CREATURE COMFORT SHOULD EQUAL HOME

I've always known why I hate to leave my home, even for a weekend.  The angst is even worse if I don't have my own car with me.  Then I begin to feel trapped before I even get there.  I have to pack the clothes I will definitely need, might need, and a spare of everything.  However, vitamin pills digestive aids, antihistamines, because if I eat out there will surely be an attack of hives,etc.   I will be unable to trust the ingredients to be free of MSG, nitrites and sulfites. Wait staff never knows what is in food other than no MSG is added (there was enough in it when delivered to the restaurant).  I am always assured that no peanut ever got into the restaurant (though I am not sensitive or allergic to those.)

Making a list,  probably longer than the one Santa has to use at Xmas, never assures me that I have thought of everything, especially since I have procrastinated about packing since I really don't want to leave home.  Like the guy whose motto was 'Don't leave home without it', I must remember: something to read in the 'library' if my tummy is off so I don't have to read toothpaste tubes and bottle labels; something to read until I get sleepy, which is usually long after my hosts retire; my iTouch with all the phone numbers and addresses after I have remembered to charge my cell phone; money, charge cards; all articles of clothing from the inside to the outside; and I think you have the idea.

Once the bag is packed the obsessing starts.  Have I packed enough?  What did I forget (because I always forget something) have I watered all my plants so none will die over the three days I might be gone (some people hate to leave their pets...I hate to leave my plants); who needs to know I will be away?  By now, I am exhausted and really just want to stay at home.  At least I remembered to shut off the faucets leading to my washing machine so I don't have to come back to a water-filled basement.

Whoever said, "There's no place like home."  knew what they were talking about.

...AND THE POOR GET POORER: AMERICAN BANKS AND CORPORATIONS KEEP IT THAT WAY

For many years I have used Citizens  Bank and found it no more evil than other banks..  Fortunate enough to keep a large balance ( a relative term) in my checking and savings accounts (the interest I earn is the smallest few cents possible to be given) I do not have to pay for my checking account.  I have several accounts in trust for grandchildren with, again, not much in them.  A few years ago I was told that they would charge a fee every month if the account contained less than $500.  I refuse to throw away money so I boosted all accounts to that level.  Recently I received an inch high of letters from the bank, one for each account, telling me that henceforth they will charge a monthly fee of $4.99 if the account is not at least $500 but that it didn't apply to me as it had been waived years ago.  Now really, is this the service for which they charge $4.99 to the poorest of the savers?

It occurred to me that with the advent of computers and keystrokes when necessary, the maintenance costs for these accounts could not possibly be almost $60 a year.  So, if you are poor, you will lose it all.  If I were in that situation, I would pull every account I had with them even if I had to stuff the mattress with it.. 

It made me think, once again, it takes money to save money.  I use Amazon for many products and books.  I do not have to use gas to get to a store for purchases, I do not find it difficult to spend over $25 to buy books given the price of books today, thus paying no shipping and handling costs. In fact, when buying a used book from them, it often costs more because of the shipping and handling cost to the sender.

Drugstores do the same as do many other websites.  I don't recall what the breaking point is to avoid shipping but I know that just deodorant, mouth hygiene, foot hygiene, and a few other sundries can add up quickly so, again, no S&H charges. 

I doubt I would qualify as even being in middle class today but the best I have going for me is that my home is paid for, leaving me with maintenance and taxes.  (Another joy of living long enough to pay off the mortgage).  My heart goes out to those with my income who have little chance of getting ahead.  I no longer have dependent children, live frugally and do not need the 'toys' I once thought were important to have.  Being old is a challenge but there are good things about it, too.  Granted, you don't often hear them because older people are usually too busy ranting about their aches and pains.

THE PLACE WHEREYOU PAY FOR FREE SPEECH: THE MARINES

Sgt. Gary Stein

A Marine with ten years of service decided to use Facebook as a platform for sharing his negative opinions of his Commander-in-Chief, Barack Obama.  The postings were against military regulations and he had been given many warnings which he, apparently, chose to ignore even going so far to saying that he refused to follow any orders that meant they violated the rights of American citizens.  Sgt Stein had put a disclaimer on Facebook that his opinions, which included calling President Obama an enemy, were his own.  He has since apologized to President Obama and says he wishes he had expressed his views differently,   He says he wishes he could take it back and his hope is to get into talk radio.  That surely seems like a place where you can say just about anything derogatory about anyone and there is no penalty...Rush Limbaugh is still living proof of that as one example.  To read more about his trial and case which ended with him being a less that honorable discharge, click here.

His is a sad story.  He is being discharged without benefits.  Having just been diagnosed with a throat disease, I wonder if that means that he has no right to VA treatment.  If so, where will he be able to get treatment other than out of pocket fees, which he may not be able to do?

Beth Ford Roth wrote an article on the day of his discharge,m 4/25/12.He is discharged with 'other than honorable discharge'.  People do not realize the power of speech for good and useful use or for destructive use.  Just as we are not permitted to yell fire (if there isn't one) in a theater, there really are other instances when our 'free speech' is not free.  When one opens themselves up to slander charges in court is another.  No law can substitute for good judgment, tact, compassion.

Virginia Foxx, Republican congresswoman from North Carolina today proved just how bad and out of touch of representatives are.  Referring to student loans she said something about young people sitting on their butts, was expecting opportunity  to be handed to them on a platter.   Her memory, judged by her picture as she is 69 years old, has not kept up to the ridiculously high rates for tuition in today's world. When she was of college age, tuition were about $1500 a year.  Click here for a PBS presentation on the rise of tuitions in the USA..

