A New Year

It's the time of year when we traditionally make a list of resolutions, vowing to be better, do more and be more understanding in the coming year.  These resolutions, although always made with good intentions, seem to last all of about 10 minutes into the new year.  I'm not sure why they disappear so fast, maybe due to short term memory loss.

Today, instead of listing all my new and well-meaning resolutions, I decided to take a page from one of my former partners' books and give thanks for a wonderful 2009.  In no particular order, I am grateful for the following:

A husband who loves me unconditionally after 46 years, a comfortable home, a priceless view out the front windows, a son and daughter-in-law who always make me proud, wonderful and healthy grandkids, a great new great-grandson, my beautiful and caring sisters, a cancer-free checkup for one of them, a nephew almost completely recovered from the stroke he suffered, a new job for another nephew, an all-around wonderful family (to whom I wish many happy, healthy and wealthy years to come), amazing friends, good books, good health, and a perfect companion dog.

I also vow to remember that all I have is all I need.

A Happy and Healthy New Year to all of you.  Remember to make the best choices you can, then move forward.  Don't spend time regretting the past choices; they can't be changed.  And if you do make some new resolutions this year, remember that you are the only person who can change your life.

(The picture above was taken by my friend, Deb S. on Christmas day)

Merry Christmas

It is time to take a moment out of this busiest time of year to wish everyone Merry Christmas,   Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanzaa, or simply Happy Holidays.  May every good wish come true, and may you prosper is the New Year.  I refuse to mention that you should be careful what you wish for because you might get it.  If you want it, go for it!

Take a few moments to take a deep breath and recoup your sense of wonder.  Go for a run or a walk, or even a swim.  Let your mind wander and see where it ends up.  Your body may want to follow.

Tomorrow, the daylight will start to last longer, and the darkness will slowly be rolled back to where it is manageable again.  It is a time for renewal of both body and mind.  So I will say, have a Very Merry Christmas and and Happy, Healthy New Year.

President Obama and the Nobel Peace Prize

Have you read President Obama's Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech?  I hope you have.  His speech left me feeling glad to be an American, glad that we were smart enough to elect Barack Obama as President.  He understands that, even though he is labeled a liberal and a leftist, he knows the value of being able to defend our country.

Belief in God

Is there a God?  There are lots of gods, but is there a God?  I want to believe; I was brought up to believe; but it is hard when I look at what is happening in the world, or even in this country.

I was raised a Lutheran; I have been a member of the same church all my life; my church is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  Now it seems that my church is going to consider going against the ELCA because of its belief in the way gays are being treated.  My church does not want to accept gays as clergy.  The reasoning behind this is that the Bible says being gay is a sin, and the Bible is the direct word of God.  The Bible, in Numbers, also says that anyone who works on the sabbath should be put to death.  This must also be the direct word of God; yet we have grown beyond this.

The Bible was written hundreds, or even thousand, of years ago.  It was written by humans, who lived in a time that was very different from today.  I believe they interpreted God's teachings based on the world as they knew it.  That world has changed immeasurably.  Pork is no longer dangerous to eat. Some people need to work on the sabbath so that the world as we know it will keep running.  Medical science has discovered that gays are born gay, that they have no choice in the matter.   So how can I stay in a church that refuses to accept people as God has made them?

If there is a God.  It is hard to believe when there are parents killing children, children and their families starving to death or dying of AIDs, when deserts are increasingly encroaching on more fertile land.   But it is harder not to believe.  If there is no God, why bother with developing new medicines, a better way to grow crops so we can feed more people.  Why bother educating our children, trying to instill in them the sense of humanness we all need?  Why go out of your way to help the homeless, the hungry, or even your neighbor.  There must be a God.  In spite of all the inequities and injustices in the world, we, as sons and daughters of a higher power, must keep striving to make this world a better place for all.  There has to be a God.  We do not strive in vain.

Death Penalty

Cleveland prosecutors have decided to ask for the death penalty for alleged serial killer Anthony Sowul.  Remains of 11 women have been found buried in the yard and inside the house where he was living.  This is one sick dude, who should never be allowed back on the street, maybe never see the light of day again.

These crimes were unimaginably horrible, the more so because no one seemed to care that these women had gone missing.  That fact alone says a lot about the society we have become.  People no longer look out for their neighbors.  We don't want to know what is happening in the neighborhood because we might have to somehow get involved.  This attitude is not hard to understand.  We are all so busy going about our daily lives, trying to make a living, keeping up with the kids' schoolwork and other activities, worrying about whether we will have jobs for much longer; we don't have time to get to know our neighbors.  What a shame.

But I have gotten off track.  This case has made me think about the death penalty.  I have always been against it; but I have also always felt that I don't know how I would feel if someone harmed a person close to me.  Maybe I would want revenge, or expect closure if the guilty person were executed.  After thinking about this for several days, I have decided I am still against the death penalty.  Two wrongs have never made a right, and to take someone's life is simply wrong.

Don't misunderstand me, the guilty person should be punished, and punished severely.  Life in prison with no opportunity of parole would be my choice; and not a country club prison either.  A cell with bars, in a row with other cells with bars, would be appropriate.  Or maybe even solitary confinement.  It costs more to put a prisoner to death than it does to keep him or her in prison for life.  There is also the chance, however slight, that the convicted person did not actually commit the crime.  Putting that person to death would eliminate any chance of atonement if he or she is later found not to have committed the crime.

