Stomping loudly and yelling

Dragon Mood? -- enshrouded in my safe, stomp-resistant bubble

A certain partner, who shall remain nameless, overslept this morning. At ten after eight, she jumped out of bed, ran to the bathroom, ran to the kitchen and then ran back to the bedroom, all the while stomping loudly and repeatedly yelling, "Fuck!" as she went. (*smiling*--I couldn't help but think of the movie, "Four Weddings and a Funeral," that starts out similarly.) She had an eight o'clock meeting, which she obviously was not going to make, except that the meeting was happening at her desk, her cubicle, at her computer. Oouuuuch! Embarrassingly late.

Being the smart partner that I am, I stayed out of her way, poured coffee into her travel mug, and handed it to her carefully as she stomped her way out the front door.

Whew, bad energy! I sat down in the green plastic Adirondack chair, sipped at my coffee and played let's-tug-on-the-chew-toy with the dog.

Later, at work, my cell phone rang. I opened the clam shell and it was her. The partner who shall remain nameless. She announced, giggly and lightheartedly, that she was still alive and still had a job. But, her boss is not talking to her. Not yet, at least.

And while, it was never put out there, openly, I think the question was, "Are you talking to me? Are you still there, like the job?" Which I am, in answer to both questions.

I encouraged her to apologize to her boss. She favored silence. Silence, she explained, was the best response -- based on her assumptions about his response to her lateness. I encouraged her not to assume. Approach him, explain, validate his feelings and apologize.

Knowing her, she won't apologize. Silence trumps all rationales. (Remember, her grandmother never once apologized to her grandpa, not in sixty-plus years of unhappy wedded bliss. How many times have I heard that cautionary tale?) What do you wanna bet?

[post-posting comment: While some may see this as an unflattering portrait of the partner who shall remain nameless, I actually wrote it as a reminder to myself that things are changing. She is changing. Several years ago, I would not have received even a phone call. Like her boss, I too would have been met with silence about this morning's outburst. I'll take the call as a glass-half-full experience and give her credit for caring enough to call.]

Oh, geez -- First Anniversary!

Dragon Mood? -- embarrassing dragon memory lapse

Oh, geez -- I forgot! Today is Calypso Dragon 13's FIRST anniversary!

Hey, look -- I been bloggin' a WHOLE year!

Yippee!!!!

(I need to do my homework and figure out how to put some padding around this image.)

Sunday, Sunday

Dragon Mood? -- Sunday morning stuporous (is that a word?)
S and I stayed up late last night watching "The Forgotten," starring Julianne Moore, which sadly I found quite forgettable. Other than watching Moore's beautiful mane of red hair and the lovely porcelain-like quality of her skin, the movie was just underwhelming.

After midnight, we started watching "Searching for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe," a one-woman extravaganza starring the inimitable Lily Tomlin. I must confess I fell asleep part way through (due to the late hour), but I woke up in the middle of the "feminist" segment where Lily is channeling about six different people, including Lyn, Bob, Edie, and Marge. It is a remarkable performance. Jane Wagner, the screenwriter (and also Lily's partner), writes such snappy "dialogue" that I think I could watch this numerous times and still find more content. I would like to get a copy of this on VHS or on DVD. I don't know if it's available.

I'm going to go make some banana/blueberry/oatmeal/flaxseed bread before noon yet. That's when the game starts. You know, THE game. Then I'm going to morph into a combo rabid Spartan fan/couch potato (actually, if you must know, I'm a futon potato). I feel pretty confident that MSU can handle the Hoosiers easily, but overconfidence can be deadly, especially in college sports. Let's hope for the best!

That's all, folks!

the LAST weekend in February!

Dragon Mood? -- quivering with dragon anticipation

It's Saturday morning (one of my favorite times to blog!) AND it's the last weekend in February! Hurray!!

Here are some more things I'm excited about:

• The sun is shining here in Michigan -- always a red-letter event! A-aa-aaand, I can actually see that the days are starting to get a little longer (*sharp intake of breath*). The wheel of the seasons is turning (ever so slowly, it seems) and we are heading for lovely, delightful spring and the rebirth of God's green heaven here in Michigan.
  
• I received two contacts by headhunters this week. (Imagine that, two in one week!) While these were not sterling employment opportunities, it does tell me that my resume out on the Michigan Jobs Bank site is garnering at least some attention.
• Last night, I saw S in her new "dark rum" heavy cotton canvas duster from L.L. Bean. I bought it for her as a "Polish-wedding" extension of her birthday, a week earlier. It was a slight extravagance for me, as money is rather tight (when is it not?), but the look on her face as she modeled it for me made it a most worthwhile extravagance. Your new coat looks gorgeous on you, hon!
• Tomorrow is the anniversary of my creating Calypso Dragon 13. I have my cyber-savvy daughter, Lina, to thank for inspiring me, encouraging me and lending all kinds of technical support to my neophyte-blogging endeavors. Thanks, Lina!!
• I am still high and flying from the Spartans' great win over Wisconsin in men's college basketball Thursday evening. They beat them convincingly, 77-64. Bo Ryan, the Wisconsin team coach, tried to spin the story that he doesn't follow streaks. Bah, humbug, Bo! Go sell your kind of crazy somewhere else!

• The other part of the Spartans' win that I'm still excited about is Alan Anderson's outstanding game. I think I'm gonna have to put his cute little countenance on my blog to honor him and his unselfish, go-get-'em attitude. Yeah, Alan! (Also, a big shout-out to the photographer who took this photo, Kevin Fowler, for the Lansing State Journal.)
• I'm pleased-as-Punch (does that refer to a Punch-and-Judy puppeteering show? -- gotta check on that) about the results of felting my first knitted winter hat. I have to take a picture of the results so I can publish 'before' and 'after' pix. Hopefully, that will be soon(!)
• Poking around on the web, I have discovered a wealth of blogs and general sites devoted to knitting and knitting projects. Most of them are by women, although I discovered a webring of men knitters.
  
  
  Also, did you know there's a webring of queer knitters? Many of these sites are extremely well-done, and chockfull of great pictures, patterns and inspiration to less-experienced knitters (like me). Just looking at some of them, like knitty fires me up and inspires me to pull out my knitting needles for a just a few more rows.



• A little surrogate or "by-way-of" excitement as S prepares to become a grandma for the first time. We were (secretly) rooting for a little Aquarian, but as that is not to be, we're just hoping for a healthy baby and an easy birthing for Lindsey. We can't wait to see you and hold you, Preston!
  
• March begins Tuesday. On March 16th, S (I hope) and I will head to Wisconsin for reconnecting with our two across-the-lake children, lots of great March Madness basketball, bowls and bowls of garlic-seasoned popcorn, a beer or two (grinning), a glass or three of wine (the redder, the better!) and maybe even the presence of my dear nephew, Aaron, or his crazy-sweet mama, Ruthie. Oh, the fun we will have!
• Saturday always feels like a day full of POSSIBILITIES! To a dragon Sagittarian like myself, that alone is enough to get my adrenaline pumping. Yeah for possibilities!!!
  

a belated birthday posting

Dragon Mood? -- remembering my fear as she drank a red-headed slut

Wednesday, February 16th was S's 49th birthday. I was sick. She was ready to celebrate.

More to come, later.

Red-headed slut:
+ Jagermeister
+ Peach schnapps
+ Cranberry juice

Longing for color

Dragon Mood? -- blue with the winter blahs



If I were at the market, I would buy the happiest, most colorful bunch of flowers I could find. As a cheaper alternative, here's some play time with Photoshop.

I knew about gradients. I have played with the polygonal lasso tool. And . . . I have played with Select | Feather only a smidgeon (like pigeon?). So that's what I used.

Is it a Q? Is it a space-flying dragon silhouette? Is it energy flowing through the cosmos? Enquiring minds want to know!

... running my hands through the sand

Dragon Mood? -- loving it

... running my hands through the sand, I look up from my book, scan the water's edge for S, meandering down the beach as she does, looking for that next exquisite seashell. Gulls are wheeling overhead, screaming. Children's voices, excited, shouting, float in the wind. I close my eyes. The air is so wonderfully warm. I dig my toes further down in the sand.

(sounds of someone waking up) Uh, er, ohh. Damn, I must have fallen asleep at the keyboard. Shit, I hate when that happens! I was dreaming of being in Florida, St. Pete's, on the beach. S and I, in our annual February getaway weekend. We were sitting on some old sand chairs. I could feel the sun on my skin. The air felt warm and full of moisture, like only Florida beach air can feel.