She is also the woman, according to Wikipedia, who in April 2009, expressed opposition to the Matthew Shepard Act, claiming that the murder of Matthew Shepard was not a hate crime. While debating the act at the House of Representatives, which was attended by Matthew Shepard's mother, she called the incident a "very unfortunate incident" but also "we know that that young man was killed in the commitment of a robbery. It wasn't because he was gay."Is it any wonder with thinks and representatives of truth and the needs of our citizens, we get this ridiculous response despite all the facts made clear by the courts at the time.

The degree to which our Representatives and Senators are out of touch with the people of this country is frightening.  It is clear they no longer represent a democracy but simply themselves. I, for one, will rest easier if the elections in November were over and Obama assured to be in for another four years.  Additionally, I would like to see both legislative house balanced more fairly.  As always, what I wish as what unfairly happens by those who follow no Federal rules nor show honesty and integrity have an equal chance of winning.

HOW TO MAKE CHANGE HAPPEN

Obama has worked towards bipartisanship.  He has worked hard to be a Uniter and not a Divider.  However, the Republicans won't play fair nor for the good of the country  When the 'other party' can do nothing but obstruct, tactics have to change.  One way to make change without full support of the Congress is to use Executive powers.

Shift on Executive Power Lets Obama Bypass Rivals was written in the NY Times.To read on this topic, click here. It is good for Obama to grow a few fangs.

Keep your ears trained to spot when humor becomes more visible in our emails.  That is when people will be feeling a bit more comfortable with the government, and Obama specifically.  As long as the Senate Minority Leader states his singular goal is to make Obama a single-term president, obviously he has carried  out the attempt regardless of the destruction to the rest of the country.

 

PANELS ON POLITICAL MEDIA SHOULD NOT BE STATIC

Too often we see the same faces over and over on panels.  On This Week with George Stephanopoulos, we heard Peggy Noonan in her soft, condescending voice, almost whispering her criticisms as to why the country is not running her way.  George Will pontificates his fears on how no one really understands security, Matthew Dowd has history he can frequently call on and speaks authoritatively.  Donna Brazile, who has been around politics. for nearly 30 years, speaks like a kind mother who has learned there are many sides to any political picture and tries to give us a few.  On This Week it is the first time I have seen Keith Olbermann (on his This Week debut)  other than his home now on CURRENT-TV.  As always, Olbermann has much to say to which it is worthwhile for us to listen, as do most good panelists.   Nevertheless, rather than focus on the politics of the day, it was the sports of the day.

Switching over to Meet the Press, it was refreshing to hear the same problems being discussed, but by people either in charge of or close to the problems of the GSA or the Secret Service.  Obviously, most of what the panels do is speculate...which any of us who use the Internet a lot can speculate with the same information. Rather than allowing the panelists to take over the show, David Gregory had Congressional watchdogs  speak with some facts.  It was refreshing to hear some real content rather than lots of guesses, and campaigning of people not running for office.

It may make the job of the producers a bit more tedious, but I think there should not be the same panelists week after week.  I think panelists should be on because of the subject to be discussed and the match of panelists who are in closest touch with the facts of the situation.

GROWING AND SHOWING AFRICAN VIOLETS

I've decided that growing and showing African Violets well is like dieting.  Everyone seems to wish you a 'one-size-fits-all-because-it-fits-the-teller' answer.  The shocking proof that there are not easy answers to what makes a violet a show winner is readily apparent when you see club grown plants as each member is handed a new plant, everyone getting the same variety.  In our club, (mine had died in infancy) only one plant was blossoming  and \l the rest were in varying stages of size, color, shape, etc.

Growing African Violets can be grown for show on window sills providing you wish to turn yourself into a perpetual 'lazy Susan'.  Unless you can turn them faithfully so that the light from the sun (which does not take into account cloudy or rainy days) will make a plant irregular.  Winners at shows are mostly grown under artificial light from the top.  Even then, they are groomed for shape just as Christmas trees are trimmed and trained for shape on farms from their tiny selves. Leaves are pulled off to make the plant symmetrical and blossom booster is started a proper time before the show.  Nature rarely turn s humans into beauties without help, as well...

Having volunteered to clerk (translates to being being a 'go-fer' for the judges) I can say that if all judges were like the ones I saw today, it was impressive.  The tiniest blemish was noticed as in, "Oh dear, there is a bit of pollen under the flower on this leaf." or, "See this leaf.  It has a little tear in it.  The house must have a cat....points off.".  Certain plants ( a collection of at least three of a kind by one grower) are judged on a very critical point system starting with 100 and taking away for every fault such as lack of symmetry, smaller leaves under bigger ones, blemishes on leaves, and a host of variables that would make the hardiest researcher go ashen.

Consequently, you must understand the criteria used by the judges (which would make you qualified to be a judge yourself) to win prizes.  Additionally, the categories are many.  There are plants grown in unusual containers (one lovely, creative one was in driftwood), terrariums, designs which follow a theme and are artistic which may be in 6" x 6 x 6" frames.such as in a thimble for one lovely display; another was under water in a clear bowl.  Like any other hobby, there are those whose efforts go into pleasing the judges while some of the rest of us are cowards who are either too lazy (though I prefer to believe it is too content) to enjoy the plants for themselves.