Pelosi?

Now I am pissed off (actually I have been pissed off a lot of times over the last 8 years but this one is more targeted at McCain instead of Bush).  Blaming Pelosi for the failure of the bail out package? Republicans are saying the bail out package failed because of a partisan speech given by Pelosi. Read the transcript of her speech here (scroll to the bottom).  Thank God for Barney Frank.

Aaarrgghh.

State of the World

Last night's SNL skit with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler is the funniest thing I have ever watched on SNL.  I think I have watched it at least 5 times.  I am laughing now just thinking about Tina Fey.

Debate: is McCain 12?  Because when I was 12 years old, I also refused to make eye contact with people that I didn't like.   Mr. Condescending just looked grumpy.  Obama - you need a little more fire in your responses.  

When will someone start talking about the Keating scandal?????

The number one highlight of the weekend:

I am sitting on the couch and I notice Elston darting after something.  I notice she is kinda chewing on something.  I call her. She comes to me and I notice a large black spot on the carpet. A  huge, super large, super duper sized dead spider.  I was somewhat horrified at how large it was and a little disgusted at the thought of Elston trying to eat the spider.  Now I know that I have complained about her lack of spider killing but it grossed me out.  Granted, I am pleased she killed it before it came closer to me but I really don't want to witness these things.  I was going to pick it up but got distracted by the Bears game.  During a timeout,  I went to go pick it up and it was gone.  I swear that Elston grinned at me.  It was one large spider.  The big season of mammoth spiders is upon us.  I really need to call an exterminator to spray the perimenter of the house.  

Quote of the day

I made some reference to Sarah Palin when I was getting my haircut.

My hair stylist: Who is Sarah Palin?

I seriously thought she was joking. She wasn't. She is a really smart woman in her early 30's. Granted, she was out of the loop when she was at Burning Man but she has been back for awhile.

This is why the citizens of this country scare me at election time.

ALERT.ALERT.ALERT.ALERT

Intercepted transmission from Spider Nation: At 1700 hours, a reconnaissance mission was thwarted by Human. Agent #567 was met with a brutal death by Human weaponry. The Human let out some battle cry as It hit #567. All members of Elite Tactical Team are to be on guard for Human, Red Dog, Orange Cat, and Striped Cat. Intelligence shows that the animal units are not a serious threat. See below for the mission plan that was thwarted:

------------18 September 2008 Reconnaissance Mission-------------

All members of the Elite Tactical Team are to canvass the Human's quarters. Objectives include: inventory of weaponry, map launch pads for future attacks, place decoys, and investigate future hiding spaces. All Elite Team members should pay special attention to the "special little space" filled with objects. Your commanders view this space as a vulnerable spot for the Human. It is filled with Human objects where Spider Nation can occupy. Please note that this area poses risks as Human weaponry is stored on the ground floor of this space. Spider Physician says the chemical pneumonia agent was successful but Human has fully recovered. Regardless, Spider Igor Biologist received special commendation from Spider President. Spider Psychologist notes that Human seems distracted these days with Human concerns. For this reason, 18 September 2008, is the chosen day for the reconnaissance mission.

Hiding from the media

Why aren't more people concerned that the McCain campaign is keeping Palin so far from the media?  At least it minimizes the impact of them hitting different states since she is only campaigning with him.   

I keep waiting to wake up from this really bad dream.

Comments....

There was a caller today on NPR who said that she didn't want her kids learning about 9/11 in school. She felt it was her motherly role to tell her kids about something that is disturbing.  The host of the program questioned her since the role of teaching history to kids usually happens in the schools.  She didn't care.

Disclaimer: I'm not a parent.  Doesn't this parent think about her children's education and our educational system if we relied on all parents to teach their kids about our history?  I don't remember my parents protecting me from horrible moments in our past. 

I'm also so frustrated with McCain and all of the hypocrisy.  Since I am one of the cynical few who think McCain will win this because the American people are too stupid - I was pleased to see that Obama is starting to hit back.  I especially like Obama's comment:

"Enough," Obama declared yesterday while campaigning in Norfolk, Va. "I don't care what they say about me. But I love this country too much to let them take over another election with lies and phony outrage and Swift boat politics. Enough is enough."

Lipstick on a pig?  This is what pisses me off about McCain and the media (this is fresh on my mind because Jon Stewart did a piece on this the other night) - McCain used the same quote to describe Hillary Clinton's health care policy.  They cried out when Clinton's campaign cried sexism when questioned by Obama's campaign or the media.  Yet, they are doing the exact same thing.