Most of the countries in the world have already outlawed the death penalty, including Canada, Mexico and most of Europe.  What do they know that we don't?  Why do we still insist on capital punishment?  The death penalty is wrong.  We need to abolish it.

Writing -- Is It Over?

It has been several weeks since I wrote anything and wrote for any length of time.  Yesterday I had a very scary thought:  What if I never want to write again?  I have been making excuse after excuse -- first getting the rental house ready, then knitting, working out, walking the dog, cooking, baking -- about all the things I need to do (getting ready for Christmas has moved to the top of the list) that there hasn't been any time to write.  Are all these excuses just cop outs?  Was I ever really meant to write?  Maybe someone or something is telling me that I am not a very good writer and should just quit trying.  There are a lot more fun things to do than sit at the computer for hours, trying to put words on the screen that will tell a story, and tell it well enough that other people would enjoy reading it.

I will, and have been, thinking and praying about this a lot lately.  What should I do?  I have always wanted to be a writer, ever since our Airedale, Terry, taught me to read when I was in the first grade.  Or has it been that, because I like reading, that I thought I wanted to be a writer?  I know what I should say -- I AM A WRITER!  That is probably how I should think, too, I am a writer.  I will sit  at the computer and put words on the screen and create a story that will entertain others.  I may not become rich, or even make a decent living doing this, but my stories will get published, as will my books eventually.  I will do it; and I can do it.

Was that last paragraph the answer to my prayers?  I'm not sure where else it would have come from; the words just seemed to pour out of me and onto the screen.

Friends, and Other Ruminations about Dogs

It has been quite a while since my last blog. There has been too much to do, too many commitments, and never enough time. Today, I have taken a different outlook. There is still too much to do, but I expect the time to expand to accommodate everything that needs to be done. This also means I can't lollygag around, but need to keep doing.

Because I have been having a hard time coming up with something to write about, I thought I would write about one of my favorite subjects -- dogs. Recently, I happened to catch the tail end of an interview with a Ph.D. who specialized in dog behavior, and it made me start to really think about these wonderful creatures.

Those who know me, know that I have always been a dog person. I like cats, too, and most, if not all, other animals, but dogs will always hold the top spot in my heart. It is amazing what dogs can do: they love us unconditionally, live in the moment, and never tire of seeing us, or being around us. There is so much we don't know about them; while they seem to know everything about us. I believe we have only scratched the surface with our knowledge and understanding of dogs and their abilities. Dogs help people to see, to hear and to get around. They protect us, herd our cattle and sheep, guard our livestock, teach us to read, sniff out drugs and cancer, predict seizures, pull our sleds and save us from drowning. They will be our constant companions, listen patiently to all our complaints and woes and even learn stupid pet tricks if we ask them.

Of course, along with all the benefits of dogs comes the responsibilities. This is where we have let these wonderful creatures down. A lot of us refuse to teach dogs manners so that they are good company. Some humans train them to kill, whether it be other dogs or even humans. Other people turn a dog out when they no longer want it or can care for it. They need to know that there are groups willing to help them with these unwanted or unmanageable dogs. Other dog owners will relieve their frustrations by beating their dog.

Then there are the people who run puppy mills. This is the worst kind of abuse a human can inflict on a dog. If we would stop buying that cute little puppy in the pet store window, we could cut down on the cruelty of puppy mills. We need to look to reputable breeders for our puppies, or to rescue organizations like Best Friends' Dogtown. I think I read that over 3 million dogs are intentionally destroyed each year. Puppy mills are a big cause of this horrible statistic. And don't get me started on designer dogs -- we could be here all night. A so-called designer dog is just a mixed breed that costs a lot of money, as opposed to getting a mixed breed from a rescue organization.

By now, you are probably convinced that I am a dog person. But if you aren't, and happen to see me out and about, you may be lucky enough to meet Tater. He will surely convince you.

Communism Redux?

Remember the Red Scare? The Cold War? Communism? How we were taught to hide under our desks in case of a nuclear attack? It seems that communism is making a comeback, at least in the minds of many Obama detractors. But communism is not returning; it doesn't work. The destruction of the Berlin Wall and what is happening in China today prove that. So why are some people so sure that President Obama wants to turn the U.S. into a communist nation? Could this be simply a scare tactic by certain right wing reactionaries?

Communism has only ever worked in small doses and among small groups of people who all agree with the concept. Think hippie communes, or even some religious groups (Shakers come to mind). It can't and won't work among most of the world's populations, and certainly won't work in the U.S. Very few people want to give up or lose what they have worked so hard to attain. This is only human nature, and is a real incentive to work hard and get ahead.

But I do believe that most people would like to give others a chance to get ahead, especially if they are willing to work hard to do it. If these others need a helping hand, we Americans have always been willing to provide the help. I believe that is what the President is trying to do.

Positive Thinking

Recently in my reading, there have been several references to the power of positive thinking. The consensus is that this is a very real and powerful tool. If you believe it will happen, it (whatever "it" is) will. Just thinking and expecting something to happen, or to come to you, will make it happen, or will bring it to you.

