Today, I shopped at one of my favorite stores, not a department store, not a boutique, but a thrift store. This one is run by a Lutheran charity. I purchased a silk blouse, two cotton blouses, a pair of slacks, and earrings for around thirteen dollars. (There was a half-off sale on women's blouses.) The two cotton blouses are for my aunt, the rest for me. Lack of money and lack of clothes first drove me to thrift or used clothing stores. Soon, though, I discovered I enjoyed shopping in these stores more than regular shopping venues. I have purchased everything from shoes to underwear. One tip, if you see shoes that you like and are your size, buy them. Shoes seem to be the hardest item to find routinely.
I have five or six stores I visit regularly. Some don't have much selection, but stock a better quality or have cheaper than average prices. Others have a huge selection, but the quality and age of the clothing can be a problem. I have learned to put together looks I see in magazines or even department stores by careful shopping at several stores.
Now, I find it difficult to shop regular stores. Why pay fifty dollars for a blouse, when I can buy something similar for five? I even shop for gifts at thrift stores. To do this and get something appropriate means shopping well ahead of time and doing a lot of looking, but I have always succeeded.
Where once I used to dread shopping, I find adventure.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Presidential Candidates Yuck!
I am not enamored with any of the presidential candidates. Many of the Republics ( as long as I hear Democrat Party, I will refer to the opposition as the Republic Party) just plain scare me. I know Brownback would criminalize everything connected to embryonic stem cell research including being cured with any fruits of this research. Others would keep us in the Iraq war. Some profess not to believe in evolution. Guliani has a mixed record as mayor and a dismal record as a husband and father. I think that moral values do matter, although I do understand we are all human and fall short. We cannot demand perfection in our candidates.
The Democratic candidates are not much better. Obama sounds great, but he really lacks experience, just as our current President did. You see where inexperience got us. I still hold Clinton's health care fiasco against her. I think it was handled badly and not fought for. Then, there is her husband. He wasted his Presidency for personal gratification. How will he influence her? Edwards is probably my choice at the moment, but I don't think he can win. I think he has made some silly mistakes and not handled issues related to his money well. I suppose I favor him because of his health care proposal.
I think the real problem is the fact that both parties are influenced by special interests and big money, none of whom care what happens to the lower middle class and poor. This is a natural result because the lower socio-economic groups do not vote. In the past, unions could muster votes from the working class, but with the decline of unions, there is no motivating force. There is almost no difference between the parties. Business interests always trump consumer interests. This will continue until every day life is so bad for most people that they vote for a third party candidate. I think this will happen, first at local level, then at the national level, unless one of the parties wakes up and decides to represent the people.
The Democratic candidates are not much better. Obama sounds great, but he really lacks experience, just as our current President did. You see where inexperience got us. I still hold Clinton's health care fiasco against her. I think it was handled badly and not fought for. Then, there is her husband. He wasted his Presidency for personal gratification. How will he influence her? Edwards is probably my choice at the moment, but I don't think he can win. I think he has made some silly mistakes and not handled issues related to his money well. I suppose I favor him because of his health care proposal.
I think the real problem is the fact that both parties are influenced by special interests and big money, none of whom care what happens to the lower middle class and poor. This is a natural result because the lower socio-economic groups do not vote. In the past, unions could muster votes from the working class, but with the decline of unions, there is no motivating force. There is almost no difference between the parties. Business interests always trump consumer interests. This will continue until every day life is so bad for most people that they vote for a third party candidate. I think this will happen, first at local level, then at the national level, unless one of the parties wakes up and decides to represent the people.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Kitten Season
Kitten season is upon us. Until last week, I could say that all my cats were neutered or spayed. Now, I have a wild new kitten (male), a sweet female who must have an owner somewhere, and a female cat with three kittens. The first two simply appeared on my front porch at different times, the latter is my aunt's cat who was very pregnant when I retrieved her from my aunt's farm. I hope to find homes for all the kittens and the sweet female; my aunt's cat will return to her once the kitten's are raised and the cat spayed.
A friend of mine had a four week old kitten stow away in her wheel well. She had to have a mechanic remove the wheel to get at the kitten. Lucky for her, she found someone willing to adopt the kitten. She also discovered the source of the kitten, a mama cat with five more babies in the compound where she works. She and some co-workers are in the process of trapping the whole family. The cat and kittens will be fostered and found homes.
