Misuse of power

Today, I need to vent about my neighborhood.  Just a short one because I have to get going.  And because I am a little uncomfortable about the subject.  Paranoid is probably more accurate.

Many of our neighbors are lovely people.  Others are not and it's something I forget while biking or walking around this beautiful area of Arlington.  I let my guard down, smile at the people, engage in conversation, pet their dogs, and so on.  Then I am reminded not everyone here is civil.

I belong to a neighborhood internet forum.  We go for weeks without a Glen Becker comment.  And then one slips in and the flood gates open.  That's what happened this week.  Henny Penny the sky must be falling because one of our neighbors has not mowed or raked.  Call out the Guard.  No, instead  he called code enforcement. 

I think code enforcement should be used for those instances where a condition endangers life or is harmful to people.  This  doesn't qualify. 

As peeved as I am about the misuse of code enforcement, it doesn't come close to how I feel about this current Texas Legislature and their misuse of power.  Even the Dallas Morning News yesterday effectively called them losers.

Don't get me started.  For real.  I am gonna be late for work.   To be continued...

Where did April go?

Tomorrow is the first day of May!  Where did April go?

At work I have to do monthly reports.  I just completed March.  It seems.  I know my April folder is filled with evidence of activity for this month, new clients, etc.  But still.  April 1st was just last week, right?

I do recall Paul's annual April's Fool thing.  As he does EVERY year, he got me.  He said something about a broken pool filter and that water had soaked a part of the back yard.  First conversation of the morning.  I followed him outside... "April Fool."  Every year.  I fall.  And then I say, "Not next year." You can set a clock to this.  It will happen.

Easter happened last weekend.  That became an event unrelated to the holiday, and won't be blogged about out of respect ... for now.

Maybe it's because April is not really that momentous of a month.  January is big.  February is a shortie month and has Valentine's Day.  March is spring break and the weather starts to remind us why we love living in the South.  Jump to May.  End of school.  Huge.  June is beginning of summer, July has the 4th, August is back to school, September begins the fall season, October builds to Halloween, November and December are probably the biggest months of the year.

So back to April.  I guess maybe I didn't give you proper attention.  Whatever the reason, I believe I blinked and now you're gone.  Next year, like April Fools, I promise to be more aware.

Happy May Day everyone!!

Mum's the word

I watched Diana marry the prince with a bunch of co-workers from the newspaper some 30 years ago.  It was in the middle of the night.  We had all gathered for the watch party at the home of an editor.  There was lots of food, talking, laughing.  I recall sitting on a hardwood floor looking up at a small TV, probably 28-inch.  It was the thing to do back then, especially if you were in the news business.  The wedding back then, consumed the airwaves.

Now Prince William is getting married and the world's attention is turned to London, just as it was when his mother got married.  But a lot has changed since then.  We now have DVR, 24-hour cable "news", and gigantic flat televisions connected to theater quality sound systems.  No need to interrupt a perfectly sound slumber.  We can watch at our leisure.  Pick the time.  Replay any parts we want as many times as we want.  Freeze the action to run to the kitchen or bathroom or to quiet a barking dog.  No sitting on a hardwood floor either.  More like a soft leather chair or couch in jammies holding a beverage of choice.

What fool will be getting up in the middle of the night this time to watch the royal wedding?

Me. 

It's an event.  OK.  It's like the new year's countdown.  You stay up to watch that.  It's the law, really.  World Cups games, too, we've gotten up in the middle of the night to watch.  There's something still exciting about watching an event live.  Will I have company?  Probably not, unless three dogs count.  But that's OK.  I can watch uninterruped and cry if I feel like it, drink tea and eat scones.  (I wonder where you buy scones.  Is there a scones store?  Starbucks!)

Maybe it's the mum in me. Prince William and my Andrea were born a month apart.  Diana had a rough go as a princess, but she appears to have raised a decent prince.  I am excited about getting to watch him get married, but I know I will be thinking a lot about Diana and wishing she could have been there.