Can you tell that I'm missing our weekend this year? Yes, you probably can. I'm missing it more than I ever would have imagined. I'm really missing the sensory stuff, the sun, the wind, the sounds. The scritchy-scratchy sound I make walking on the sand. I miss the moisture in the air and the smell of the ocean water.

I miss watching all the people walking up and down the beach. Winter residents, usually pep-steppers, march determinedly towards their centanarian birthdays while vacationing couples tend to mosey along. Some people look so focused, determined to relax and have a good time (dammit); others looking lost and dazed, like "how did I get on this beach?" Parents try to shepherd their wandering children along. It reminds me of the old saying, "trying to herd a bunch of cats." I laugh at the image.

S and I have gone to Florida for a long weekend, usually on President's Day weekend, for a number of years. I forget how many. Usually we go with our friends, J & J, who are both teachers, and thus desperately in need of a reprieve from kids and classrooms. We have an easy comraderie with them. We can go our separate ways, enjoy our space, and yet, look forward to beach time and cocktail hour with one another, replete with stories, conversations and lots of laughing.

J & J are down there now, this weekend, with our mutual friend, Kevin. I'm sure they're out on the beach, running, sunning and having a good time. I wish we were there with you guys.

Flu fog

Dragon Mood? -- battle-weary from this flu bug

It's Saturday morning and I'm sitting here at my favorite spot on Saturday mornings.

I have been ill the past three days with some damnable combo of flu and cold. Fever, chills, congestion, runny nose, body aches -- I think I've covered the gamut of symptoms. One new one is that my eyelids have ached. Suffice to say that I'm sick of being sick. I thought that I was on the upswing, but this morning I have a new tightness in my upper chest and a cough. What new surprises does this flu bug have for my body?

...she has such good taste!

Dragon Mood? -- smackin' my dragon lips

And what, you may ask, did my true love give me for Valentine's Day?


Wine Pick Of The Week:
2003 Waterbrook Columbia Valley Melange




From a Seattle news source, dated December, 2004:

Each year Wine Spectator magazine publishes a list of its choices for the year's top 100 wines. The editors cull through thousands (12,500 this year) of wines to compile the list of "most exciting wines of the year," based on "high score, large production and value pricing."

Over the years, the list has become the most anticipated and honorific of all the year-end lists. This year five Washington state wines made the honor roll, including the 2003 Waterbrook Melange, which landed a 90-point score and the No. 84 spot on the list. Not too bad when you consider the competition (No. 7 was the $155 Chateau Lafite Rothschild) and that the wine sells for $12 a bottle. The average price of the top-10 wines on the list was $95.80.

Waterbrook was founded in Walla Walla in 1984 and began production of its Melange (French for blend) red wine in 1997. In the beginning, the wine was made up of wines that didn't make it into the winery's blend of other red wines. But the wine's popularity has grown so much that grapes now are sourced specifically for this wine. Each year the blend will vary according to the availability and quality of the fruit. According to the winery, the sangiovese grapes have been playing a larger roll in the blend as it is becoming more prominent in Washington vineyards. This year the blend is composed of cabernet sauvignon, sangiovese, merlot, syrah and cabernet franc. The result is a well-made, approachable wine that's chock-full of black and red berry flavors with a hints of oak on the nose and the palate.

I drank half the bottle last night. It was superb! I will probably finish it off tonight!

My honey loves me.

Blog-cleaning, a new link and immorality

Dragon Mood? -- coughing with all the blog dust I've thrown up in the air

I'm doing a little blog clean-up this morning, deleting some links that I no longer access and adding a few that are new to me and I'm excited about.

One new blog that I've added to my links list is Question of Intelligence. I first learned of this blog over at Rayne Today, a very politically (and nutritionally) aware Michiganian's blog which I enjoy reading.

A fellow named Todd writes QOI. Among other things, he is a chorale singer, an endeavor that is very close to my heart. He has an outstanding posting from Friday that I will cite and quote (almost verbatim) here. This is a speech delivered to students at the University of Oklahoma by the minister of a Congregational (United Church of Christ) Church in Oklahoma City. Please read it.

“Whose Values?”

Dr. Robin Meyers

As some of you know, I am minister of Mayflower Congregational Church in Oklahoma City, an Open and Affirming, Peace and Justice church in northwest Oklahoma City, and professor of Rhetoric at Oklahoma City University. But you would most likely have encountered me on the pages of the Oklahoma Gazette, where I have been a columnist for six years, and hold the record for the most number of angry letters to the editor.

Tonight, I join ranks of those who are angry, because I have watched as the faith I love has been taken over by fundamentalists who claim to speak for Jesus, but whose actions are anything but Christian. We’ve heard a lot lately about so-called “moral values” as having swung the election to President Bush. Well, I’m a great believer in moral values, but we need to have a discussion, all over this country, about exactly what constitutes a moral value—I mean what are we talking about? Because we don’t get to make them up as we go along, especially not if we are people of faith. We have an inherited tradition of what is right and wrong, and moral is as moral does.

Let me give you just a few of the reasons why I take issue with those in power who claim moral values are on their side:

* When you start a war on false pretenses, and then act as if your deceptions are justified because you are doing God’s will, and that your critics are either unpatriotic or lacking in faith, there are some of us who have given our lives to teaching and preaching the faith who believe that this is not only not moral, but immoral.

* When you live in a country that has established international rules for waging a just war, build the United Nations on your own soil to enforce them, and then arrogantly break the very rules you set down for the rest of the world, you are doing something immoral.

* When you claim that Jesus is the Lord of your life, and yet fail to acknowledge that your policies ignore his essential teaching, or turn them on their head (you know, Sermon on the Mount stuff like that we must never return violence for violence and that those who live by the sword will die by the sword), you are doing something immoral.

* When you act as if the lives of Iraqi civilians are not as important as the lives of American soldiers, and refuse to even count them, you are doing something immoral.

* When you find a way to avoid combat in Vietnam, and then question the patriotism of someone who volunteered to fight, and came home a hero, you are doing something immoral.

* When you ignore the fundamental teachings of the gospel, which says that the way the strong treat the weak is the ultimate ethical test, by giving tax breaks to the wealthiest among us so the strong will get stronger and the weak will get weaker, you are doing something immoral.

* When you wink at the torture of prisoners, and deprive so-called “enemy combatants” of the rules of the Geneva Convention, which your own country helped to establish and insists that other countries follow, you are doing something immoral.

* When you claim that the world can be divided up into the good guys and the evil doers, slice up your own nation into those who are with you, or with the terrorists—and then launch a war which enriches your own friends and seizes control of the oil to which we are addicted, instead of helping us to kick the habit, you are doing something immoral.

* When you fail to veto a single spending bill, but ask us to pay for a war with no exit strategy and no end in sight, creating an enormous deficit that hangs like a great millstone round the necks of our children, you are doing something immoral.

* When you cause most of the rest of the world to hate a country that was once the most loved country in the world, and act like it doesn’t matter what others think of us, only what God thinks of you, you have done something immoral.

* When you use hatred of homosexuals as a wedge issue to turn out record numbers of evangelical voters, and use the Constitution as a tool of discrimination, you are doing something immoral.

* When you favor the death penalty, and yet claim to be a follower of Jesus, who said an eye for an eye was the old way, not the way of the kingdom, you are doing something immoral.

* When you dismantle countless environmental laws designed to protect the earth which is God’s gift to us all, so that the corporations that bought you and paid for your favors will make higher profits while our children breathe dirty air and live in a toxic world, you have done something immoral. The earth belongs to the Lord, not Halliburton.

* When you claim that our God is bigger than their God, and that our killing is righteous, while theirs is evil, we have begun to resemble the enemy we claim to be fighting, and that is immoral. We have met the enemy, and the enemy is us.

* When you tell people that you intend to run and govern as a “compassionate conservative,” using the word which is the essence of all religious faith-compassion, and then show no compassion for anyone who disagrees with you, and no patience with those who cry to you for help, you are doing something immoral.

* When you talk about Jesus constantly, who was a healer of the sick, but do nothing to make sure that anyone who is sick can go to see a doctor, even if she doesn’t have a penny in her pocket, you are doing something immoral.

* When you put judges on the bench who are racist, and will set women back a hundred years, and when you surround yourself with preachers who say gays ought to be killed, you are doing something immoral.

I’m tired of people thinking that because I’m a Christian, I must be a supporter of President Bush, or that because I favor civil rights and gay rights I must not be a person of faith. I’m tired of people saying that I can’t support the troops but oppose the war. I heard that when I was your age—when the Vietnam War was raging. We knew that that war was wrong, and you know that this war is wrong—the only question is how many people are going to die before these make-believe Christians are removed from power?