I have been checking veternarians in my area for the cost of spaying. Most charge exorbitant fees. I know they have to make a living, but I believe that having spay fees as a loss leader would help the community and help them bring in more business. I wonder how much veterinarians really love animals if they do not help control the population. I choose my vet on the cost of spaying a cat and a rabies shot. That way I know they really care.
A friend of mine had a four week old kitten stow away in her wheel well. She had to have a mechanic remove the wheel to get at the kitten. Lucky for her, she found someone willing to adopt the kitten. She also discovered the source of the kitten, a mama cat with five more babies in the compound where she works. She and some co-workers are in the process of trapping the whole family. The cat and kittens will be fostered and found homes.
I have been checking veternarians in my area for the cost of spaying. Most charge exorbitant fees. I know they have to make a living, but I believe that having spay fees as a loss leader would help the community and help them bring in more business. I wonder how much veterinarians really love animals if they do not help control the population. I choose my vet on the cost of spaying a cat and a rabies shot. That way I know they really care.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Evolution
I watched the View the other day. There was a discussion of evolution that deteriorated into a flat earth discussion. Very strange. I believe in the theory of evolution even though I am a born again Christian. I do not believe the two are mutually exclusive. I realize there are proponents of evolution who believe that it eliminates God. I would argue that God can choose his mechanism of creation even if it is random. I believe that God is not in time and therefore past, present and future are all one for the Creator. Many Christians would argue against evolution because they believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible. I would say you cannot limit God by the language of an ancient text that began as oral history. God chose evolution as his creative mechanism, perhaps so we could better understand the universe around us.
That evolution can be argued about still says two things: (1) the paucity of scientific knowledge in the population of the US and (2) the strength of the evangelical movement in the US. I find it sad that most people do not understand the fundamentals of science or the wonder of scientific discovery. I do not know how to change that, but I think that teaching science to the general populace will be the challenge of the century. I fear the rise of the evangelical movement because of the intolerance I find in the movement. When you believe that you know all the answers when it comes to God, you are in danger of ignoring the uncertainties of reality. Uncertainties that I believe were put in our existence deliberately by God. We must always be humble when we observe this creation whether we are evolutionist, believer, or both.
That evolution can be argued about still says two things: (1) the paucity of scientific knowledge in the population of the US and (2) the strength of the evangelical movement in the US. I find it sad that most people do not understand the fundamentals of science or the wonder of scientific discovery. I do not know how to change that, but I think that teaching science to the general populace will be the challenge of the century. I fear the rise of the evangelical movement because of the intolerance I find in the movement. When you believe that you know all the answers when it comes to God, you are in danger of ignoring the uncertainties of reality. Uncertainties that I believe were put in our existence deliberately by God. We must always be humble when we observe this creation whether we are evolutionist, believer, or both.
Monday, September 17, 2007
The Draft
Last week we should have been inundated by stories on the Iraq war, but instead O. J. Simpson and a lost British child seemed to take center stage. There are too many echoes of Viet Nam for me to feel any sense of rightness about the war. We should never have gone to war in Iraq, but we cannot leave precipitously now.
I believe we should reinstate the draft and take both men and women. Why? Because as long as the majority of Americans have no personal stake in the Iraq war, the political will for change will not be intense enough to make Congress act. Only if your flesh and blood is at risk is the war personal. Women are no less able to serve than men. There are real physical differences that have to be acknowledged, but any job a woman is physically able to handle should be open.
A draft would allow creation of a larger military and perhaps a chance to keep Afghanistan from sliding back into the hands of the Taliban. We were right to invade Afghanistan, we were wrong to turn our attention to Iraq. We had the opportunity to make a change that could have protected generations from jihad instead President Bush has made sure that Western civilization will face a threat for this entire century. How we ultimately face that threat will determine our fate.
I believe we should reinstate the draft and take both men and women. Why? Because as long as the majority of Americans have no personal stake in the Iraq war, the political will for change will not be intense enough to make Congress act. Only if your flesh and blood is at risk is the war personal. Women are no less able to serve than men. There are real physical differences that have to be acknowledged, but any job a woman is physically able to handle should be open.
