Thursday, February 6, 2014
Sammie lives with old dogs and old people
Our poor Sammie the border collie. She's 1 year old now and lives with a bunch of old people and old dogs. We didn't think about that when we got her. At least I didn't. It's not really fair to her.
Just this past month I took our 11-year-old beagle, Baxter, to the vet because she had weakness in her hind legs. The culprit: bad back. Both Paul and I have that too. She was given a hefty shot of steroid and 10 days of anti-inflammatory. Paul takes anti-inflammatories for his hip.
Then Mika, age 10, should be taking anti-inflammatories too. She is slow to get up after a nap. Stretching first her front legs, then stretching her back. Worse, she has lumps and bumps beneath her hide that we pretend are not growing. The vet told us to watch for that. We always agree that she is OK. I do that a lot. Ignore some signs of my own aging. Maybe it will go away. Mika, like me and Paul, is wiped after a visit from the grandkids.
Which brings us back to the pup. I don't know if we are good for her, but she is good for us. All four of us oldies. She patiently waits for us to play ball. By patient, I mean sits staring at you with her ball until you - dog or human - to play. Often she gets you to move by nudging ball with her nose - her way of throwing it - and barking at you to get it. She is "on" all day. Just open the back door and step one foot out and she already has flown to the farthest point of the backyard before your second foot hits the ground. She is watching for your next move, which she desperately hopes will include a ball.
We haven't found her off button, but it miraculously kicks in around 7 every night. Good thing our off buttons are set at the same time!
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Woody Allen doesn't deserve acclaim
My son asked me this week where I stood on the Woody Allen controversy. Short answer: I think he molested his daughter.
Last week his adopted daughter, now 28, went public for the first time with details about her sexual abuse by Allen when she was a young child. Her comments were published in a New York Times blog written by a family friend.
A week before that her brother, Allen's bio son, tweeted his disgust at his father's special recognition during the Golden Globes.
I told my son that I believe the victim and that I have not been to a Woody Allen movie since the allegations became public in the early 90s.
I can't get past the part where he admits to having had a relationship with his partner's daughter. Not his daughter. However, he had been in this child's life since she was in grade school. Nude photos of her were found. He was busted and admitted to the "relationship." She was under 20 and he was over 50. His explanation: the heart wants what it wants.
When the relationship was discovered, all hell broke loose. Its aftermath was dirty and it was public. Allen fought for custody of his 3 children, including his adopted daughter who made the accusation. Criminal investigations were conducted. No charges or convictions were ever filed, but the court did deny Allen visitation rights to his adopted daughter.
He eventually married his children's sister and they adopted 2 children. He also has gone on to make movies and continue to be beloved, as evidenced by the special award this year.
Apparently all the accolades were too much for many and the past has come back to haunt.
His daughter has changed her name. There is nothing in it for her to go public at this time in her life. She is married and has children. Her actions now are wholly consistent with sexually abused children. Under the safety and protection of adulthood is when many find the courage to tell their truth.
And I believe her. I always have.
Last week his adopted daughter, now 28, went public for the first time with details about her sexual abuse by Allen when she was a young child. Her comments were published in a New York Times blog written by a family friend.
A week before that her brother, Allen's bio son, tweeted his disgust at his father's special recognition during the Golden Globes.
I told my son that I believe the victim and that I have not been to a Woody Allen movie since the allegations became public in the early 90s.
I can't get past the part where he admits to having had a relationship with his partner's daughter. Not his daughter. However, he had been in this child's life since she was in grade school. Nude photos of her were found. He was busted and admitted to the "relationship." She was under 20 and he was over 50. His explanation: the heart wants what it wants.
When the relationship was discovered, all hell broke loose. Its aftermath was dirty and it was public. Allen fought for custody of his 3 children, including his adopted daughter who made the accusation. Criminal investigations were conducted. No charges or convictions were ever filed, but the court did deny Allen visitation rights to his adopted daughter.
He eventually married his children's sister and they adopted 2 children. He also has gone on to make movies and continue to be beloved, as evidenced by the special award this year.
Apparently all the accolades were too much for many and the past has come back to haunt.
His daughter has changed her name. There is nothing in it for her to go public at this time in her life. She is married and has children. Her actions now are wholly consistent with sexually abused children. Under the safety and protection of adulthood is when many find the courage to tell their truth.
And I believe her. I always have.
Friday, January 31, 2014
Seasons in the south: Nailed it!
I couldn't live without seasons. That's what people up north say as a reason not to move south. That transition into different seasons reminds one of the wonder of our universe. Trees change color in fall, the first snowfall of winter, flowers blooming in spring. Ok, fine.
But honestly, we, too, have our ways of identifying seasons here in the south. Take pedicures. Our summer nails are beautiful. Out there for all to see. Transition into fall and you can see nail color begin to fade and fall away. In winter, we keep our nails indoors and always covered to protect them from the frigid 40 degree temps. Frigid. Then along comes spring and the bloom is on the nail. Colorful reds and pinks and purple and green and orange and brown. These pops of color hold all through summer season and on into fall transition. I am hearing that song...
To everything - turn, turn, turn
There is a season - turn, turn, turn
And in the South, we have all four - turn, turn, turn!
But honestly, we, too, have our ways of identifying seasons here in the south. Take pedicures. Our summer nails are beautiful. Out there for all to see. Transition into fall and you can see nail color begin to fade and fall away. In winter, we keep our nails indoors and always covered to protect them from the frigid 40 degree temps. Frigid. Then along comes spring and the bloom is on the nail. Colorful reds and pinks and purple and green and orange and brown. These pops of color hold all through summer season and on into fall transition. I am hearing that song...
To everything - turn, turn, turn
There is a season - turn, turn, turn
And in the South, we have all four - turn, turn, turn!
