned this about the Thanksgiving feast. It takes as much work to cook and clean up for three as it did in past years for twelve. The big difference is the kitchen is not at all crowded and the table did not get moved into the living room with a card table extension.

My nephew is with us. He is, as he says, "high functioning" but cannot live alone. He is in a house with two other men and a wonderful staff that feels like family. I have him with me for every holiday and some weekends in between. I asked hime what his favorite part of Thanksgiving was expecting him to say turkey or pumpkin pie which I know are his favorite things on the table. He said, "Being with family." I cried.

I am so thankful for him and my husband and all the others in my extended family. Everyone this year on Thanksgiving Day were healthy and safe. I only wish we could have all been together but some years that's the way it is.

Christmas Cookies

Just in time for the Holidays....a cookie recipe spotted at the Anchoress and copied from some place I googled. It made me chuckle first thing this morning and reminded me that we don't chuckle enough.

Jose Cuervo Christmas Cookies Notes
THIS RECIPE IS STRICTLY FOR COOKS OVER THE AGE OF TWENTY-ONE AND UNDER FORTY. DO NOT MAKE THIS WITH YOUR GRANDMOTHER.

Ingredients
1 cup water
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup lemon juice
4 large eggs
1 cup nuts
2 cups dried fruit
1 bottle Jose Cuervo Tequila
Serves / Yields
One

Preparation Instructions
Sample the Cuervo to check quality. Take a large bowl; check the Cuervo again, to be sure it is of the highest quality, pour one level cup and drink.

Turn on the electric mixer...Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl.

Add one teaspoon of sugar...Beat again. At this point it's best to make sure the Cuervo is still OK; try another cup ...just in case.

Turn off the mixerer thingy. Break 2 leggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit, Pick the frigging fruit off floor... Mix on the turner. If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaterers just pry it loose with a drewscriver. Sample the Cuervo to check for tonsisticity.

Next, sift two cups of salt, or something. Who giveshz a sheet. Check the Jose Cuervo. Now shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts. Add one table. Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink. Whatever you can find. Greash the oven.

Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over. Don't forget to beat off the turner. Finally, throw the bowl through the window, finish the Cose Juervo and make sure to put the stove in the dishwasher.

CHERRY MISTMAS!

A Revelation

My Dad loved Fred Allen. For anyone who might not know, and there are more and more of you every minute, he was a radio star. Imagine that! There were people waaaaay back then who became famous from being on the radio and they were not talk show hosts. Fred Allen was a comic and when my Dad listened to him I was a very tiny tot. Fred Allen wound up on TV and he was old and tired looking and I remember my Dad laughing and I just didn't get it. Now, I have this obsession with looking up quotes and I came across these and they are all Fred Allen originals:

The first thing that strikes a visitor to Paris is a taxi.

Television is a medium because anything well done is rare.

The first time I sang in the church choir; two hundred people changed their religion.

You can take all the sincerity in Hollywood, place it in the navel of a fruit fly and still have room enough for three caraway seeds and a producer's heart.

And that is just the beginning....it seems that comedy, like oysters, is an acquired taste.

Roots

Well here is is, Sunday. Another week begins. One of my goals is to establish myself with a church and become a regular Sunday church goer. I know that sounds so superficial but it is a host of things to me.

Because of the kind of gypsy wandering I have done in the past I have hesitated to join anything. I could never count on my schedule allowing a constant time and place to plan anything. When young we traveled to Florida for the month of December which pulled us out of all the school pageants and church events. Then, in the summer we packed up to Cape Cod the day after school let out and returned the day after Labor Day. We missed all the school's out things that kids do at home but loved our summers away. We met lots of kids a week or two at a time since most of the population were "renters". That brought a lot of pen palling into my life if a bond was made during that week or two.

College was great for forming friendships and since most of my friends were from out of state we rarely connected during breaks or summers. That didn't seem odd to me due to my past experience. I kept in touch as always but now the phone played a bigger role.

At the work phase of my life I had a job that involved travel. Sometimes out of state always in different offices. My relationships were wide spread. I was a trainer and the people I connected with were in my charge for a few weeks at the most and then I moved on. No roots.

I tried to go to grad school during this time since the company would pay but when during the year I would be all over the Northeast or further I couldn't fit a regular schedule of two or three nights a week at a specific location into my life. Tried twice and had to withdraw each time due to work duties.

The time of my life prior to the Florida transition was lovely. All winter we were in one place and Sunday meant Sunday School followed by Sunday dinner and family. I remember the Christmas Fair in the church and the bake sales and the childrens' choir. It was a good solid feeling. I want that again and now, with retirement and finally free of the snarl of the family business and real estate I am close to being in one place for a stretch of time. So begins my search for the church.

I have a little more unsnarling to do. Our house of many years must be sold and today we have a couple of volunteers with strong backs and a trailer. We will head on up and move some of the huge amount out of that house and into storage. Today will not be a search for church day but hopefully most Sundays from now on will be.

Update

Why do I not go to the dentist more frequently? He is a wonderful man and took care of me with great kindness and never a blink of judgement over my very poor attendance in his office. I did lose that tooth but I have a partial bridge and a tooth will be added to it. Just time and money at this point. The pain and angst are over. Well almost over. The anxiety is gone and the pain will recede. Whew. I am very glad today is gone.

Kiss Today Good-Bye

That stress test is over and now the stress is waiting for the results. I was told that I would hear right away if there is a major concern and here it is beyond the right away border and no word so the concern is down graded to less than major. I am still anxious though.

On top of that anxiety is my mortal fear of the dentist. Because of that fear, I ignored a filling loss for some time since there was no pain. When the tooth cracked I knew I had to get moving but coasted a bit more until I woke up with a swollen face. Not terribly swollen, at least with my fat face it was hard to see but I could feel it so the husband called for me, yes, I am that chicken. I got a round of antibiotics and today I am off to the dentist and I have to summon all of the courage I can to get through this.

I will get through this, I always do. When am I going to be rid of this nasty sinking stomach and jaw clenching freaked out dread? If my mother were here I would be letting her know it's all because of those early years at Dr. Holmes office. No Novocaine, no gas, no high speed drill, just him going at it and telling you to stop being such a baby. He had crooked teeth by the way. But, as my mother would say, he was in walking distance and having no car, that was the first priority for any medical issue. Can't say she didn't take care of us. We were dragged kicking and screaming twice a year to that torturer. It was never just one appointment either. There were always cavities and cavities and then if no cavities the fillings put in when ever had to be replaced.

OK. Enough! That is not the case with this dentist I am seeing today. He is gentle and kind and always uses Novocaine and that still doesn't matter. I am freaking panicky.

In times like these, I can't wait for tomorrow since this will all be over with then.