A draft would allow creation of a larger military and perhaps a chance to keep Afghanistan from sliding back into the hands of the Taliban. We were right to invade Afghanistan, we were wrong to turn our attention to Iraq. We had the opportunity to make a change that could have protected generations from jihad instead President Bush has made sure that Western civilization will face a threat for this entire century. How we ultimately face that threat will determine our fate.
A draft would engage all in the choices to be made and the risks to be taken. I believe the draft provides socio-economic diversity that is not there now. All strata of society should be faced with the potential loss of loved ones.
I believe that we will be attacked here in our homeland because an open society is just too vulnerable. When that happens I am sure all levels of society will be affected. I also believe we must target our opponents narrowly. Al Queda and organizations like it deserve our full attention and the larger military a draft would provide.
I have no personal fear of an attack. Some lack of fear results from the knowledge that where I live is an unlikely target. I have a far greater reason not to fear. As a Christian, I believe in existence beyond the grave. Death is just a threshold we must all cross. I fear suffering, but even that must end. This life is but a shadow of that to come. For me, that is enough.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Kathy Griffin and the American Heart Association
I have been following the Kathy Griffin controversy in the media and online. I am offended by her lack of respect for the sincere beliefs of others. Her statement has done what I think she wanted, garner publicity and media attention, but she has helped many Christians focus on the defense of their faith. I also believe that such publicity on television pulls Christianity off the shelf and into the media spotlight. That is the positive effect.
There is a negative effect. The outrage and vitriol of many people who call themselves Christians scares me. Jesus does not need us to protect Him. He certainly does not need his followers to hate another human being or wish them ill.
What Jesus needs Christians to do is portray the faith as he would--with love for Kathy Griffin. Jesus told us even the pagans love their family and friends (I would broaden that to anyone who thinks as they do), His followers were to love their enemies. I don't believe Kathy Griffin is the enemy, only an imperfect person trying to succeed in a hostile environment. Who better to love?
On Kathy Griffin's website she designates the American Heart Association as the charity she would like to receive donations in memory of her father, John Griffin. I suggest that Christians make a donation to the American Heart Association in John Griffin's memory and simply say made in the love of Christ.
There is a negative effect. The outrage and vitriol of many people who call themselves Christians scares me. Jesus does not need us to protect Him. He certainly does not need his followers to hate another human being or wish them ill.
What Jesus needs Christians to do is portray the faith as he would--with love for Kathy Griffin. Jesus told us even the pagans love their family and friends (I would broaden that to anyone who thinks as they do), His followers were to love their enemies. I don't believe Kathy Griffin is the enemy, only an imperfect person trying to succeed in a hostile environment. Who better to love?
On Kathy Griffin's website she designates the American Heart Association as the charity she would like to receive donations in memory of her father, John Griffin. I suggest that Christians make a donation to the American Heart Association in John Griffin's memory and simply say made in the love of Christ.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Workplace Penalties for Ill Health
I caught the end of a television news story that indicated that employers are now free to discriminate against people with hypertension, weight problems and other ailments. The United States must be working on an award for heartlessness. Oh, I know. These people deserve to be punished because they brought these ailments on themselves. I think people who have never had a weight or health issue believe that. I believe that our genetics determine a great deal. I am lactose intolerant. I think I owe that malady to my native American ancestors. I also have some other ailments traceable to that ancestry. I neither smoke nor drink, but I now have a host of maladies. I used to exercise regularly, but my childhood bone disease has come back to haunt me, so I have stopped much exercise. I am overweight, so that must be my sin. Where will we stop in assessing blame for health problems? If you are born with congenital disabilities, should your parents pay? Better yet, let's test for abnormalities and require abortion, if found. We could do genetic testing, so only babies guaranteed to be perfect can live, that will reduce health insurance cost.
Our knowledge and our ethics are too imperfect for such drastic measures. I would argue the same for the punitive policies in the workplace. Too little is known of cause and effect. We cannot allow employers to winnow their employees as statistics based on science that is still imperfect. We need to treat every person as an asset, treat them as God would have us treat them, not a result in a cost benefit analysis.