Friday, January 17, 2014
John Cornyn's radio ad makes me smile
Living in Texas it's fitting that campaign season and cedar pollen should arrive at about the same. Both are intolerable.
Something that has helped - besides Allegra without D - is a comedy TV show called Alpha House, an Amazon Original series. It's about a bunch of Republican senators sharing a house, hence Alpha House. The show's political humor can be appreciated by all sides: left and right, north and south.
The show stars John Goodman, reason alone to love the series, but also features an incredible supporting cast that includes Haley Joel Osment (I see dead people), Kelly Ripa's husband, Wanda Sikes AND Bill Murray, who appears in the first and last episodes.
I know this show is helping me through campaign season because I didn't want to kill myself after listening to a John Cornyn radio ad. It actually made me smile. Almost laugh. It sounded like it belonged to one of the characters on my new favorite show Alpha House. I swear it felt like I was listening to comedy.
Alas, the first season already has ended. Oh well. As an antidote to the uber conservative Texas campaigns, I feel it will be fine to watch a second time - or as often as indicated.
Something that has helped - besides Allegra without D - is a comedy TV show called Alpha House, an Amazon Original series. It's about a bunch of Republican senators sharing a house, hence Alpha House. The show's political humor can be appreciated by all sides: left and right, north and south.
The show stars John Goodman, reason alone to love the series, but also features an incredible supporting cast that includes Haley Joel Osment (I see dead people), Kelly Ripa's husband, Wanda Sikes AND Bill Murray, who appears in the first and last episodes.
I know this show is helping me through campaign season because I didn't want to kill myself after listening to a John Cornyn radio ad. It actually made me smile. Almost laugh. It sounded like it belonged to one of the characters on my new favorite show Alpha House. I swear it felt like I was listening to comedy.
Alas, the first season already has ended. Oh well. As an antidote to the uber conservative Texas campaigns, I feel it will be fine to watch a second time - or as often as indicated.
Monday, January 6, 2014
It's cold but I can't complain
Today the wind chill is 6 degrees! Single digit!! Problem is, a little farther north the wind chill is minus double digits! So I can't really complain.
What's causing the coldest temps recorded in about 20 years? Polar vortex. A phenomenon that 99 percent of us (be honest) had never heard of before. What a cool word (pun intended).
It turns out that a polar vortex is really a persistent cyclone. Cyclone!! This one initiates from the North Pole. How cool is that (again, intended pun)?
Climate change doubters will no doubt point to this as evidence of there being no evidence of shifting climate. That's ok. Let 'em have their day. They likely have been feeling a lonely lately as the majority of us have pushed forward without them.
This polar vortex event however IS real evidence of the unpredictability of weather and its humbling nature. It has stopped a hardy bunch of northerners in their tracks. I used to be one of them and can recall specific days of minus double digit weather BEFORE adding the wind chill. But as reports are telling us, this polar vortex is dropping temps to numbers not felt in 20 years. That's scary.
Sending warm thoughts and prayers to my family and friends up north.
What's causing the coldest temps recorded in about 20 years? Polar vortex. A phenomenon that 99 percent of us (be honest) had never heard of before. What a cool word (pun intended).
It turns out that a polar vortex is really a persistent cyclone. Cyclone!! This one initiates from the North Pole. How cool is that (again, intended pun)?
Climate change doubters will no doubt point to this as evidence of there being no evidence of shifting climate. That's ok. Let 'em have their day. They likely have been feeling a lonely lately as the majority of us have pushed forward without them.
This polar vortex event however IS real evidence of the unpredictability of weather and its humbling nature. It has stopped a hardy bunch of northerners in their tracks. I used to be one of them and can recall specific days of minus double digit weather BEFORE adding the wind chill. But as reports are telling us, this polar vortex is dropping temps to numbers not felt in 20 years. That's scary.
Sending warm thoughts and prayers to my family and friends up north.
Monday, December 30, 2013
Goodbye 2013, hello 2014
Goodbye 2013. Hello 2014.
I typically prefer the even-numbered years. Is that weird? I guess just the word "odd" attached to a number puts it at a disadvantage. But, come on, 13. That's the universally worst number of all numbers. Ok, maybe 666 is worse.
So I will be glad to say hello to 2014 in just two days. No worries about forgetting to write the new year on checks because nobody uses checks anymore. Unless it's the stereotypical older woman holding up the grocery line writing one. Annoying because it reflects on all us older women.
Truthfully, I love a new year, odd or even numbered. New years hold promise. Celebrating their arrival gives us pause to look forward and forward is a good direction to be heading...
....especially if you are a young couple expecting child in the spring - Jenny and Michael.
... especially if you are a young couple raising daughters ages 2 and 4 - Andrea and Jack.
... especially if you are a young lawyer at the beginning of a career in public service - John.
I especially look forward to sharing the promise of another new year with my beloved Paulie.
I typically prefer the even-numbered years. Is that weird? I guess just the word "odd" attached to a number puts it at a disadvantage. But, come on, 13. That's the universally worst number of all numbers. Ok, maybe 666 is worse.
So I will be glad to say hello to 2014 in just two days. No worries about forgetting to write the new year on checks because nobody uses checks anymore. Unless it's the stereotypical older woman holding up the grocery line writing one. Annoying because it reflects on all us older women.
Truthfully, I love a new year, odd or even numbered. New years hold promise. Celebrating their arrival gives us pause to look forward and forward is a good direction to be heading...
....especially if you are a young couple expecting child in the spring - Jenny and Michael.
... especially if you are a young couple raising daughters ages 2 and 4 - Andrea and Jack.
... especially if you are a young lawyer at the beginning of a career in public service - John.
I especially look forward to sharing the promise of another new year with my beloved Paulie.
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