This country is bankrupt. The war is morally bankrupt. The claim of this administration to be Christian is bankrupt. And the only people who can turn things around are people like you—young people who are just beginning to wake up to what is happening to them. It’s your country to take back. It’s your faith to take back. It’s your future to take back.

Don’t be afraid to speak out. Don’t back down when your friends begin to tell you that the cause is righteous and that the flag should be wrapped around the cross, while the rest of us keep our mouths shut. Real Christians take chances for peace. So do real Jews, and real Muslims, and real Hindus, and real Buddhists—so do all the faith traditions of the world at their heart believe one thing: life is precious. Every human being is precious. Arrogance is the opposite of faith. Greed is the opposite of charity. And believing that one has never made a mistake is the mark of a deluded man, not a man of faith.

And war—war is the greatest failure of the human race—and thus the greatest failure of faith. There’s an old rock and roll song, whose lyrics say it all: War, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing.

And what is the dream of the prophets? That we should study war no more, that we should beat our swords into plowshares and our spears into pruning hooks. Who would Jesus bomb, indeed? How many wars does it take to know that too many people have died? What if they gave a war and nobody came? Maybe one day we will find out.

Halfway through my R & R weekend

Dragon Mood? -- up early and contented this beautiful Sunday morning

I thought I would be posting every day of my four-day lo-o-oong weekend, but Friday and Saturday have already slipped away.

Friday, S chauffeured me to ThreadBear, where we spent two-and-a-half hours! The incredible colors and texture of all those yarns was like candy to my eyes, silk to my fingers. Actually I did buy some silk yarn, recycled sari silk, if you can imagine! Wow!

Saturday, we took a drive over to the produce place on the other side of town, bought bunches of alstromeria, coffee and beer (Warsteiners, of course!) and then visited son, Mark, and very-pregnant Lindsey in their new home near the hospital.

We got home in time to watch the Spartans totally dominate the Wolverines for another win, 64-49.

Late last night, S and I watched "Runaway Jury" on HBO. Neither of us had ever seen it. It was suspenseful, even if it did seem rather implausible. I had never seen Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman in a movie together. Their best scene together is in the men's bathroom. And then there's Jon Cusack. He has this odd quality of looking a little scary even while he's supposed to be the good guy. I'm not familiar with the actress, Rachel Weisz, but her role seemed a stretch for the imagination, too. Altogether, a curious movie.

It sure is great to have some time off.

It's a Good Day

I'm feeling particularly happy today.

And here are some of the reasons:

-- I got my "numbers" back from my labwork last Saturday. They are excellent! My cholesterol dropped over 100 points! My insulin is back in the normal range (barely). My cholesterol-to-HDL ratio puts me in the "half the normal" risk group! I couldn't have dreamed they would be this good!

-- The Spartans beat the Buckeyes last night, 83-69! S and I listened to the game on the radio, her catching up on the latest issue of Newsweek and me madly practicing my continental knitting on my felted hat project. It was an exciting way to spend the evening and a lovely way to be together.

-- Today is my last work day of the week. I have tomorrow (Friday) off and Monday, Valentine's Day, as well. I am so-o-oo looking forward to a four-day weekend, to take care of me!

-- I am excited about going to a new knitting store that I've heard about, a place called ThreadBear Fiber Arts. I hear they have nice yarns there. I have a quick-knit project in mind for a certain partner who shall remain nameless who is about to have a birthday!

-- And finally, the sun is supposed to show its shining face today, and in Michigan, that is always a red-letter day!

New links EVERYWHERE!

Dragon Mood? -- a little dragon-dizzy

At Rayne Today, I found a reference to tagging and social bookmarks. One site mentioned was del.icio.us.

I still don't pretend to understand the small or large implications of this "new" thing, but from there, I did find a link to zoto.com, which is currently in beta-testing. I signed right up and am exploring that, as well.

Exciting developments to be sure!

An auspicious day

• Today is the Chinese New Year. It is the Year of the Green Rooster!
  
  Gung Hey Fat Choy ("Wishing you Prosperity and Wealth")!

• Today is Ash Wednesday.

• Today the Spartans host the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Breslin Center.

• Today is Wendishday!

My last two weekends

Dragon Mood? -- weary


It's Monday morning and I'm heaving a sigh of relief just to be back at work.

I know, I know . . . that sounds crazy. But the past two weekends have been so devoid of quiet, rest and "down-time," that I am tired, emotionally worn and longing for some time just for me. Moments ago, I submitted a request to my supervisor for time off this next Friday and Monday. I want a long weekend, four days just for me.

The earlier weekend I spent up north, with S and two of her sons, Tim and Matthew, helping Sally and Grandma move into their new home. Now helping two older women move (you may be thinking) is not such a big deal. That is true for Grandma. She has moved enough times over the years, basically likes some order to her household, and she was reasonably prepared. Grandma is 89.

Sally, on the other hand, is a packrat of a different hoard. She had not moved for over 30-plus years. She loves to collect antiques, antique glass, antique crystal, fabric, yarn, Thomas Kinkade "art," (yes, I had to think about putting his name in front of that word), stamps, gee-gaws and many other things that you and I (sensibly) would have trashed long ago.

I personally believe that Sally has some sort of disease that contributes to her need for "things" and her inability to get rid of things when she doesn't need them. She needs them all and becomes quite anxious and indignant if challenged on that premise.

Moving Sally's things into this charming, new house was akin to realizing that you're losing a war. At first, we were able to keep some order, put things where they hopefully needed to be; eventually, however, we were simply overwhelmed by the quantity of stuff and not enough space to store it. Closets, rooms and then any horizontal surface were filled . . . to the brim . . . overflowing . . . claustrophobic. It was hard, it was demoralizing, and finally, it was downright depressing.

We worked, a party of anywhere from five to eight adults, 12 hours, both Saturday and Sunday. We quit, we ate soup, and then we all gathered our tired tails, and headed to our respective homes.

Then there was this weekend, the one we just finished. S and I couldn't wait for the weekend, to rest, to recuperate, to just have some quiet, relaxing time for ourselves.

WwroNNNNNGGG! Nope, instead we ran around shopping for a baby shower gift, played hosts somewhat unexpectedly to Sally and Grandma Saturday night and Sunday, and attended a four hour-long baby shower.

I know that I sound like I'm whining and being a "bad sport," but I really wanted and needed some time to myself. I didn't get it, so now I'm gonna whine.

Ranked #10

Hokey smokes, Bullwinkle! The Spartans are ranked #10 this week in the USA Today/ESPN Poll!

Yeah, Spartans! Go Green, go White!

Wear Red on February 4th

Dragon Mood? -- dragon-heart empathizing



Today is the National "Go Red for Women" day. Learn more about the #1 killer of women at this site.

Quote

Dragon Mood? -- in agreement

From the New York Times:

"We all want success in Iraq, especially us who lost sons. To see the Iraqi people thumbing their nose at insurgents and terrorists and saying, 'We're going to go vote,' there's a sense of pride and yet it can be sobering."
NELSON CARMAN, whose 20-year-old son died while fighting in Iraq.

I am in Texas this morning

Dragon mood? -- a little bit sad

I am in Texas this morning in my thoughts. My uncle's wife, Liz, died Tuesday night of pneumonia, after a heart attack a month ago and after living in a nursing home for the past eight months because of her Alzheimer's disease.

None of us wanted to prolong Liz's existence, which frankly was not all that great. While she was loved and cared for, the Liz I knew and loved was gone, replaced with a child-like clone that stared rather vacantly at me when I visited.

The Liz I remember was vibrant and jovial and she had a great laugh. She was warm and effusive. She couldn't tell a story or a joke without grabbing you on the arm to punctuate the best part of it.

I never saw the pre-Alzheimer's Liz without her talking about my mother and what wonderful memories Liz had of her. With Liz's death, that is one of the biggest losses for me.

People are gathering this morning, just about now, to view her body together, as a family. The public visitation begins in about an hour. The funeral will be tomorrow morning, at the church in Warda, and she will be buried tomorrow afternoon, next to her first husband (I presume) in Nassau Bay, outside of Houston.

I grieve for you, Uncle George, and celebrate the love that you and Liz shared for too short of a time. I commend you for loving her and caring for her right up until the end. I wish you some quietness of your heart and peacfulness in your soul. You certainly deserve that.

Not in church on a Sunday morning

Dragon Mood? -- dragons don't fit in churches

Rayne Today has an interesting post about the "religion thing." I had to comment, of course.