Our knowledge and our ethics are too imperfect for such drastic measures. I would argue the same for the punitive policies in the workplace. Too little is known of cause and effect. We cannot allow employers to winnow their employees as statistics based on science that is still imperfect. We need to treat every person as an asset, treat them as God would have us treat them, not a result in a cost benefit analysis.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
The Caregiving Toll
I listened to Fred Thompson last night on Jay Leno. I was totally unimpressed. Actually, I am unimpressed with all the candidates, both Republican and Democratic. I need to find out the specifics of Edwards' health insurance plan. I do believe this country needs to do something about health insurance. My only hope is to hang on to sixty-five and Medicare, but it looks more and more that I won't make it. There are no rewards for taking care of others except financial ruin and ill health.
I have seen the toll caregiving takes on the caregiver in the Parkinson's support group. This country takes care of its sick by wrecking the lives of their loved ones. Texas is particularly adept at making families without significant wealth shoulder the burden because either there are no facilities or the facilities available are abhorrent.
Understand that I do not regret caring for my family members, only that I could not care for them and for myself, too. Given the same circumstances, I would do the same thing, even knowing the disastrous (for me) results.
I did learn that people with money do not wish to share it, that you are scum if you ask for monetary assistance from family or friends. The result of caring for others is that I have never been so alone. If I ever have money myself, I will be only to glad to share. I know how much a few bucks can mean.
Churches never ask how the caregiver is doing nor do they provide support. I learned that as a child when my mother was ill. Churches want no financial obligations to their members. Where does that put Christian love?
I have seen the toll caregiving takes on the caregiver in the Parkinson's support group. This country takes care of its sick by wrecking the lives of their loved ones. Texas is particularly adept at making families without significant wealth shoulder the burden because either there are no facilities or the facilities available are abhorrent.
Understand that I do not regret caring for my family members, only that I could not care for them and for myself, too. Given the same circumstances, I would do the same thing, even knowing the disastrous (for me) results.
I did learn that people with money do not wish to share it, that you are scum if you ask for monetary assistance from family or friends. The result of caring for others is that I have never been so alone. If I ever have money myself, I will be only to glad to share. I know how much a few bucks can mean.
Churches never ask how the caregiver is doing nor do they provide support. I learned that as a child when my mother was ill. Churches want no financial obligations to their members. Where does that put Christian love?
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Tracfone Woes
I am frustrated with Tracfone. I have used Tracfone for a number of years because I rarely need my cell phone, but I do want one for emergencies. At the moment, I need to add more minutes because a relative now has my cell phone number and calls me on it instead of my land line. She really burns minutes. Yes, I have explained the cost to her, but it makes no impression.
The Tracfone website is not working for me. I do not receive a full web page and cannot buy airtime as I have in the past. I don't know if it is a problem with my computer or Tracfone, but I don't have problems at other sites.
In addition, my cellphone reception in my home is almost nonexistent. I must be in my back bedroom to make or receive calls adequately. I am seriously considering using another carrier. At least, I would be able to get a new phone.
The Tracfone website is not working for me. I do not receive a full web page and cannot buy airtime as I have in the past. I don't know if it is a problem with my computer or Tracfone, but I don't have problems at other sites.
In addition, my cellphone reception in my home is almost nonexistent. I must be in my back bedroom to make or receive calls adequately. I am seriously considering using another carrier. At least, I would be able to get a new phone.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Helping Someone's Mother
Yesterday after Sunday School, I took care of someone else's mother, and I deeply resented it. I suppose I should have looked at it as an opportunity to demonstrate Christian love, but I did not. Mind you, I did not mind helping Lily(not her real name). She had no control over the actions of her daughter who left her in our Sunday School class with no instructions to anyone as to what Lily was to do after class.
All Lily could say was, "A man is supposed to come," and "I can't walk much."
Of course, no man appeared. I could not leave Lily alone in an empty classroom. (There is no class after ours.) I recruited two young men from the singles class to walk with her, and they helped her to another classroom with people who knew her. There was no sign of her daughter or the mysterious man.
With her settled, I headed for my car. I had already walked too much. I am having trouble with my hip and in pain with each step. As I reached the parking lot, one of the carts that is used to transport people from the Quad(where classes are held) to the sanctuary stopped. The young man driving, I'll call him Stan, asked if I had seen an elderly lady needing a ride. I asked if he meant Lily. Yes, came the answer. Her daughter was in the sanctuary and had sent Stan for her.