I have to believe that this does work. Worrying gets you nowhere -- it can't change anything. However, to expect something to happen -- something good -- is the first step in making that good thing really happen. The mind seeks out ways to help it to happen. Then the body will folow the mind's thoughts and energies. Before you know it, you are making the good thing happen. And it all starts with thinking good thoughts -- thinking about what you want.

An example: You hate your job. Instead of just thinking how much you hate it, you start to think how you can change it. You really are the only person who can change your life. You daydream about your ideal job; could be an attorney, or a medical technician, or some other profession that seems totally out of reach. Whatever this ideal job is, ask yourself how you can get there. If you want to be an attorney, you can start at the local community college and just keep moving forward. If your first reaction is, "but I'll be 45 years old (or 50 or ?) by the time I'm done with school," remember you're going to be 45 or 50 anyway -- why not have something to show for it?

It can be done; it has been done. It all starts with thinking you can. That's the power of positive thinking. On that note, I know that sooner or later I will sell my writing.

Ready for New Renters -- Scary

What a frustrating and seemingly endless job it is to get a house ready to rent, not to mention expensive. I still can't believe all the work that had to be done after the last renters left so we could rent it out again. The outside had to be neatened up and a walkway put in. New grass had to be planted. We never did get to work on the landscaping, which desperately needs weeding and pruning. It has been rainy and cold for the last several weeks, so the work has moved to the inside of the house.

The biggest job was putting in a new boiler and a ventilation system. I am continually amazed at what Den can do when he puts his mind to it. He did all the work on these two improvements, with help from son and grandson; and the house is now warm and cozy. I am sure it will be cool in the summer, with the ventilation system picking up the lake breezes. Then we needed to scrub and paint walls, clean cupboards and closets, repair door knobs and screens, wash windows and ceiling fans and make lists of missing door stops and light pulls.

Our son and daughter-in-law came over yesterday and painted and cleaned. I was amazed at how fast they worked and how slow I moved in comparison. Our grandson and his girlfriend painted one of the bedrooms and did a beautiful job. How fortunate we are to have such a wonderful family. Every night when we quit working, I think that we will make the November 1st deadline for the new tenants. Then, when I go over to the house the next day, I panic, and think that there is still so much to do before it will be livable.

We have a family ready to move in. They seem to be reliable and friendly, but, of course, we really won't know until they have lived in the house for a while. They also will not know how they will like living right next door to us until they have experienced it for a few months. That is the scary part -- we just don't know.

Music

It is a beautiful, if breezy, day, about 70 degrees outside. I am listening to Elvis Presley at his "Romantic Best" as I try to get the house straightened and some chores done. Listening to these old songs, I can't help but think how lucky we were to have grown up when we did. Remember Teen Club? Every Wednesday we danced and socialized, flirted and just had a good time with our friends. I do believe that the music was simply the best.


At that time, I had never heard of the blues; now I know this was the basis for rock and roll (also jazz). What great music! Listening to it can't help but bring a smile to your face, or at least to mine. If you've never heard Roy Buchanen, John Lee Hooker, or John Hammond (wow!), I urge you to give them a listen. Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones, and even the Beatles all had their roots in this early juke joint music. Cleveland's own Robert Jr. Lockwood (died last year at age 90+) was stepson to the great Robert Johnson of Crossroads fame. Lockwood sure knew how to play the 12-string guitar, taught by Robert Johnson. We were fortunate enough to hear him live several times, and even bought him a drink or two. So if you've never listened to this music, please give it a try. It can really play to and on your moods.

How did I get from being a teen and teen club to the blues? I'm not sure -- just followed my thoughts. Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is that, growing up, we sure did have some good music which created some good times even while we were trying to go from awkward teens to sophisticated adults.

Fall is Here

Den went to Home Depot and here I sit, listening to a Peter, Paul and Mary tribute on college radio and feeling sorry for myself. This time of year is always hard for me, but this year seems worse than usual, and that aggravates me no end. There are so many things that need doing, and I have no energy or desire to "do." Then the guilt sets in.

How many things could I have gotten done today if I had really tried? Plants need repotting, kitchen cupboards need cleaning, windows need to be washed. I could have written, either finished a story that's almost done, or worked on my book. My grandmother's quilt needs to be finished, there's the sweater waiting for me to finish knitting, and the baby bag to finish crocheting. So what did I do all day? Slept, walked the dog, dusted the pool room and watered the plants. Did I mention that I took a nap or two? I never take naps!

So what is wrong with me? Why do I feel so depressed and discontented? Can't be the weather -- it was 75 degrees outside today, with only a bit of rain this morning. It's so bad that, when I was looking through the Eddie Bauer catalog, I was wishing that I had the life the model was portraying. That's pretty sad. All I can say is, I hope this feeling goes away soon. I know I won't feel so bad when it gets colder outside, even though the days will be shorter -- go figure. But until then, I think I will go sit in the living room, listen to the blues on the radio and feel sorry for myself. I might even have a good cry.

PerchFest

Today is the start of the annual Lake County PerchFest held on the beach in Fairport Harbor. This year, Den was commissioned to carve a four foot perch for the festival. It turned out to be an absolute masterpiece! We are going there tonight to have a perch dinner and to check out where his carving is being displayed. This is the first carving he has done that did not tell me its name, and I feel bad about that. Of course, the names I gave to his other carvings usually got changed by the buyer of the piece so it probably doesn't matter. Still, it was a disappointment not to be able to come up with a name. Any suggestions?