And then, I found this quote which is so much closer to where I am spiritually:

I once listened to an Indian on television say that God was in the wind and the water, and I wondered at how beautiful that was because it meant you could swim in [God] or have [God] brush your face in a breeze.

-- altered quote from Donald Miller, "Blue like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality"

Hildegarde of Bingen also speaks about God as "moisture." I shared that with my dentist after he took his hands out of my mouth. "Everytime I breathe and fog up your little mirror that you put inside my mouth, did you know that is God?" I'm pretty sure he made a note on my chart about being a religious nut-case.

Ethics in Blogging

Dragon Mood? -- nodding sagaciously

Here's an article about blogging and ethical standards from the Freep:

...The growing influence of blogs ... is raising questions about whether they are becoming a new form of journalism and in need of more formal ethical guidelines or codes of conduct.

...So far, many bloggers resist any notion of ethical standards, saying individuals ought to decide what's right for them. After all, they say, blog topics range from trying to sway your presidential vote to simply talking about the day's lunch.

...Many bloggers believe standards of practices are inevitable, even if they aren't something formalized in writing.

As a relative newcomer to the blogosphere, I agree with the last sentence of the quotation. While not formalized, I think a generally recognized standard of etiquette and conduct, as well, will eventually prevail among bloggers.

Loving the snow!

While I have lived virtually my entire life in the north, I don't believe I've ever loved the snow so much I wanted to roll in it!

The photo is from this website.

speaking of Chuck . . .

Dragon Mood? -- thinking daredragon-y thoughts

On doing daredevil-y things that one probably shouldn't try:

His ego writing checks his body can't cash

From the incomparable dooce.com

Google, the New Year and Photoshop

Dragon Mood? -- hey, it's still January -- better late than never!




I found reference to this image on Eszter's blog. I'm inspired and a bit envious. That's the kind of work I would like to do in Photoshop!

Kudos to the Google graphic designer who thunk it up!

Longing for the sun

Dragon Mood? -- pale




Is it enough to say that I live in Michigan?

[Thanks to this site for the image.]

Dr. Ernest Drake's Dragonology

I received this dragon-lovely book from my dragon-child, Carolina.

You are seeing the cover, the image hardly doing justice to the richness and sheer lusciousness of it. It is deeply embossed, heavy book stock with three green orbs imbedded around the center circle. The interior, cover to cover, is full of the eminent Dr. Ernest Drake's knowledge and advice to would-be dragonologists regarding the study and pursuit of dragons. Here's an example:

Spell to Catch a Dragon
Take a mirror and sprinkle it with dragon dust. Then place a sapphire or other treasure outside the dragon's lair. When the dragon emerges to investigate the gemstone, quickly bring out the mirror so that the dragon see its own reflection. Cry, "Ecce Narcisso Dragonus Attractivae!" This spell will tame the dragon -- but watch out when it wears off! (For a small sample of dragon dust, see Appendix II.)

As a full-fledged metal dragon myself (metal, I believe in the Chinese astrological system?), I am thoroughly enjoying reading Dr. Drake's well-informed publication.

All dragons would do well to read this timely treatise.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dragon Mood? -- remembering

Today is the national holiday where we, as a people, remember the contributions of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. King advocated and agitated for civil rights for African-Americans. Most African-Americans' ancestors were brought to this country in bondage, existing and struggling their entire lives as slaves. While African-Americans were granted their freedom under Abraham's Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, they continued to be enslaved and oppressed by white Americans through segregation and racial discrimination for the next 100 years.

Dr. King came to the forefront nationally in the early 1960's, advocating civil rights through non-violent means. He was an eloquent speaker, who challenged peoples' acceptance of de facto segregation and encouraged all people to work for change through non-violent civil disobedience.

He was assassinated in the spring of 1968 by a white man from Tennessee, James Earl Jones.

What would Dr. King say if he were alive today? Have we, as a people, made any progress? What more can be done?

And, what would Dr. King say about the comedian/speaker Bill Cosby's recent comments in Detroit regarding parenting in the black community?

A shout out to . . .

Dragon Mood? -- dragon-mama snorts a little love-fire on her dragon-child!

A shout out to Wild Wend, who posted a week ago, after a long, long blog-coma. She not only posted once, but thrice! Wow!

I have tried very hard as her maternal parental unit NOT to bug her, but she is the person I credit with introducing ME to blogs. And that blogging world is huge! And so very cool!

Anyway, Wild Wend, I don't know when you will see this or if you will see this, but I sure enjoyed reading your posts (as I always do/did/have done) and hope that you continue to post. Run and hide from the blog-coma, run, run!!!

Looking westward

Dragon Mood? -- why am I not surprised?

Here's an article popping up on Google News from the CIA’s National Intelligence Council (NIC), called “Mapping the Global Future.” It says, in a nutshell, that Asia will dominate the 21st century, in much the same way that the United States dominated the 20th century.

"A combination of sustained high economic growth, expanding military capabilities, and large populations will be at the root of the expected rapid rise in economic and military power for both countries."

The report stated that "although the US will still remain the world’s dominant economy and military power, ... its authority may be reduced because of the growing clout of India and China, and possibly some other nations like Brazil and Indonesia." (In other words, to all Americans, "We'll still be powerful, even if we're less powerful!")

To that same end, I saw a brief clip on ABC News last night about North Korea. Evidently, the North Koreans have extended an olive branch to the U.S., as long as the U.S. does not disparage Kim Jong Il. The videotape showed massive military parades in Hanoi, with thousands and thousands of North Korean soldiers goose-stepping double-time through a plaza. It honestly gave me chills. There were so many of the soldiers, so identical in their dark uniforms, so reminiscent of old-time footage of Nazis in the 1940s. I hope Bush and company can except this olive branch and keep any undiplomatic comments to themselves.

Killer Fog

Dragon Mood? -- astounded



This photo was taken on I-96 between the Okemos and Webberville exits. A stretch just down the road from the stretch I used to drive every day!

I left work last night at 5:45 and the first thing I noticed was how warm the air was. My car thermometer registered an outside temperature of 49 degrees! There is a wooded field next to the parking area and there was the most ethereal, mystical-looking fog floating out of that wooded, snow-covered field towards my car. It was beautiful.

From the photo above, obviously, also pretty deadly.

[As a footnote: this morning, driving to work, the outside temperature was 57 degrees. Fifty-seven degrees, in Michigan, on January 13th! Wow!]

Healthy Son

Over the holidays, we talked quite a bit about all the health issues that I have been dealing with the past several months. Josh told me that he had a physical recently.

I called him this morning on a separate matter and he said that he had gotten the results of his lab work back. Here are his numbers:

• cholesterol: 158

• HDL: 77

• LDL: 67

• triglycerides: 68

Wow! I didn't know someone could have such good numbers! I have a disgustingly healthy son. His good health is a blessing in my life . . . and I am a happy Mamacita.

C Reactive Protein

From the New York Times Editorial page:

"The evidence has gotten much stronger that a substance known as C-reactive protein may be every bit as important as cholesterol in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. Back in 2002, a thought-provoking study found that a blood test for C-reactive protein, called CRP, was actually better than the standard cholesterol test at predicting the risk of a heart attack or a stroke. Now two studies published in The New England Journal of Medicine have shown that drugs that reduce the levels of that protein in patients with severe heart disease can slow the progression of atherosclerosis and prevent heart attacks and cardiac-related deaths."


"...After years of focusing on the role of cholesterol in clogging arteries, researchers now recognize C-reactive protein, a measure of inflammation in artery walls and elsewhere, as a prime risk factor in its own right."

"The key study published last week found that heart disease patients who were given high doses of a cholesterol-lowering statin drug also experienced a drop in CRP levels and in heart attacks. Thus the high-dose statin packed a double wallop..."

Kudos to my primary physician who has been checking my CRP for some time now. Last October, it was 3-1/2 to 4 times the level it should be. Something, somewhere, inside my body is INFLAMED!!

Uphill or Downhill?

My wild Wend daughter, Carolina, just sent me a link for this article.

In a nutshell, this Austrian researcher found that walking downhill may lower sugar levels and walking uphill may reduce triglyceride levels in a person's bloodstream.

While I don't have any Alps to hike up, I guess I could certainly benefit by walking up stairs on a more regular basis.

My new H-P toy

And while I don't have a new puppy, I do have a new toy -- thanks to my honey, S.

She gave this Hewlett-Packard rz1715 iPAQ, more commonly known as a PDA, to me for Christmas -- a total surprise, I might add! It does the usual stuff like calendars and contacts and to-do lists, but it also does photos and music and games! Very cool! I'm excited about having instant access to images that I really like!