I told Stan where she was, but he seemed uncertain, so I rode in the cart as close as we could get. Stan retrieved Lily from the class. She then stated that she needed to use the bathroom. Stan asked me for help. We rode to the restroom, and I went in with Lily. As she entered the stall, it was obvious she needed help. I had taken care of my mother for many years, so I knew what to do. I got her seated, flushed the toilet in the next stall when she had trouble starting to urinate (the sound of running water usually will help a bashful bladder), helped her up ( she did wipe herself), then pulled up her panties and pants, zipped her pants and pulled down her blouse. Lily thanked me repeatedly, and I reassured her I was glad to help.
Strangely, I was glad to help her, but I was seething that her daughter was absent.
With Stan's help, I got her back in the cart, then rode with her in the cart to my car. Stan assured me he could get her into the sanctuary and seated, but probably not with her daughter who usually sat in a lower tier of seats that were inaccessible to Lily. With some concern about her alone in the sanctuary, I left. I knew physically I had reached my limit.
By the time I reached home my hip hurt so badly, I wondered if I would make it inside my house. I did and went to bed.
I am totally mystified. Why would a daughter bring her mother to church, then leave her unattended? By the way, her daughter teaches a class and leads the women's program devotionals. Perhaps, she trusts God to take care of her mother. If so, she has more faith than I ever did. Perhaps...
So, now I must struggle with my faith and my anger. "God, let me understand."
All Lily could say was, "A man is supposed to come," and "I can't walk much."
Of course, no man appeared. I could not leave Lily alone in an empty classroom. (There is no class after ours.) I recruited two young men from the singles class to walk with her, and they helped her to another classroom with people who knew her. There was no sign of her daughter or the mysterious man.
With her settled, I headed for my car. I had already walked too much. I am having trouble with my hip and in pain with each step. As I reached the parking lot, one of the carts that is used to transport people from the Quad(where classes are held) to the sanctuary stopped. The young man driving, I'll call him Stan, asked if I had seen an elderly lady needing a ride. I asked if he meant Lily. Yes, came the answer. Her daughter was in the sanctuary and had sent Stan for her.
I told Stan where she was, but he seemed uncertain, so I rode in the cart as close as we could get. Stan retrieved Lily from the class. She then stated that she needed to use the bathroom. Stan asked me for help. We rode to the restroom, and I went in with Lily. As she entered the stall, it was obvious she needed help. I had taken care of my mother for many years, so I knew what to do. I got her seated, flushed the toilet in the next stall when she had trouble starting to urinate (the sound of running water usually will help a bashful bladder), helped her up ( she did wipe herself), then pulled up her panties and pants, zipped her pants and pulled down her blouse. Lily thanked me repeatedly, and I reassured her I was glad to help.
Strangely, I was glad to help her, but I was seething that her daughter was absent.
With Stan's help, I got her back in the cart, then rode with her in the cart to my car. Stan assured me he could get her into the sanctuary and seated, but probably not with her daughter who usually sat in a lower tier of seats that were inaccessible to Lily. With some concern about her alone in the sanctuary, I left. I knew physically I had reached my limit.
By the time I reached home my hip hurt so badly, I wondered if I would make it inside my house. I did and went to bed.
I am totally mystified. Why would a daughter bring her mother to church, then leave her unattended? By the way, her daughter teaches a class and leads the women's program devotionals. Perhaps, she trusts God to take care of her mother. If so, she has more faith than I ever did. Perhaps...
So, now I must struggle with my faith and my anger. "God, let me understand."
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Dragon History
A little on dragon history, back story for my book. Dragons developed at the end of the last great age of dinosaurs from a bipedal omnivore. Their numbers grew rapidly, but dragons fought war after war and huge numbers died. One of the most pernicious practices was the killing of all relatives of an enemy. Great dragon cities were founded, then fought each other. No prisoners were ever taken. This carnage continued until about three thousand years ago when a great plague reduced the dragon population, and a female dragon came to power with the goal of ending the dragon wars. Through her lifetime and those of her daughter and granddaughter there was peace. New cities, the Dragonhomes, were founded away from humans. The Dragon Laws were promulgated. The peace did not last and fighting continued sporadically until another female dragon came to power about a thousand years ago. She was born white which is a rare color among dragons, and she possessed great powers. Now the Dragonworld waits for another white dragon to come to power. While few dragons are born white, a dragon loses color when it eats a human. If a dragon eats enough people, the dragon becomes white. Will the next ruler be a people eater?
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