Sister Discussion

My sister and I are having our usual, passionate, disagreement about politics. It is all by email since we live in different states. This morning, I was thinking about what we would say to each other if we were in the same room, and came to the conclusion that it is better that we have to email each other. If we were in the same room, we would both try to talk at the same time, overriding the point the other one was trying to make. Tempers would flare (of course, only one of us has a temper and it surely isn't me), and we would most likely end up in a shouting match, with one or both of us storming off in frustration because we couldn't get the other to see the light.

When we have to communicate by email, each can take as much time as we need to read the point the other is trying to make, and think through our responses; no one is shouting anyone else down and we are able to remain calm and rational. I don't believe that either one of us will change the other one's mind, but at least we are able to read the other's thoughts carefully and fully instead of going off half-cocked, thinking the other one is a total idiot. I do worry that this discussion may be pushing one of us further to the right and the other further left, but if that's the result, so be it. I also believe it is bringing us closer together as sisters, and, to me, that's the most important thing.

Sign of Fall

It must be fall. I know the calendar still says it's August, which means it is technically still summer. But the spiders around here either can't read a calendar or don't care what the actual date is. They are starting to invade the house big time, which means it is fall on the north coast of the US. However, the spiders that have been intruding into the house this year are different from the normal fall intruders. This year's interlopers are dark brown or black with rather long legs (I don't believe they are daddy long legs), instead of the yellow invaders I am used to from past years. What happened to all my yellow friends? They at least seemed able to stay in the upper corners of the rooms and keep mostly out of sight. These new invaders are all over everything. It seems that anytime I go from place to place in the house, I am being surprised by a spider web. They are strung between lamps and tables, down (or up) window frames, between the computers, across bookshelves, even in the shower if it is left unguarded for half a day.

I have always prided myself on being fairly tolerant, with a live and let live attitude. This was never a problem with the yellow spiders of the past years. (I almost started to write little yellow spiders, but they weren't very little by my definition of a spider.) But I draw the line at having to constantly brush away spider webs, especially around my head. I have tried to relocate the spiders outside, but this doesn't seem to work. Either they make it back in before I can close the door, or they know some secret entrance of which I am unaware. Maybe they are breeding in the attic! Whatever it is, they had better be on their guard, because it's no more Ms. Nice Gal. I may even get out the vacuum. I hate spider webs in my hair and face!

Writing

Just finished mopping floors and moving furniture around. I think I did this because I'm having a hard time right now with my writing. I know all I have to do is sit down, open a word file and start writing. The words will come. But I just feel so unproductive right now, like maybe I'm not meant to write. I am truly amassing a large collection of rejection slips; should I keep on writing?

Of course I should. My stories are outlets for my feelings, thoughts and observations. I will continue to struggle with trying to get my thoughts down onto paper, or rather, in the computer. I even have this nifty little keyboard with a tiny screen called an NEO by AlphaSmart. I can take this keyboard out by the lake or in the backyard or on vacation and work on my stories on it. When I get back home, I just download what I have written into the computer and go from there. Is technology great, or what?

So there it is -- I have to write. One of these days, the magic news will come -- someone, somewhere will like a story of mine so much that they will publish it, and maybe even pay me for it!

For all his faults, Senator Ted Kennedy was a true patriot and an outspoken liberal Democrat, always working for the good of the country, A friend of mine, Bob Van Der Velde, had the best comment on a sad day via @jenhouse @dannyfriedman @azchela: "In Lieu of flowers, please pass health care reform".

Best Thing

I just finished up a wonderful swim in our Endless Pool. Before the swim, my sister and I had been having a very spirited discussion about health care; and I just couldn't see why she was being so dense (hope she doesn't see this!). We are definitely at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to health care and almost anything else about the Obama presidency. I am sure neither of us is going to change the other's opinions, so we have agreed to disagree.

Anyway, after my swim, our differences don't seem so important anymore. I would call my feeling right now a runner's high, only because that is the term most people are familiar with. I have to admit, I seldom reached this pleasurable height when I ran, but I feel so wonderfully mellow when I'm done swimming. I think I will now go have cup of tea and read out on the swing overlooking the lake.

Rules for Living

Think positive thoughts

Expect great things

Live for the joy

Give thanks continuously

No Frustration

For several days, we have had little or no water. It is almost impossible to take a shower. Doing the dishes is an hour-long event. Yesterday we called the water company (for the second or third time this summer, to say nothing of the times a representative has been out here due to someone else in the neighborhood calling). We were told that too many people were watering their lawns and the company's pumps couldn't keep up with the demand. Does that sound plausible to you? I didn't think so.

This same water company has spent the last several months putting in new water lines in parts of the Headlands area; now we have trouble getting water. At one point, we were told that our house and several of the neighbors' had no water because another neighbor was filling his pool. Another time, the shortage was blamed on a neighbor who said her water was brown when she tried to wash clothes. The water company's solution? To open a pipe and let water run down the bank onto the beach, which they called flushing the lines. This was done several times over the course of the last three months. Did it help? I think the only thing it did was to help make the lake bank more unstable than it already is, and keep the neighborhood from having water.