After a rather rough start with it (why do new electronic toys always involve some sort of software or hardware hiccup? why?), I think I'm going to enjoy my new iPAQ immensely!

Coveting the First Lady's puppy

S and my kids and my friends and most of the world know that I would LOVE to have a Scottie. Because of numerous extenuating circumstances, including our aging and highly jealous pooch, Cisco, S and I have decided to put off pursuing a puppy, at least for now. Very logical, very commonsensical.

But when I saw the pictures above, part of me wailed, "I WAAAAA-nt one!"

By the way, her name is Miss Beazley.

Tsunami aftermath -- Two week update

Dragon Mood? -- still can't get these dragon arms around it

Salon reports that two weeks after the devastating tsunami that struck many countries around the Indian Ocean, there are over 150,000 dead and thousands still missing.

"In a rare positive note, the World Health Organization said no major disease outbreaks have been reported in the crowded camps where millions have sought refuge after losing everything."

When I try to hold these poor people in my heart and mind, I feel completely overwhelmed. God ... help them.

Cisco / Bed . . . Cisco / Bed ???

Dragon Mood? -- a dangerous combination: fatigue and fire-breathing

I am going to bed!

I am GOING to bed!

I am GOING to bed!

[This is a record of my conversation with the dog, as she shoves my mouse-manipulating right arm with her singularly powerful nose, trying to induce me to take her for a pre-midnight walk around the neighborhood.]

I guess I told her!

Easy Rider -- 35 years later

Dragon Mood? -- "uh . . . like groovy, mannnnnn!"

S and I just watched "Easy Rider" on the AMC channel. You know that was made in 1969? (I looked it up on the imdb website.)

What a trippy film! I honestly don't remember going to see it, but what do I know? I was seventeen at the time, dating my ex-husband and at that time, movies usually were for making out, not watching!

First of all, Peter Fonda has got to be the cleanest, most nicely-coiffed hippie guy I ever saw. Dennis Hopper is a little more authentic. Was this a satire on the hippie generation? Or was it a commentary on the rest of America, with their small-town parades, obnoxious rednecks and self-righteous law enforcement? I'm really not sure.

My favorite part, hands down, was the campfire conversation between the young and handsome George Hansen (Jack Nicholson, in all his youthful swagger) and Dennis Hopper. They talked about satellites, Venutians marrying into the earthly population, freedom, challenging the status quo and the dangers inherent in doing so. I could listen to it again!

The whole first half, in contrast, felt like a paeon to the beauty and natural wonders of western America. I wonder if that helped contribute to the founding of the first Earth Day, on May 1st, 1970?

Wow, do I feel old or what? (laughing)

Insulin resistance and --of all things-- vinegar!

It's Friday morning and I'm happy that the first week back "in the saddle" is almost over. Returning to the daily and weekly routine is always hard after the holidays and after time off from work. But with the erratic hours, hit-or-miss exercising and, dare I say, undisciplined eating, my body is relieved to be back in some routine.

I finally had a chance yesterday to do some investigation of "insulinemia," which appears to also be referenced as "insulin resistance," "insulin sensitivity," or most ominously, "Syndrome X." I was stunned at how many web-like connections there are between insulin resistance and --ready?-- diabetes, coronary artery disease, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), high blood pressure, high cholesterol, abdominal fat, and . . . well, the list seems to go on and on.

From there, I also "googled" my way to a reference about drinking a small amount of vinegar (mixed with water and optionally, some saccharine) before meals to help the body recognize the insulin that it's producing, and thus, ward off the blood-sugar spikes that occur for diabetics after eating a high carbohydrate meal.

I went home last night, cracked open a wonderful bottle of muscatel wine vinegar from the ever-delighting Zingerman's and had my vinegar "cocktail." It made me grimace, it made me shiver, but it was also surprisingly invigorating. And the wine in the vinegar definitely helped the flavor!

I am going to a luncheon today for a departing colleague, and safely tucked away in my pouch purse is a small leakproof container of wine vinegar and water! Cheers!!

quinoa

Dragon Mood? -- happy dragon tummy

While this may sound strange, I've been wanting to blog about quinoa.

What the heck is that? Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) is a rather plain-looking grain that I capriciously picked up that turns out to be a superhero in disguise. Like most middle-aged, slightly overweight people with high cholesterol, high triglycerides AND insulinemia, I'm trying to eat more whole grains. (And like many middle-aged folks, I have a slight and foggy memory that someone mentioned it to me first. Is that true?)

[I do have to laugh, because I have truly come full circle. When I was young, married and idealistic, my husband and I were vegetarians. I worked at the local food co-op twice a week, for both philosophical and economic reasons. Then we started eating meat, he voted Republican, I got divorced . . . and now look: I'm back to eating whole grains. Isn't life funny?]

Since I'm no nutritional expert, here's what Whole Health MD has to say:

Nutritionally, quinoa might be considered a supergrain--although it is not really a grain, but the seed of a leafy plant that's distantly related to spinach. Quinoa has excellent reserves of protein, and unlike other grains, is not missing the amino aicd lysine, so the protein is more complete (a trait it shares with other "non-true" grains such as buckwheat and amaranth). The World Health Organization has rated the quality of protein in quinoa at least equivalent to that in milk. Quinoa offers more iron than other grains and contains high levels of potassium and riboflavin, as well as other B vitamins: B6, niacin, and thiamin. It is also a good source of magnesium, zinc, copper, and manganese, and has some folate (folic acid).

An ancient grainlike product that has recently been "rediscovered" in this country, quinoa has a light, delicate taste, and can be substituted for almost any other grain.

There's more good stuff about quinoa, but suffice to say it's on my eating list now, along with golden flaxseed and good ol' oatmeal.

I want to compliment Carolina, who fixed quinoa for all of us over the New Year's weekend. She said she cooked it like oatmeal, adding a touch of brown sugar and a pinch of black pepper, along with a handful of craisins (dried, raisin-like cranberries?) It was positively yummy! Thanks, Lina!

Our thieving dog and the sausage caper

We woke up Monday morning to find the dog scratching to be let into the house from the porch. There, lying on the floor of the porch was a big ol' sausage, at least a pound-and-a-half, if not two pounds. It looked like Cisco had begun nibbling on one end of it.

S just called me, alerting me to an article in the Free Press today entitled, "Alleged sausage theft could be a call for help."

Now, along with everything else, we have to worry about our kleptomaniac dog???

People of the Year: Bloggers

According to ABC News and PC World, 2004 was a big year for blogs!

Here's what PC World has to say:

Last year proved big for blogs and bloggers, according to data released from The Pew Internet & American Life Project.

Blog readership jumped 58 percent between February and November, and comprised 32 million U.S. citizens in 2004. More than 8 million U.S. citizens have created a Web-based diary, and one in 10, or around 14 million U.S. Internet users, has contributed thoughts or comments to a blog.

The figures released by the Pew Research Center are just the latest in a series of studies on the growth of blogs on the Internet, and show that the online diaries are becoming important sources of information for Internet users."

Interestingly, I started this blog in February of 2004 (thanks to my wildwend daughter!) and have been happily blogging ever since. In fact, I have started four blogs (one of which expired in its infancy).

All of this tells me, if I'm feeling the need to be a part of something larger than myself, well . . . the blogosphere is definitely that!

New Year, new additions

Dragon Mood? -- expansive??

In the spirit of a new year, amidst all the new technology which I am surrounded (and trying to embrace), I added a site meter to Calypso Dragon 13, which at this moment, I am unable to see!

Stay tuned, folks!

("Pay no attention to that man behind the screen," booms the Great and Powerful Oz.)

Seismic monitoring

Dragon Mood? -- ???

Rayne Today, a blog that I enjoy reading, has a great graphic from the IRIS Seismic Monitor website regarding the tsunami.

Check it out.

As the year slows to a close

Dragon Mood? -- warm dragon thoughts

Those I'm thinking about:

• people in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and all the coastal areas impacted by the tsunami. Also, the many travellers visiting those areas who are simply gone
• Sarah the Elder, more widely known as Sally, who turns 69 today. Happy Birthday, Sally!
• Sarah the Younger, known as Sarah, who hopefully will finalize her choice today and purchase a wedding gown. Congratulations and my very best wishes to you, Sarah!
• My children, Lina and Yosh, who returned from Arizona Monday, are currently catching their respective breaths, and who I hopefully will see late Thursday night or Friday morning. I am gathering guardian angels with my thoughts, and prayerfully asking for their fierce protection as my chicklets travel through hazardous winter roads to get here. Be safe!
• My dear partner, S, as she sleeps right now, resting and repairing from the cumulative bumps and bruises of daily life. Soon, I will make a pot of coffee, pour her a cup and wake her with the invitation, "I have a nice hot cup of coffee for you, honey."