Cheers!

Parting is such sweet sorrow

I fired my cardiologist.  Sort of.

Yesterday I had an appointment with a new cardiologist, someone who had been recommended.  Dr. Sneha Patel.  I didn't want to fire my old (literally) cardiologist until I met Dr. Patel.  I can tell you for sure now, it's out with the old and in with the new. 

So I told Dr. Patel I felt disloyal to my old doc and gave her some rambling explanation for wanting to switch: wanting to be more proactive, wanting to live, wanting a doc who recalls my case after years and years of being his patient.  She smiled (good response).  I didn't want to be highly critical of my ex doc because that is a turn off.  I mean, he did save my life, for which I am grateful.  And, I really bonded with his PA, or whatever her degree is.  She was always responsive and I felt well cared for... by her.

So now I am 11 years out from my triple bypass and I want to really take part in my health, living longer, etc.  Enter Dr. Patel. She repeated what I had said and asked for clarifications, making no assumptions.  Listening.  I like that in a doc. And she is just smart.  I asked her why she went into cardiology and part of her answer was she wanted a balance of working with patients and working with "the heart."  Which apparently is a pretty cool thing - and important part of the anatomy - to get to work with in the field of medicine. 

Oh, and would you believe I was in and out in 1 hour, 15 minutes?  That is the typical wait time in my previous doc's lobby before getting called back.  Then add another 30 minute or longer wait in the exam room.  

Thanks to my previous doc, especially his staff.   I am grateful for their kindness and care.   I wish I could say goodbye in person, but that would just be awkward. 

A trip to the Austin zoo!!

The Austin Zoo is a sanctuary for animals that had been owned privately or as "pets", such as lions, bear, monkeys, tigers, wolves, etc.  Some brilliant committee also suggested that the sanctuary allow chickens, roosters, peacocks, etc. to roam free, which has the effect of involving you in the experience of the "wild."  And, it gives little and big kids a reason to run after chickens!  (Addie and Michael).  Weather was perfect and lunch (made by Jenny) was wonderful!  This zoo is so user friendly, it even has a cart selling food, including snow cones that cost less than $2.  We can vouch for the orange and lemon lime.  Of course there is a charge to get in: $8 for adults and children older than 2, $6 for seniors (55 and older).  Well worth the price of admission.  Enjoy the pics!

 

The End

Sexual harassment in 2011

I am a social worker in Texas.  My clients are mostly young women and their children.  Recently, standing outside with a client, waiting for her ride, I was mortified at behaviors of males in cars.  Drive by gawkers and worse. She did not react to the sexual harassment, as if immune.  It started, for me, a conversation with my own two adult daughters and younger colleagues.  Similar stories.  Where have I been?  Maybe this is just Texas. (fingers crossed) 

Please don't tell me we are going to have to take to the streets again.  But if that's what it takes, I'm in.  I have one granddaughter and another granddaughter on the way.  God help the disrespectful, moronic male who harasses either one of them in my presence. 

This really pisses me off.

Donald Chump!

I am sure that if Donald Trump realized he would lose me as a loyal viewer of the current installment of Celebrity Apprentice, he would have thought twice about stirring the Birther pot.  He didn't, however, ask for my input before he started down this lowly, dead end road.   

I think I'll blame Gary Busey.  He's the weekly target of disdain on the men's side. For good reason, too.   I think Busey's crazy has rubbed off on The Donald.  And now I will never get to see Trump fire Gary Busey.  Thanks a lot Busey.  You should have kept your crazy to yourself.   Kindergarten rules, dude.

The show just doesn't have the same fun factor.  Sure, Trump has done other nutty things, but this Birther stuff is too way out there, even for Donald.  Sigh.

He leaves me no choice. I will boycott his show.  Donald Trump, you're fired!

(Of course I'm not against reading about who gets fired. I really hope Gary Busey leaves soon.  He adds nothing to him team.  Just ratings.  Marly Matlin is hands down the best celebrity EVER).