I probably sound like a whiner, and I admit I feel like one right now (Den says I need the practice). I know that millions of people the world over have never had clean, running water; but we have had it and we do expect it, so it is frustrating not to have it now. I wonder, is it possible that the new lines the company put in are now too big for the pumps that are being used to pump out the water? Maybe they just can"t pump it hard enough to create any pressure in the lines. Would they tell us if that were the case? Or maybe they just don't care about us because only six or eight houses are affected since we live on a dead end street off a dead end street. They wouldn't feel like that, would they?

Too Much To Do

There's always so much to do -- most of it work. I just finished washing the hardwood floors in the bedroom and the office. As I sit here writing, I can look around and see an unlimited amount of more work waiting for me. I need to bring boxes down from the attic and shred old papers (tax returns from my mother and mother-in-law); fill the boxes back up with the papers I have pulled from the files down here (more recent tax returns, etc.), and return the boxes to the attic. The office needs a good going through, windows and curtains washed, cabinets cleaned out, to say nothing of the computers. I know I need to back up some information and delete some I no longer use. I don't know what Den has on his computer, but it's a safe bet he has stuff there that also needs cleaning out.

See what I mean about there always being work that needs doing? And we haven't even gotten out of the office! Kitchen cabinets need reorganizing; bookshelves need cleaned and organized; the refrigerator needs cleaning out, the windows need washing -- the list seems endless and I get tired just thinking about it. Then there's the outside -- flower beds and vegetable gardens need weeding (always!); roses need deadheading; grass needs mowing; and I want to rearrange the back garden with less patio blocks and more green. We need to finish painting the house, fix the roof and clean out the garage. (The word "we" in the last sentence means Den.) I never did get the picnic table and swing stained this year, something I should have done in May.

These are the things that need doing, but what about the things I want to do? I have to admit, I probably did more of them this summer than I should have, thus leading to all the things that didn't get done (see above). I took walks, swam, read (a lot), visited with friends and relatives (both in person and through the computer), went dancing, worked on my writing, drawing, knitting, crocheting and quilting.

But all the time I was enjoying myself, I was also feeling guilty. Was this because of some inner makeup, or the way I was raised or a combination of both? The big question I have is -- Do men feel this way, too?

Finnish Heritage Museum

Earlier this afternoon, my sister and I went to Fairport Harbor to check out the Finnish Heritage Museum. We watched a wall hanging being woven on a 100+ year-old loom that was in pieces when it was given to the museum. The loom was huge -- taller than me and about 5 feet wide. It looked really complicated to use. How could someone design something like that so many years ago? How did they know that if they put this wheel here and ran that thread there, they could weave a beautiful picture of a church with trees around it?

Along that same line, who discovered that you could twist a strand of yarn around a hook, or pull it through itself with a pair of needles, and it would make something warm and beautiful? Who discovered all the intricate needle movements that would make the stitches we use today? Who discovered that you could use hair from animals to make yarn in the first place? I'm sure someone has the answers to these questions, but I won't try to research them. It is more fun to wonder.

Oh, and yes, the Finnish Heritage Museum is well worth the visit. You can even buy a cup of coffee and a slice of home made nisu after you browse the exhibits. If you can't make the trip to the museum in person, the website is: www.finnishheritagemuseum.org.

Balloon Release

There was an article in the newspaper about a local funeral home releasing hundreds of balloons into the air to remember those who have died, seemingly a great idea. However, I cannot believe they thought this ceremony through very carefully. I'm sure they didn't think of the environmental consequences of what will happen when all those balloons come back down to earth. They have to land somewhere, and a lot of them will fall into Lake Erie.

The fish and birds that depend on Lake Erie will come across these balloons and could either get tangled in the strings attached or try to eat them. Either way, the consequences will be deadly. I'm not sure how far out we could extrapolate this outcome, but I sit here wondering if the kingfishers we enjoy watching will be effected, or even the eagle that appears to have made its home along the south shore of the lake.

I do believe that there are fewer of these balloon releases as more people realize what damage they can do in the long run. Can bubbles released into the air be a substitute? I don't know if there are any long term dangerous or harmful results from this practice, but I'm sure someone out there could tell me.

Health Care

The big issue today is health care. Should we have universal health care? If so, how do we do that? How do we pay for it? Do we want a system that is like Canada, Great Britain, or any of the other nations that have a socialized medical care system? How do we know what is best? Perhaps most important of all, who will pay for it, and how?

I, for one, would like to see a side-by-side comparison of the way different health systems work. Maybe compare our system with Finland's, Canada's and Switzerland's, or pick any three modern nations. All we hear is that we will not get the same quality of care if we change, that we will have to wait a long time for the care we do get, and that someone other than ourselves will be in charge of the care we receive. We are already putting up with these things -- when was the last time you had to visit an emergency room?

These claims leave me feeling pretty skeptical, especially when most of them are coming from insurance companies who are making obscene amounts of money off the system as it now exists. I don't believe we have a monopoly on good doctors, or researchers, or medicines. I do think that our infant mortality rate is too high (higher than several other western nations), and we do not live as long, on average, as citizens of some other countries. Maybe health care should be the responsibility of localities, like education once was. I don't claim to know how to fix the system that we now have, or even if we should fix it. Maybe we should discard it and start all over. I do know that too many people don't have health care, and that too many people are paying too much for the health care they do receive. In a country as great as ours, this is intolerable.

