Plenipotentiary

I generally don’t post about politics here, as the current state of the Union makes me heartsick, and I don’t really want to argue with strangers about it, but lately I’ve been feeling that I have to say something. According to the most recent Gallup poll, Bush’s approval rating is 32%. The AP poll has him at 31%. That means that 68% to 69% of Americans do not agree with the Bush Administration’s policies, or think that we are accurately represented by our President. I am heartily with the majority, and am disgusted by our current government and its stated priorities. 

The recent trump by congress of Bush’s desire to ignore Turkish genocide of Armenians has both pleased me – that there are some public servants still in the government with a soul – and offended me, as Bush and his cronies attempt to bully Congress in order to preserve a refueling station and war ally. We’re talking about genocide, and the President wants to table it until after the Iraq war (?) is over, so we can get the most military use out of Turkey. Repulsive. 

Add to that the mudslinging going on with S-chip legislation (admittedly flung by both sides, and also admittedly over flawed legislation, but the GOP has big black eyes over this one), the private mercenaries employed by the Executive Branch in Iraq, the constant stomping on civil rights and liberal translation of the Constitution the Bush administration is famous for, among many, many other things, and I’m at wit’s end. 2008 can not get here fast enough for me. 

Sadly, there are no real standouts in the current crop of candidates. It’s the same hodge-podge of characters that got His Accidency elected in the first place, and then put us through it for another 4 years. Who knew after September 11 that the administration could be so colossally stupid? And what a tragic fact that the American people didn’t have many better alternatives. 

I have been trying to follow the ‘Think globally, act locally’ idea, and get involved in city council. And I try to vote wisely, and discuss wise voting with friends and loved ones. I am all about fixing the problem in this country, and this is where I have chosen to begin, as this is something real that I can do, other than complain.  I’m open to suggestions, but be warned: try to talk here like they did on Bock’s site, and I won’t even mention you before I delete you.

Hubby used to go to fishing at Lynnhaven Pier near Virginia Beach with his father when he was a boy. This weekend, we took our boys to the same place. As Hubby’s father passed away some seven years ago now, it was a nice trip down memory lane for Hubby, and a great tradition to begin with the boys.

The boys didn’t catch much. Oldest and Middle Sons each caught one, while Youngest Son was more interested in picking dead fish and crabs out of other people’s buckets. (Believe me, I scoured his hands after he decided to hug some dead fish.) But they all got to swim in the warm surf of the Atlantic, and had a ball.

They collected seashells, made new friends (Isn’t it amazing how quickly children make friends? I wish I’d never lost that skill.),  and waded so far out on the sandbars at low tide that Mom had a bit of a freak-out trying to shout them back closer to shore.

They were especially pleased when the waitress at dinner that evening dropped her tray and painted Mom with ranch dressing and small vegetables. I even had carrots in my purse. The boys thought this was the funniest thing they had ever seen. And they loved the free dessert we got for my trouble!

I mean, just check this out!

Visual Thoughts has gorgeous photos, especially of the Blue Ridge mountains.

My mother and I had the great good fortune to attend a speech by Dr. Maya Angelou last Thursday night in Charlottesville, VA. I’m not going to do a biography of her here, as there are thousands of them available, all with more information than I posess. But what I will say is this:

Maya Angelou is full of wisdom and wit, and the (occasionally hilarious, sometimes tragic, often poignant) stories of an amazing life well lived. Mom and I both left the event pondering our own lives, our own histories, our own relationship with the world. Inspirational.

Ms. Angelou also very much reminded me of my grandmother, who died last year. Feisty and committed, and sure of herself, with a quick humor. Like Maya, my grandmother had ups and downs, some hilarity, some tragedy, and much poignancy. It made me miss her very much to hear Dr. Angelou say to the air, “Someone come and move this silly thing [the podium] out of my way!” Then remonstrate the laughing audience, “If you don’t ask, you don’t receive.” Of course, a young man came and moved the podium post haste.  That moment had my grandmother’s spirit in it.

And it was a lovely time with my mother, which I don’t get much anymore. Reminded me to keep my priorities in order.

If you get the chance to hear this wonderful lady speak, take it!

And yet I’m off for another cup of coffee…

(Dooce’s dog Chuck, who is amazing at keeping things on his head.)

Never heard of this woman before. If I’d been drinking when I’d heard this, it would’ve come out my nose. Hee!! (I just wish she had a better voice.)

You GO girl!

Never again attempt to purchase anything at a WalMart on the first of the month. Ever. Gov’ment cheese day is to be avoided in such places.

Coming soon: Clarence Thomas and his whirlwind good-guy tour. Why a woman would rather commit suicide than go through airport security. And what the hell is Wilder up to? Kicking the school offices out of city hall? Is he serious? I hope (I’ve been hoping for a long time, actually) that he has a plan.

All this and more at 11:oo (am, that is. I can’t stay up to entertain y’all).

Heroes Season 2 premiered last Monday night. Couldn’t friggin believe how excited I was. Couldn’t think of anything else for a good portion of the evening. ‘Three hours to Heroes’ says my internal monologue as I’m shampooing the rug (again) (goddamn dog). ‘Two hours to Heroes!’ sings my inner child as I’m developing dishpan hands. ‘One hour! Almost there!’ shouts the sci-fi dork extraordinare lurking beneath my hausfrau veneer, as I’m praying I’ll fold enough little-boy socks from this basket to save me from doing it again this week. Then – der Tag! It’s finally HERE!

And I was so annoyed with my life and distracted by my family at this point that I couldn’t focus, and missed ALL the subtitles. I had to catch it online after the kids went to bed the next night. 

I think I understand that Peter’s alive, Nathan’s a drunk, Mama Patrelli is evil incarnate (which of course we knew), and HRG is the big-billy-bass-ass I always knew he was. Maya kills people in a really gross way, even if she doesn’t want to (I half expected to see Grissom slipping on gloves in that scene). Mohinder may not actually be a wuss. This Midas guy has potential (I liked him in Sneakers). Claire’s new boyfriend can fly (He’s called Emotard on TVGasm, which I don’t know is a fair assessment, though all that “robot” or “alien” nonsense was such an obvious demographic grab I was really disappointed in Kring.)

So here are my questions: why is Molly with Parkman and not Niki/Jessica and D.L.? (I had some cutesy ideas about Molly and Micah when they grow up.) Who’s the guy that killed George Takei? How did Nathan hit the wall so hard so fast?

These and other pressing questions will maybe be answered tonight, maybe answered this season, and maybe turned into something else entirely.

Second Ally to the Right, and Straight On Til Morning made me howl, as do most of Defective Yeti’s rants about Bush. And the Cliche Rotation Project Round II was worth waiting for. Defective Yeti has moments of sheer genius.