life in the old lane – Page 438 – Nobody is Promised Tomorrow. . .

August 1, 2009August 1, 2009

I wasn’t born in the USofA, either

Like President Obama, I wasn’t really born in the USA. I was born in West, BY GOD, Virginia. And, if anyone thinks that WV is a part of the USA – well, they haven’t been there. Radio announcers used to say “Good Morning America, and you too West Virginia”. Heck, I was over 50 before I would admit that I was born there.

Are there no Republicans out there with both brains and guts enough to shout down the “base”? It is a sad day for the grand ole party when I look back fondly at Newt Gingrich.

I recall that the Republic survived the KnowNothing Party – yes, boys and girls, in the 40’s and 50’s (1840’s) there was a Know Nothing Party, whose platform included such popular themes as:

Severe limits on immigration especially of Catholic
Restricting political office to native-born Americans – but not black, native Americans or women
Mandating a wait of 21 years before an immigrant could gain citizenship
Restricting public school teachers to Protestants
Mandating daily Bible readings in public schools
Restricting the sale of liquor

Sound familiar???

July 31, 2009July 31, 2009

unresolved discontent

I am suffering from what Carlton calls “unresolved discontent”. That sounds classier than “in a funk”. No matter what you call it – it is not approved behavior in our household.

But hey, at least I am not dead. You can tell I am alive because I updated my blog.

It is getting worse. I think my beloved mouse just died. New batteries did not return it to life. Now using the #3 backup mousie.

July 30, 2009July 30, 2009

this just in …

Carlton just reserved 4 months at our place in Kona this winter. We usually do 3 months.

And, friend’s wife was just nominated to be the Ambassador to the Republic of Mauritius and to the Republic of Seychelles.

Life could be interesting here in the old lane…

July 30, 2009July 30, 2009

moving on to wordpress 2.8.2

Daisy at Nature Conservancy - L1 w/pancake lens

Well, I am all ready to upgrade to WP 2.8.2 from 2.7.1. I have backed everything up and upgraded the supporting cast members. Now we push the Please update now button that has been nagging me for a couple of months.

Well, so far so good.

After putzing around with the blog software – I took the camera and new lens over to the Nature Conservancy weed lot for a little photo play. The trouble with the L1 is that I like it too much. It makes my pointer and shooter seem a little lame.

Carlton and I just had a really strange conversation. First he implied that my dressing left something to be desired but that what I wear isn’t any business of his. Well, I know he hates green. So, I have nothing green. I doesn’t like clothes that are loose, baggy or unstructured either. But, I wear those things. And, I’ll agree that I don’t dress like he would like. But, when was the last time he took me anywhere that required “proper lady” clothes?

Second, he explained that he didn’t intend to ever go to the doctor to get any tests for any thing any more. He was just going to die. He does go to the skin cancer guy and the dentist. In a way that is what my dad did. And, he lived to be 82. Mom, who enjoyed poor health and went to the doctor all the time, lived to be 82. Dad spent 2 weeks dying of cancer. Mom spent 5 months. They both ended up dead. So, Carlton might have something.

What I wear is my business and if Carlton doesn’t want a colonoscopy – that is his business.

July 28, 2009July 28, 2009

hot today

Took the L1 and outfitted with the new lens with me on the way to volunteer this morning. This is my favorite image from the walk.

I had planned on “working” for 3 hours. Ended up working 5 hours. I was very hot and tired by the time I walked back home. So, the rest of the day was spent in the shade by the pool.

At the pool, I noticed another sign of the economic downturn. Water. That is the sign. Just out side the pool we have a “Coke” machine. It is mostly stocked with water. Last summer everyone drank bottled water. Usually water from the vending machine. This year, everyone shows up with water from home. And, the water seems to have come from the faucet. Radical.

July 27, 2009

you gotta love his diet…

Bill Clinton with Z Burger owner Peter Tabibian at the Tenleytown restaurant Saturday night. (Photo - Peter Tabibian, Washington Post)

You may not agree with his politics, but you have to admit – that boy knows where to go for a great takeout dinner when the Mrs is working late.

Bill Clinton waiting in line for his to-go meal at Tenleytown’s Z Burger on Saturday night. Blue polo shirt with his eyeglasses clipped into the collar. Posed for photos and signed autographs during his 30-minute stay before leaving with dinner — double burger (hold the mayo), onion rings, french fries, apple pie, milkshake. – this morning’s Washington Post

July 25, 2009July 25, 2009

ordinary urban old lady saturday

Walk to the grocery with my little push cart.
Take bus to farm market.
Walk from farm market to Free People, Apple Store, Container Store. Look at funky clothes for much younger women. Fondle Apples. Purchase a thingie to help old folk open jars.
Take subway home.
Rest up after all that activity.

Why did I spend 20+ years living in a house in the ‘burbs? When the first husband walked, my friends told me to move into the city. Why didn’t I listen? Inertia, I guess.

But, the profits made from the timely sale of the house in the ‘burbs are looking sweet today.

July 24, 2009July 24, 2009

after the storm

After I got stuck in the monsoon yesterday – the sun came out and we had a nice rainbow.

Pig flu is stalking around my hospital these days. But, hey, it is a hospital. We have sick people. At this instant, pig flu appears no worse than generic flu. That can change.

July 23, 2009

what ever happens is what I planned

Sure, I planned to take pictures of rain. Been planning that all week.

Developing a poor attitude about the volunteer job… Been really really tempted to ask “Exactly when did your lack of planning become my emergency?”

July 22, 2009July 22, 2009

ethics

Lightroom. I am missing my 30 day free trial. A legit copy costs $299. I could impose upon my friends and family and get an “educational” copy for far less. I could wander off into the dark parts of the internet and snag some “warez”.

But, I have moral issues with either of these approaches. I earned a nice living building software. I am enjoying a nice retirement off Carlton’s money. Money that Carlton made from renting people who wrote software. I have made investment profits from software companies.

And, I do enjoy riding around on my moral (but atheistic) high horse.

So, I will either get over wanting Lightroom or do the right thing and buy it. Because, thanks to the money I have made off software – I can afford $299.

July 21, 2009July 21, 2009

The New Lens

The new lens arrived on schedule. It is nothing special. Basically an inexpensive prime lens. The film equivalent of a 50mm lens. Since my Panasonic body with the kit lens and battery weighs over a kilo – I was mostly after a light weight lens. And now I have one. Optically the half kilo kit lens is vastly superior. And, the 70mm macro lens is more fun. But, I think this one will be more useful.

Right now I am missing Lightroom. But, I am not missing it $300 worth. Yet.

July 20, 2009July 20, 2009

Remembering when…

NASA Photograph. One of the first steps taken on the Moon, this is an image of Buzz Aldrin's bootprint from the Apollo 11 mission. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the Moon on July 20, 1969.

Remembering when we dared to go where no man (or woman) had gone before. I watched this from the Kunia Tunnel on Red Hill on Oahu. Kunia Tunnel was supposed to be atomic bomb proof and it was TV/Radio/Shortwave proof. But, one of the electronics techs ran an amplified signal from a TV antenna on the outside. Violating all manner of security regs. But, on that day – it didn’t matter.