Scarlett and Rhett

Rhett and Scarlett are at it again. These are two mourning doves who have made themselves at home in our back yard. Only an hour or so after Den moved our Norfolk Island Pine tree from the house to right outside the back door ( and I mean right outside -- hardly a foot away), two mourning doves were busy making a nest. This was back in May. Within a few weeks we had two baby mourning doves trying to get up enough courage to fly from that nest. For two or three days, our back yard was their world and we would have to watch when we let the dog outside so he wouldn't catch any little birds. We also didn't want him to be dive bombed by Rhett or Scarlett if they thought their babies were in jeopardy.

Within two days of the time the first set of babies went out on their own, Scarlett was again sitting on the nest. To give him his due, Rhett did change places with her every morning, so she could exercise her wings. By the end of June, this second set of babies had flown the nest, and our back yard. After doing some research, we thought that would be the end of Rhett and Scarlett as such close neighbors. But no, Scarlett is back on the nest, quietly waiting for Rhett to relieve her every once in a while. I am sure there are two more eggs in that nest, although I haven't actually seen them yet.

These birds don't seem at all afraid of us as we come and go through the back door. The nest is so close to the door, I could reach up and touch it as I come outside. I do hope this is the last family Scarlett and Rhett have this year. I would like to get my back yard-- fence, chairs, bench, fire pit -- cleaned up so that it stays clean for a while. In the meantime it has been interesting to have such different and well-mannered (mostly) neighbors.

American Wind Symphony Orchestra

Yesterday evening Den and I went to listen to the American Wind Symphony Orchestra in Fairport Harbor, and what a treat it was. The orchestra played from a barge moored in the Grand River, at the stone docks at the end of Second Street, just down from the lighthouse. The side of the barge opened into what looked like a very sophisticated sound stage, with enough room for the 40 or so professional musicians. I would have liked to have seen what the inside of the barge was like.

Most of the music that was played, had been written specifically for this orchestra, by composers all over the world. The Music Director, Robert Austin Boudreau, gave a brief history of each piece and of the orchestra itself.

The American Wind Symphony Orchestra has been in existence for over 50 years, and has played in many parts of the world. It is based on the barge Point Counterpoint II, out of Pittsburgh; and most of the musicians are new every year, either music majors in college or having just graduated. Many of the AWSO musicians have gone on to play with major orchestras all over the world. The Fairport Harding High band members got to meet with and learn from the musicians on a one to one basis, and were invited to join in on the next to the last number played by the AWSO. Who knows how this opportunity will affect these young musicians, but I'm sure they will never forget it.

So how did this wonderful orchestra come to play in Fairport Harbor? I'm not exactly sure who started the ball rolling, but Pat Spivak and the Finnish Heritage Museum were involved from the beginning. They got a grant from the Lake County Visitor's Bureau to bring the barge here, Lake Metroparks volunteers helped with the traffic and tickets, and the Village administration (especially Tom Hilston and Jim Cardina) assisted in bringing the whole thing together. In recognition of the Finnish Heritage Museum, the AWSO even played "Finlandia" by Sibelius. If you ever get a chance to hear and see this unique orchestra, please take it.

The Importance of Libraries

Ohio Governor Ted Strickland has proposed to cut library funding in Ohio by 50% as of July 1, 2009.  What a tragedy that would be!  If this proposal is enacted, our public libraries will be devastated.  For an infinite number of reasons, I believe that there should be NO cut in the libraries' funding. 

Ohio libraries today are operating on the same amount of funding from the state that they received in 1996.  That means there has been no increase in help from the state for 13 years.   Historically, in difficult economic times, the library's use and importance to the community has increased.  This is true today.  

People turn to the library especially for education and entertainment, socializing and networking.  Libraries provide computer classes, free use of computers, and internet searches to help find a job.  They provide free entertainment for the whole family.  For kids there is the legendary storytime, craft sessions, fun ways to learn about anything (the community, the space program, our country's history and much more).  One of the best programs provided is the Paws to Read program, where children who may be too shy or embarrassed, or may not have the best reading skills, read to dogs who come in to the library and are happy to listen without criticizing.  I know this program works -- I was taught to read by our Airedale Terry too many years ago to remember.

For teens, libraries provide reading clubs, writing clubs, and a place for tutoring for those who need help in school, in addition to crafts and other activities.  A librarian can recommend a good read for the beach, or a movie the whole family can enjoy.  And then there are all the programs for adults -- computer classes, book clubs, knitting classes, informative lectures, even meet the author nights.  You can even check out a book or two or borrow a movie for free.  And libraries provide meeting rooms for scouts, blood drives, senior citizens and many other groups who need  a place to assemble.

In view of all of these services of the libraries, it would seem to me that the funding for these institutions should be at least maintained at present levels, not cut in half.  Maybe the Governor thinks he can propose this 50% cut now, get everyone all upset about it, then say he is bending to the will of the people and only making a 20% cut in library funding.  He wouldn't do that, would he?

The following quote is from the State of Ohio's internet page called "Ohio's Future":

 

"Free libraries maintained by the people are cradles of democracy, and their spread can never fail to extend and 

strengthen the democratic idea, the equality of the citizen and the royalty of man. They are emphatically fruits of 

the true American ideal.”  -Andrew Carnegie at the 1903 dedication of the Carnegie Library in Washington, D.C. 