I am holding all of you in my heart and hoping for your well-being.

A thought from my dad . . .

Dragon Mood? -- hmmm

Happy moments, praise God.

Difficult moments, seek God.

Quiet moments, worship God.

Painful moments, trust God.

Every moment, thank God.

Tsunami

Dragon Mood? -- troubled

I wanted to post some light-hearted words in this 'tween-time after Christmas and before the New Year's celebrations. But with news of this horrific tsunami that has hit so many coastal areas on the Indian Ocean, it just doesn't feel quite right to do so.

CNN is reporting over 33,000 dead this morning. That is ten times the number of people who died on 9/11.

I am embarrassed to say that I had to look at a map to understand how a tsunami could affect so many different places. I wasn't sure exactly where Indonesia is located. I had never heard of Myanmur (it used to be Burma).

Here's a graphic from a Chinese newspaper:

(The clarity on the image isn't great, but it will have to do.)

I am holding all those grieving survivors in my heart. What a tragedy!


[Update as of 12:15 p.m. EST: the news wires are now updating the death toll from the tsunami:

• Indonesia: 27,174

• Sri Lanka: 17,640

• India: 8,523

• Thailand: 1,516

• Myanmar: 90

• Malaysia: 65

• Maldives: 55

• Bangladesh: 2

• Somalia 100

• Tanzania 10

----------------------------

• Total: 55,175
  

Again, this tsunami has caused incredible destruction, devastation and loss of life.]

Winter Solstice

The sun, nearing winter solstice, travels low across the sky, from sunrise, at left, to sunset, in this multiple-exposure made at the Marshall Point Light, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2002, in St. George, Maine. The sun's position is recorded at 50-minute intervals during the short nine-hour day.
(Photo by Robert F. Bukaty)

Which gives lie to the ancients' description of solstice as "sun-standing-still."

Thanks to this site.

Winter Solstice and a Birthday Approaches

Dragon Mood? -- revelling in the season

I've got Christmas music on this morning. I grew up on Mantovani and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir playing in my parents' six-foot long, 60's-style stereo cabinet. For me, however, it's Cocktail Lounge and Tejano Country music this frigid morning.

And I'm preparing for the Winter Solstice and the celebration of the baby Jesus' birth.

This year, the winter solstice will occur at 12:42 UT (Universal Time -- more commonly known as Greenwich Mean Time) on December 21st. If my calculations are correct, that is 7:42 am EST for us folks here in the Mitten State. (See this site.) I just learned this morning that solstice means "standing-still-sun." Cool, huh?



At the Candlegrove site, the author says, "Many, many cultures the world over perform solstice ceremonies. At their root: an ancient fear that the failing light would never return unless humans intervened with anxious vigil or antic celebration."

Whch is deplorable to say the least. Even before Christianity, people were gripped by fear. Fear of a disappearing sun. Fear of the cold. Fear for their survival. My take: the early shapers of Christianity jumped on the fear bandwagon, because that was what people were used to, and looky there, it worked.

And then we have the baby Jesus' birthday celebration. My earliest memories of December, of winter, are focused entirely around Christmas (the Christ-Mass, the worship of the Messiah, the Anointed One). I just read somewhere here recently how powerful the symbols of Christmas are. Where was that? Ah, yes, here.

...the Nativity narratives are the subject of ongoing scholarly debate over their historical accuracy, their theological meaning and whether some of the central images and words of the Christian religion owe as much to the pagan culture of the Roman Empire as they do to apostolic revelation.

...The power of the Nativity message—that a helpless child is in fact a heavenly king—lies in its consistent pattern of reversal, of making the weak strong, the humble mighty. The stable, the manger and the swaddling of Jesus are such theological touches.

Yes, these are powerful images in the story of Jesus' birth: the shocking appearance of angels, guiding stars in the sky, humble people exalted, the manger scene replete with donkeys and cows, the lowly shepherds, the Wise Men seeking out a baby, a frightening getaway to Egypt. The cynical part of me thinks that Hollywood screenwriters could never sell such an outlandish story.

And yet, these are part and parcel of me and my childhood memories.

Here's a cool quote regarding Christmas:

"Shall we liken Christmas to the web in a loom? There are many weavers, who work into the pattern the experience of their lives. When one generation goes, another comes to take up the weft where it has been dropped. The pattern changes as the mind changes, yet never begins quite anew. At first, we are not sure that we discern the pattern, but at last we see that, unknown to the weavers themselves, something has taken shape before our eyes, and that they have made something very beautiful, something which compels our understanding."
--Earl W. Count, "4,000 Years of Christmas"

[The picture above was taken the morning of the 2000 Winter Solstice near Ames, Iowa. The halo is made by sunlight shining through millions of ice crystals.]

Snuggly-warm dragon

Dragon Mood? -- wrapped up warmly in my red dragon robe

It's Sunday morning, the thermometer registers an amazing "ZERO" outside, and I'm happily sitting here at the computer -- warm, drinking my coffee and blogging.

Totally content.

Well, almost. The sun is actually shining in this part of cloudy Michigan. Imagine that, sunshine! The sun is shining on the tassels of the ornamental grasses out in the front yard. I would LOVE to capture a photo of them . . . or three. But, sadly, my camera batteries are dead. And Santa has a "Do Not Open" sign on the Amazon box with the new digital camera inside. Damn! I'm not even sure if we have batteries for the new camera. Arrgh!

But let's return to the idea of content. Yes, content-ment.

I am content this morning. Which is a very good thing. Life is good.

Thank you, Divine One, for all these many moments of living, breathing and being.

Calling all red-wine drinkers

Flash: This week, Meijer's is selling Crane Lake Cabernet Sauvignon for $2 a bottle!

Actually, the advertised price is 5 bottles for $10. I bought 15 bottles. And I plan to buy some more! What a buy!

Thank you for this Happy Day!

I parked the car, made sure I had the keys to S's car in my hand, locked the door and started to walk through the parking lot. The weak winter sun was inching up over the horizon, filling the sky with a warm glow. There were two birds sitting on the edge of the building, right over the door, watching what ever it is that birds watch. And they started to sing!

Hearing their birdy music reminded me to take a moment and be thankful, thankful, thankful. A partner who loves me and lets me borrow her little car (when mine is in the shop) , God who gives me a sun that rises every day and warms my skin, and birds that sing to me, even in the shortest days of winter.

(whew!)...the day after my birthday

To cut to the chase . . . I am pooped from celebrating my birthday! It wasn't a Polish-wedding sort of affair, lasting for three days, but it was an extremely FULL and HAPPY day, with numerous calls from far-flung family wishing me excited birthday wishes, many emails from friends here, there and beyond "there," warm hugs, and many words of congratulations. I was in a "general" state of high anticipation, excitement and overall well-being for the entire day! I wish all people could experience such a profound sense of love, care and excitement at one's very existence! It is something to most definitely embrace, store for uncertain and insecure moments, and treasure above all. I am very blessed and feel most thankful for such wonderful people surrounding me.

Purple people-eater walls

Caroline suggested eggplant-colored walls when she and Yosh were visiting our pied-a-terre. Here's my quick, crude Photoshop take on her suggestions.

Two days before my birthday

Dragon Mood? -- excited!!!

Yup, it's two days before my birthday. And I'm getting excited!!

I was meeting with a health professional yesterday. I told her that Monday is my birthday and she said, "I feel sorry for all December children. They get kind of gypped."

And I replied, "You know, I never felt that way. I always felt like it was me and Jesus --fingers entwined together-- having our birthdays and the world was getting ready for them."

There's a little child's chutzpah, huh?

To that end, for my seasonal image (at least for this week), I have posted a portion of my natal astrology chart.

Scouring through the archives

Isn't this is a lovely graphic?

Poking, poking and more poking through the endless archives of Allposters.com, I found this lovely image. I just had to stick it in my blog for all (*derisive laughter*) to see.

. . . HIV is an issue for everyone . . .

Dragon Mood? -- remembering

Today, December 1st, is World AIDS Day. Check out this site.

Transforming Force

A very cool quote:

"The connections between and among women are ... the most potentially transforming force on the planet."
--Adrienne Rich

Numbers, drugs and paths not taken

Dragon Mood? -- can you hear me now?

I need to take some time and post about numbers. Numbers that include too-high insulin, too-high cholesterol, too-high CRP (chemical reactive protein) and too-high some-thyroid-gobbledy-gook antibody.

