I have not recently been inspired.  Politically, here in the Commonwealth of Virginia it seems that all the politicians have taken leave of their senses and it is too depressing to even comment on.  And on the home front things seem to be going well and I don't want to jinx anything by making an encouraging comment.  And my knitting is, well, fine.   I think that this may be the apocryphal calm-before-the-storm as next on my family agenda is nudging my father forward in his move to a retirement apartment.  He is 90 years old and lives in a multi-story house.  The time really has come for him to have a single story and have some food available that he does not have to cook for every meal.  We have a lovely, very upscale, retirement apartment building in our neighborhood and he already has friends living there so it is the perfect solution.  Now, can I just get him to actually put a deposit down and get on the waiting list for the two bedroom unit?  (I do hate thinking that I need for someone to die for him to get the larger unit but he will NEVER be happy in one bedroom and I want this to be a good move, not a move that dogs me the rest of my, or his, life.)  Naomi, at alittleredhen.com has kindly provided me some good suggestions on things I, and he, should consider as we plan this move and I encourage any of you with experience in this area to please chime in.  All help is greatly appreciated.

When walking to the beach I like to wave to the elderly residents sitting on their balconies so they they know that they are not invisible.

Watching Rick Santorum on "Meet the Press" may make my head explode.

Now for a laugh

Quote from Sheldon Cooper on the Big Bang Theory:   In the South, preadolescent children are forced through a process called cotillion, which indoctrinates them with all the social graces and dance skills needed to function in 18th century Vienna.


Both my children attended cotillion.  They claim it ruined their lives (or at least their Saturday evenings).  But if they ever end up in 18th century Vienna.......

It makes me laugh every time I hear it it.

I am now all fired up!

This assault on women must cease!

The Susan G. Komen Foundation and all their pink crap decided to pull the grant money they provided to Planned Parenthood under the guise of "they are under investigation."  Bullshit.  One ignorant, vindictive Republican congressman has called for an investigation which everyone knows is politically motivated bullshit.  After the backlash they changed their story to "we are doing more targeted grant funding".  Well, when you get two different official versions of why they did this you can be certain that the real truth is entirely different.  For that story please read this short article from "The Atlantic"  I never liked the Komen Foundation because 1) I couldn't figure out how pink Campbell's soup cans cured cancer and 2) they spend an outsize amount of their funds on administrative cost and fundraising. Only 20% of the money goes to program.  My local social service charity which relies on small donations for fundraising does better than that with 90% going to program. 

I used the services of Planned Parenthood when I was young.  I fit their perfect demographic - 20's, working, with insurance but this was during the days that insurance didn't cover birth control.  I did NOT need a baby in my chaotic life at that point. Planned Parenthood was there for me and needs to be there for millions of women, young and old, today. 

So my four readers, please consider going to this site I Stand with Planned Parenthood and sign their letter of support. And a small donation would be nice, too.  Remember, they were there for me when I needed them, and I want them to be there for you if you need them.

The blogger pact

I only follow a few blogs.  My blog really started just for me to post random stuff, or rants, or raves and has no cohesion, no deep meaning, and no great prose. I've started following some other blogs and I really worry when they stop posting.  I wish that there was some blog protocol that requires everyone to tell you that they are ok, or not ok, or that someone will let you know if they've died (yes, that happened to two bloggers I followed).  They are my friends and I want to be "there" wherever "there" is for them. I feel such a connection to these women, young and old, that makes me worry if they don't post anything for extended periods.  I've felt the blog connection from the readers of my blog (all 4 of you!)   I know that you are there for me as I want to be for you.  So, we need a blog pact.  I'll keep you up-to-date if you keep me up-to-date and if you are going to take a blog break, please let me know.   Thanks.