Summer Solstice

Yesterday was the summer solstice -- the longest day of the year, the first day of summer.  It was also Father's Day.  What a wonderful day -- so many excuses to celebrate.  I know that a lot of people look at Father's Day as just another gimmick promoted by the card industry.  And I also know that summer in northeast Ohio is unpredictable, as are spring, winter and fall.  But it is still a time to celebrate.  Daylight hung around until 9:30 PM or so, affording us the opportunity to have dinner in the back yard, then to roast marshmallows in the fire pit.  We would have had evening coffee by the lake except the wind was out of the northeast and it was a bit too cool to be comfortable.  In fact, it was downright cold by the lake, so the backyard it was.

But there is a sad feeling to the summer solstice, too.  It is the longest day of the year.  From here until December 21st or so, each day will get shorter and shorter.  We will lose a small fraction of the daylight that is so precious; and the sun, if it shines, will be lower and lower in the sky.  However, I intend to make the most of the daylight we do have every day (well OK, maybe not the early morning hours) even if it's only to sit on the swing by the lake and read a book.  I don't want to waste a minute (see previous parenthesis); because there are only so many minutes alloted in a day.  Once they're gone, they can never be recaptured.  It is up to each of us to enjoy them.  

Wildlife in the City

The deer have won!  Earlier in the spring, we had been able to keep the deer from eating the tulips,  but I never dreamed that they like roses so much.  Every single rose bush in the front yard  had all the new buds neatly chomped off right where the bud meets the stem.   I just hope we get more buds on the plants this year so I can enjoy the roses, too.

Although we live in the city, we have a lot of wildlife in our neighborhood.  Just this morning, right outside the kitchen window, there was a doe and her two tiny fawns, grazing in the neighbor's yard.  (Maybe she was the one that ate my roses; if so, that's OK.  She has to take care of her babies.)  There are at least two bucks in the immediate neighborhood, one of which is a really big boy with a very large rack, maybe 10 points.   Last fall, I was walking through the back yard and he was out by the lake bank with several does.  He turned, looked at me, put his head down and pawed at the ground.  Guess who went the other way.  

On the day in May that we moved the Norfolk Island pine from inside the house to  outside in the back yard, two mourning doves (Scarlet and Rhett) set up housekeeping in the next to the top branch of this tree.  So far this spring, they have had two sets of twins; the latest of which has just hatched.  There is also a robin's nest on the house next door sheltering a growing family.

Last  fall, while walking the dog, I saw a fox on the other end of the block.  He was there for well over an hour and didn't seem at all intimidated by people.  Of course, there are the skunks,  raccoons, squirrels, ground hogs, opossums and rabbits in addition to all the different birds.  It is exciting to see a bald eagle fly along the lake bank, and even more so to spot an osprey.  But I also like the blue herons and the flittery kingfisher.  

And did I mention the coyote?

Good Read; Good Movie

Although I am an avid reader of mysteries (the traditional who-dun-its, not thrillers as such), I feel I have to write about a novel I just read that doesn't even come close to this genre.  The name of this book is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, written by Mary Ann Shaffer and Anne Barrows.  The story takes place in 1946, in post-war England, and is told via letters between and among a young writer, her best friend, her agent and several residents of Guernsey.  Slowly, you begin to realize that you are learning what all these people are like and, even more important, what kind of people they are.  The story itself is wonderful, one I think women especially would really enjoy.

Then there is the movie "Secondhand Lions" with Robert Duvall and Michael Caine.  I can't believe I had never heard of this movie until a friend told me about it.  It really is entertaining, yet thought-provoking.  (What  a cliche, but I can't think of a better description right at the moment.)  If you haven't been fortunate enough to see this movie, you might want to look at your local library for a copy to take out.

I also want to recommend a website called shrewdbravado.com.  This site belongs to my nephew, Joe.  Right now, Joe is in Beijing, China, on a research grant through Georgia Tech.  He is a person who will definitely make a difference in our world. 

Who am I?

Who, or what. do I want to be when I grow up?  I think I finally know the answer to that question -- I want to be me.  I think I am leading an almost perfect life.  I can go to bed when I'm tired.  I can get up when, or if, I feel like it.  I can walk to the library and the grocery store (what else do I need except books and food?).  I have a husband who loves me unconditionally, and whom I love more than anyone or anything ( this after almost 46 years of being together).  Our dog, Tater, is not quite perfect, but he's close and he's adorable.

Outside my front door is the whole expanse of Lake Erie with its ever changing waves, multi-colored clouds and glorious sunsets.  Outside my back door is a cozy, private yard, with a gurgling fish pond and lots of colorful flowers.  I have everything I need and most of the things I want.

Of course, I still need to lose weight, I wish there were more hours in the day, and I wish I could sell my stories.  But  we all need something to look forward to.

I would also like to be more of a people person.  Instead of hiding out in the country of North Mentor, I should be out having lunch with friends, discussing politics over coffee in one of the local coffee shops, or shopping for things I may or may not need with the people in my life who like to do that sort of thing. 