And then I need to take some time and post about drugs. Drugs like good ol' Lipitor (hey, I've seen a zillion ads on TV for you!), Avandia (they must have a $0 budget for TV ads, cuz I've never heard of you) and S's long-time favorite, Synthroid.

And then, there's the conversation about the path to diabetes, the path we will not take, and the dietitian and the diabetes classes and the thyroid that is acting like an old-time light bulb (Zzzt -- it's on! Zzzt -- it's off!) which somehow makes me think of the movie, Erin Brockovitch, and sepia-toned images of industrial sites that are polluting our world.

(Oh yes, and did you hear about the nodule on your lung? A nodule on my lung? Yes, a nodule on your lung.)

But, amidst all this expectant posting of the discombobulated sort, there is anticipation of the real and sweet kind: seeing my kids Friday evening, wrapping my arms around them, smelling her hair, feeling his five-o'clock shadow on my cheek, all of us cracking open a beer at one in the morning to celebrate our reunion. Then -- maybe then -- I will tell them about all of this stuff.

Anti-gay hysteria

Dragon Mood? -- calm

[I found this link right after the election. I was so distraught at the prospect of four more years of this cretin and his crooked cronies (sorry for the excessive alliteration), that I just couldn't bear to post it right away. As if posting it made the reality even more harsh!]

I found this link on a website called MsGeek

Homo Hate
Kerry loses to Rove’s anti-gay hysteria
by Doug Ireland


The Republicans’ moralizing anti-gay crusade played a crucial role in George W. Bush’s re-election. The Rove-Bush decision to surf on the anti-gay backlash came about in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision, in the spring of 2003, to overturn the so-called sodomy laws.

After that decision, there was a precipitous 20-point Gallup poll drop in numbers of those who thought gay sex should be legal, and support for civil unions also slalomed downward.

Under the guidance of Commissar Karl Rove, the Republicans crafted a strategy to make political hay out of the anti-gay backlash and to fuel its intensity, just as soon as the Massachusetts Supreme Court decided that denying marriage equality to gay people was a violation of fundamental civil rights. The tools to make gays a political scapegoat that would mobilize the 4 million evangelicals who failed to vote in 2000 — and at the same time appeal to Catholic adepts of anti-gay papal precepts — were the Federal Marriage Amendment and the 11 anti-gay state referenda on the marriage issue. These measures were seen as wedge issues to divide the traditional Democratic coalition by prejudiced appeals to blacks and Latinos. Last year, among blacks, the drop on legalizing gay marriage was, at 23 points, even sharper than the national average. A New York Times poll from August last year confirmed the backlash Gallup found, especially among blacks and Latinos, with strong majorities opposing gay marriage — 65 to 28 for blacks, 54 to 40 for Latinos. Out of numbers like these came the Bush-Rove anti-gay strategy.

This is, after all, a country drowning in censorious, politicized religiosity. And race is no longer the great political dividing line in this country — region and religion have replaced it. The exit polls on Tuesday night showed that Bush won a whopping 42 percent of the Latino vote, in large part thanks to the power of anti-gay propaganda in a community — already marinated in macho cultural traditions — that gets a lot of its cohesiveness and sense of identity from homophobic Pentecostal churches.

Moreover, 21 percent of voters said that “moral values” — more than either Iraq or the economy — were what determined their vote. In many states the GOP used TV ads featuring two men kissing to fan the anti-gay marriage flames. Nowhere did the strategy work better than in Ohio, where the southern tier of counties is the cultural equivalent of a Deep South state, steeped in religiously inculcated homo-hate. Ohio is also a state where traditionally Democratic working-class Catholic voters — whom Kerry failed to bind to him with an economic program that could arouse their passions — were peeled off in sufficient numbers to reduce Kerry’s margins in the larger cities. And the sweeping anti-gay referendum in Ohio — which outlaws civil unions or any lesser legal recognition of same-sex couples, as well as gay marriage — passed by 2 to 1. Huge anti-gay majorities were rolled up as well in all the other 10 states with referenda, with the smallest margin of victory for the anti-gay measure in Oregon (a supposedly tolerant state where it won by a resounding 14 points).

The anti-gay crusade was also crucial in mobilizing the religious in support of Republican Senatorial candidates in crucial races around the country. The Democrats’ Senate leader, Tom Daschle, was targeted in South Dakota by his victorious GOP opponent, John Thune, on the gay issue — a relentless barrage of TV and radio ads portrayed Daschle as a supporter of gay marriage (for opposing the FMA) and helped Thune squeak through.

Similarly, in Kentucky — where the anti-gay referendum passed by 75 percent to 25 percent — a nasty gay-baiting campaign by mad Republican incumbent Jim Bunning helped defeat his Democratic opponent, whom Bunning implied (falsely) was gay. Bunning was so gaga, his staff had to hide him for the final weeks of the campaign for fear of what lunatic things he might say — yet by surfing the anti-gay backlash, he, too, squeaked through.

On Election Day, there were widespread reports, from Nevada to Florida, of guys in very bad drag shouting “Gay marriage!” holding pro-gay-marriage signs, and accosting voters outside polling stations. (Democrats took photos of these costumed GOP operatives for later identification as Bushniks). More dirty tricks: Phony robocalls in Wisconsin and a number of other states, purporting to be from the Kerry campaign, told swing voters, “A vote for Kerry is a vote for gay marriage — it’s our time.”

Scurrilous gay-baiting literature abounded. And, of course, the Bushniks could count on the fervent homophobia of Bush’s shock troops from the Christian right (heavily subsidized by taxpayer dollars through patronage disguised as “faith-based initiatives”) to hammer home the Sunday-go-to-meetin’ anti-gay message — and the sweeping Republican victory.

The Democrats were bereft of any strategy to fight this politicization of the anti-gay backlash. Across the country, the Democrats’ lawyers engaged in a furious struggle to keep Ralph Nader off the ballot — but didn’t lift a finger to engage in a similar challenge to the petitions for the anti-gay referenda, for fear of being tarred with the lavender brush. So, in referendum states like Ohio, the Reagan Democrats of yesterday — particularly married women and working-class men — became the Bush Democrats of today.

Kerry might have won them back if he’d hammered away at the economy. But his campaign ignored economic issues, and the national exit polls showed voters wound up trusting Bush more than Kerry on the economy by 48 to 46 percent. In Ohio, Kerry’s failure was even starker — while 62 percent of the Buckeye State’s voters said in exit polls they thought the economy was “bad,” they split even at 48 percent on who’d do better to get them out of the mess in a state that had lost 250,000 jobs. It’s well known that bigotry always increases in times of economic insecurity and penury. This year, among the economically hard-pressed, it was therefore easy to vent anger and frustration on those privileged, kissing, homo DINKS (Double Income, No Kids), who are portrayed as enjoying the fruits of luxurious consumerism by TV minstrelsy like Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.

Our high-fashion gay Stepin Fetchits played right into the GOP-fostered perception of gays as seeking special privileges, and of Democrats as elitists. The reasons for the GOP’s successful strategy have been brilliantly explained in Tom Franks’ latest book, What’s the Matter With Kansas? How Conservatives Won the Heart of America. Franks has understood that the anti–gay marriage crusade is a particularly insidious form of Republican “class warfare.”

And unless Democrats wake up to Franks’ message, and develop a populist strategy to defang the anti-gay crusaders, electoral gay-bashing will continue to doom the Dems to defeat at the polls in many regions of the country.

Simple quote

Dragon Mood? -- pondering

I found this quote and rather liked its Deepak Chopra-esque qualities:

"Let yourself rule and be ruled by these strings or emanations that connect everything together...."

-- John Ashbery

I didn't know anything about John Ashbery. Here's one site's info on him.

Good-bye Mr. Powell, Mr. Abraham, et al

Dragon Mood? -- ???

More resignations from the Bush Cabinet.

I'm frankly sorry to see Colin Powell leave. He is one of the few (maybe the only) people in the Bush Cabinet that I truly respect as a person of integrity and high moral convictions! I imagine he has felt pretty lonely and isolated these past four years.

Of Spence Abraham, I have nothing good to say. He's a Republican party hack that got tossed a bone even after (then) Governor John Engler couldn't deliver Michigan to the Bush column in 2000. Abraham worked for Dan Quayle, for crying out loud. Doesn't that say enough?

As for the other two, Ann Veneman and Rod Paige, I know nothing about them. What did they do during their tenure on the Cabinet? I don't know. Hopefully, not too much damage.

Like many others, I anticipated Powell's leaving. I'm curious as to why the other three are resigning?

Nuclear tangerine

Dragon Mood? -- dragon proud!

I painted our kitchen in the big-city house Friday evening.