As I am thinking about it, if I would do all those things, I wouldn't be me.  There would be even less hours in the day to write, garden, read, take the dog for a walk -- all those solitary things I really enjoy.  So I really don't want to be more of a people person.  I must be a fairly private person; most of my pursuits are solitary ones, and I like to be alone with Den, even if we don't talk much.  I do have friends that I enjoy; but they seem to understand and respect my need for privacy.  We don't have to see each other every day, or talk every day; but I know that if I need them, they will be there for me. 

I am constantly thankful for this life that I am leading.  I am the most fortunate of women.

Favorite Day

After much thought (at least three minutes), I have decided that Friday is my favorite day of the week.  Friday is the gateway to the weekend, and weekends are so important.  Even though Den and I have moved on to the next phase of life where we aren't required to go to a job every day, I still look forward to the weekend.  The atmosphere everywhere is more relaxed, there are more people on the streets and there is less rush, rush, rush.  At least this seems true on Saturday. 

Saturday is the almost perfect day.  It's a day off from work.  And you don't have to worry that you haven't gotten everything done at home that you meant to do before you have to go back to work on Monday.  After all, you still have Sunday to do all that.  Saturday is a day full of possibilities -- to stay out late; to get up early or to sleep in, your choice;  to go looking for bargains and treasures at yard sales; to curl up in a chair either inside or out (depending on the weather) and read a trashy novel or a classic piece of literature; to meet a friend for breakfast or lunch; to take a drive in the country; to paint a picture.  Saturday can be anything you want it to be.

Maybe that's why I like Friday -- it is  always followed by Saturday, with its infinite possibilities.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day -- it's sunny and cool outside; a would-be perfect day if the wind weren'tt blowing so hard from the northeast.  At 3PM, all across America, we are asked to stop what we are doing and to spend a moment in silence to honor our military men and women.  Many have given their lives and all have given their time (a definite part of their lives) to protect and serve our country. 

 

Why do they do it?  I'm not sure I understand,  but I believe I would also volunteer to serve.  Could some do it to make a living, or to learn a skill?  to travel? for adventure? to test oneself?  All of these things probably contribute in some way, but the most important may be to protect our country's freedoms.   I also believe that this feeling of patriotism and volunteerism carries over into our every day lives.  It is why people in this country volunteer in all sorts of ways, with all sorts of organizations.  But today we concentrate on the military.

I can only hope and pray that there are enough young people who feel this way every generation.  I hope they don't all wait, like I and others of my generation did, to realize and appreciate what we have here.  No matter what our country of origin, or our grandparents' country of origin, we are all, right this moment, Americans.  Maybe we should all reread the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.  It couldn't hurt. 

 

Having said all of that, have a great Memorial Day!

Today's Big Question -- Michael Vick

The big question today seems to be whether Michael Vick should be allowed to play football in the NFL again.  Of course he should, if he's good enough to make a team.  He served his time, took his punishment, now he should be given a chance to make good at his chosen profession, just like anyone else.  I can't help but feel that there would be no questions asked if he were a ditch digger or a farmer or even a banker.  He would be allowed to get on with his life and try to make it as good a life as possible.  

I do feel that he should never be voted in to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, even if he were the best quarterback in the history of the sport.  Maybe the Hall of Fame already has a rule about accepting no one if they are a convicted felon; if not they should have one, as should the Baseball Hall of Fame, etc.

Just for the record, I am very much a dog person, having grown up at dog shows and having dogs share my home for most of my life.  And Dog Town (where Vick's dogs were rehabilitated) seems to be a wonderful organization.  Just don't get me started on pet store puppies or designer dogs!

In the Swim

Last night as I was getting ready for bed, thoughts that really impressed me kept flying into my head; I knew exactly what I would write in my blog today.  This morning, I couldn't remember a single thing that I had thought was so important last night.  Why does this happen?  Am I the only person it happens to?  Most important, do you think, that in the future, I will write down these bedtime thoughts so I don't lose them?  Time will tell (sounds like a Gary Morris song title).  

My goal for this blog is to write at least once every week.  The weekend seems as good a time as any since I do a lot of my fiction writing during the week.  I figure the more I train myself to write, no matter what the subject is, the better writer I will become.  At least, that is my goal.  I feel that today was very productive for me in terms of my writing.  Not that I actually wrote anything, because I didn't, but that, while I was swimming, I had some good insights into the stories that I have been trying to write.  And yes, I wrote down some notes after I was done swimming.

Why Am I Doing This?

Now that I have decided to start a blog, I don't know what to write.  Makes sense to me.  At least, I finally set up a blog.  It took me a long time to decide if this was the right thing to do, or if it is simply a waste of time.  I decided I'd never know for sure unless I tried it.

Sometimes things happen in my life that seem to cry out for comment or questions, so this is where I will respond.  Sometimes there are things in the news that just beg to be talked about, whether they are important, interesting, funny or just plain idiotic.  These things will also be commented on here.  Sometimes I just have to write what I feel; I think it has something to do with my age.  As I get older, I find that I am less able to tolerate the silliness of others.  As I get older, I also realize that I will not be able to change the world like I once thought I could.  Maybe I am really writing this for me -- to allow me to organize my thoughts and try to make sense of the world, or at least my tiny section of the world.  This blog will also help to remind me how much I have to be grateful for, and how many people have been important to me.  I don't expect too many others to be interested, but I need to do this for me.