I had a game plan, a paint board all painted up with the colors and the techniques I was going to use.

So much for game plans. After getting the primer on and the first coat, I loved it. I didn't want to paint any more. So . . . what was going to be a squash-blossom yellow "dabbed" over a tangerine base coat, instead became a nuclear tangerine orange.

It glows. It positively glows . . . as in a nuclear reactor rod glows. While the kitchen has only one north-facing window, when the sunlight hits our neighbor's white aluminum siding, the reflected light in our kitchen makes that lovely orange glow.

I love it!!! I can't wait to post a picture showing it off.

Good-bye, Mr. Ashcroft!

Dragon Mood? -- a happy little swish of the ol' dragon tail

From the New York Times:

"We had an attorney general who treated criticism and dissent as treason, ethnic identity as grounds for suspicion and Congressional and judicial oversight as inconvenient obstacles," said David Cole, a law professor at Georgetown University. "He was a disaster from a civil liberties perspective but also from a national security perspective."

Good-bye and good riddance!

Memory, ancient memory

Dragon Mood? -- letting out a "Remember?" roar

On Nov. 10, 1871, journalist-explorer Henry M. Stanley found missing Scottish missionary David Livingstone in central Africa and delivered his famous greeting: ''Dr. Livingstone, I presume?''

And more recently -- today, I heard someone say something about next Tuesday, and some ancient cog in my ancient mind turned to recall this:

Wimpy, said to the character, Bluto: "I'll have two hamburgers, for which I will gladly pay you next Tuesday."

Ahhhh, yes . . . now I remember! Good ol' Popeye and Saturday morning cartoons. All in black-and-white, I might add. That was lonnnnggg before the advent of color television.

Ah yes, the stuff of my childhood!

Red states, Blue states, Maps and Cartograms

Dragon Mood? -- carto-what?

While I never root for the University of Michigan in sports events, I have to give some University of Michigan faculty a thumbs-up for this site. I encourage you to take a look at it. Here's a couple of the verrrrrry interesting things they show . . .

Here's what we're used to looking at:



If you look at the same map based on population and not topographic size, here's what it looks like:



Amazingly, many of the blue states look like one of those gas-aid commercials where the folks, eating at a diner, bloat up! California, Illinois and New York look especially bloated! Suddenly, the whole damn country doesn't look like it's gone to hell-in-a-Republican-handbasket!

Again, check out the site.

Soothe my soul

Here's something that can soothe my savage, ravaged breast: the beauty of Mother Nature, especially as she prepares to wrap herself in the dark, stark beauty of winter cloaking.

[Editorial note: I guess the expression is "savage beast" and "ravaged breast," but I rather like the rhyming mixture of the two, whether it makes traditional sense or not!]

Doh!

Can you tell that I'm still angry, bitter, and despairing after the election?

Please note the caption at the bottom of the page: "U.S. Election Disaster: Pages . . . "

Why can the whole world see what half of our citizens can not? I heard a retired preacher pose the question, "Why is God blinding our country and its leaders right now?"

By that standard, at least one half of the country is currently blind.

more about the American voters' debacle

Dragon Mood? -- so, so sad

Rayne Today is a blog I like to read. Rayne is a woman who lives in Michigan (like me) and she expresses lots of enthusiasm for political expression. Today she has a truly eloquent letter from her friend, Christopher, who also writes a blog called Barbaric Yawp.

Go on over to her site and read his letter, on this day when half the nation mourns our "new" leader.

Day after the Debacle

Dragon Mood? -- I'm so exhausted from the past 24 hours, even my Energizer bunny has died.

I usually try to refrain from out-and-out sarcasm, because in my personal experience, sarcasm can be quite hurtful. But I'm so angry about this election, that I am "giving in" to my baser instincts.

Welcome to four more years...

• Jesus loves you, and shares your hatred of homosexuals and Hillary Clinton.
• Saddam was a good guy when Reagan armed him, a bad guy when Daddy Bush made war on him, a good guy when Cheney did business with him and a bad guy when Bush needed a "we can't find Bin Laden" diversion.
• Trade with Cuba is wrong because the country is Communist, but trade with China and Vietnam is vital to a spirit of international harmony.
• A woman can't be trusted with decisions about her own body, but multinational corporations can make decisions affecting all humanity without regulation.
• The best way to improve military morale is to praise the troops in speeches while slashing veterans' benefits and combat pay.
• If condoms are kept out of schools, adolescents won't have sex.
• A good way to fight terrorism is to belittle our long-time allies, then demand their cooperation and money.
• Providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy. Providing healthcare to all Americans is socialism.
• HMOs and insurance companies have the best interests of the public at heart.
• Global warming and tobacco's link to cancer are junk science, but creationism should be taught in schools.
• A president lying about an extramarital affair is an impeachable offense. A president lying to enlist support for a war in which thousands die is solid defense policy.
• Government should limit itself to the powers named in the Constitution, which include banning gay marriages and censoring the Internet.
• The public has a right to know about Hillary's cattle trades butGeorge Bush's driving record is none of our business.
• You support states' rights, which means Attorney General John Ashcroft can tell states what local voter initiatives they have the right to adopt.
• What Bill Clinton did in the 1960s (i.e., smoke pot) is of vital national interest, but what Bush did in the '80s (snort coke and abuse alcohol) is irrelevant.
• We must protect fetal and embryonic life. After all, we need those babies to become adults so we can send them off to war or execute them in prison.

Can you tell I'm mad?

Exercise your rights as an American citizen!

Events to record

Dragon Mood? -- dragon scales rising as the dragon falls behind

So much to tell. I am having a hard time keeping up with recording all the events going on in my life right now.

I have yet to tell you about

• S and my trip to Texas

• S and my conversations with people as a result of our ubiquitous Kerry/Edwards buttons and stickers

• my weekend in the hospital

uh . . . that's enough of a list for now.

International survey on our national election

Dragon Mood? -- ???

The London Guardian (Guardian Unlimited), a British newspaper, published a survey of ten international newspapers, headlining it as "What the world thinks of America."

One part of the survey I found quite interesting. In response to the question, "Would you prefer to see the election of George W. Bush or John Kerry on November 2," here were the following responses:

_______________Bush__Kerry__
Canada.............20.........60...
France...............16.........72...
UK....................22.........50...
Spain................13.........58...
Russia...............52.........48...
Japan................30.........51...
Australia.............28.........54...
Mexico...............20.........54...
Israel.................50.........24...
Korea.................18.........68...
Average..............27.........54...

Note that Russia and Israel are the only countries cited as supporting the re-election of George Bush. All the other countries support the election of John Kerry by an overwhelming TWO to ONE margin!.

. . . and HOW to slow down

Dragon Mood? -- snorting towards transition

From the same ABC News article:

"To transition to a slower life, Honoré has several suggestions:

• don't schedule something in every free moment of your day;
  
• prioritize activities and cut from the bottom of the list;
  
• limit television watching;
  
• and keep an eye on your "personal speedometer" so you can gauge when you are rushing for speed's sake rather than necessity."

Slow down!

Dragon Mood? -- Her rushed Dragoness slows down and perks up!

This sounds like something I might be interested in. I think our whole country is moving too fast for the quality of life that we desire and deserve.

The article also references an organization, Slow Foods USA. Their website says this:

Recognizing that the enjoyment of wholesome food is essential to the pursuit of happiness, Slow Food U.S.A. is an educational organization dedicated to stewardship of the land and ecologically sound food production; to the revival of the kitchen and the table as centers of pleasure, culture, and community; to the invigoration and proliferation of regional, seasonal culinary traditions; and to living a slower and more harmonious rhythm of life.

Their first three guiding principles are Sustainability, Cultural Diversity and Pleasure and Quality in Everyday Life. Wow!

Check it out!

A welcome defeat!

Dragon Mood? -- hopeful???

John Kerry supporters have a welcome omen for their candidate: The Green Bay Packers defeated the Washington Redskins on Sunday.

If history holds, the 28-14 result portends a victory for Kerry on Tuesday because the result of the Redskins' final home game before the presidential election has always accurately predicted the White House winner. If the Redskins win, the incumbent party wins. If they lose, the incumbent party is ousted.

"Oh, yeah, he's going to win. It's guaranteed," said Packers' safety Darren Sharper, a Kerry supporter. . .

The streak began in 1933, when the Boston Braves were renamed the Redskins. Since then, beginning with Franklin Roosevelt's re-election in 1936, the trend has held, including a 2000 Redskins loss to the Tennessee Titans that predicted George W. Bush's win over Al Gore.

From ESPN via ABC News.