I guess I'm in a mood today.  I nearly throttled the Rite-Aid pharmacist.

Summer 2008

Now that summer is coming to a close, I've been a little down. I've started noticing some leaves changing colors.  I wasn't as active this summer as I would have liked.  I didn't do all of those things that I tell myself I will do in the summer months.

I started thinking about what I did the summer of '08.

- I spent a great, long weekend on the Oregon coast with some of my closest friends.

- I went to Michigan for a week with my family.  I spent time in a small community that always interested me when I lived in Chicago.  I was able to drink Bell's beer.

- I drove to California twice to see Mary in her new space. 

- I moved into a new place with the first platonic roommate I've had since the mid-90's.  I am still unorganized from the move, so this goes down as the most unorganized move in my history.

- I received great health news and then pneumonia took me down.

- Reconnected with old friends from high school and saw one of my favorite college friends for the first time since 1992.

- Best book: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle.

- Best movie: Once on video and The Dark Knight in the theatre.  I also admit that I loved Tropic Thunder.

- Television: Episodes of "The Wire" and the Olympics.

- Song of the summer: this one is tough.  "Tell Me" by Maria Taylor and "Woodcat" by Tunng were the songs at the beginning of the summer.  Now I am listening to the Once soundtrack with "Falling Slowly" as my favorite.

- Restaurant of the summer: Por Que No.   Favorite find? Fonda Rosa (Shannon, we need to go back!).

- Drink of the summer: Coke Zero.  I really haven't been drinking much this summer except when I was downing all of the Bell's beer in Michigan or the coastal weekend.  I've actually gone almost a month without a beer.  Shudder.

- Best moment of the summer: Going to see a show with all three members of my favorite band standing right in front of me.  One of them performed as a guest member of a band.  I giggled a lot that night.

I'm probably missing stuff but this seems like my summer.

Ode to Elston

September 2003


September 6, 2008.

Elston is 11 years old today. Humor me while I give you the highlights of her life.

Adoption/Coach house on Buckingham
I still remember the random Saturday when Nicole and I drove past the Anti-Cruelty Society and decided to stop in to see the dogs. A few hours later, we had adopted this little red dog. We spent the rest of the day getting dog supplies before we could pick her up in a few days. We went out to dinner with my sister, Amy, at a restaurant that was across from the shelter. We tried to point her out to Amy. She was the one who came up with the name, Elston, as we drank beers. The first few weeks were rough as we tried to teach her to go outside in the bitter cold of a February snowstorm. I wouldn't even take my coat off. I would just sit bundled up at our kitchen table - warming up before the next trip outside.

That was one of Elston's many living spaces and the first of three in Chicago. She mostly stayed out of trouble as she gained weight and grew out of her puppy phase. It was a great neighborhood for dogs. Her favorite spot? The Belmont rocks on Lake Michigan.

Logan Square years
- Taking her to meet our potential landlord. She hated riding in a car so we gave her relaxation medicine so she wouldn't appear so hyper. It had the reverse effect but we still passed the test.
- She would look out the window at the various drug dealers. Good times.
- Elston and I moved to a different apartment in the building when Nicole and I broke up. She had a different view of the same drug dealers.
- She was attacked by a neighbor's Rottweiler. It turned into the feud of the summer.
- She met Jane.

Eugene
- Her first cross-country move was probably the most difficult. She was very agitated on the drive. We couldn't leave her alone at all.
- Her firsts: flowers, crazy spiders, actual parks, and staying in hotels.
- She met Sophie, Brian, Abby, and Bonnie.
- She nearly died from a bee sting.
- She watched different type of drug dealers from the living room window.

New Jersey
- She saw lots of dirt.
- She had a terrific group of dog friends.
- First vacation - Provincetown and another vacation to Chicago.
- Became addicted to Greenies.
- She fell in love with Mary.
- No drug dealers but crazy old lady across the street to watch over.
- Took lots of care of her mom.

Portland
- The last cross country move.
- First place with an elevator and a fireplace.
- Two vacations to California and a vacation on the coast.
- New friends - Vida, Erin, Kiki.
- Back to flowers, grass, and spiders.
- Started living with cats.
- Watched people going into the library and then a boring front yard.

She still looks young and has lots of energy. Elston has been there through the worst - the moves and the break-ups. Yet, she really hasn't changed over the years except a growing addiction to treats and a little more sleeping. When she was a puppy, my vet said that she would be the best dog I would ever own. How true. I just wish she would always stay young. (I can't go there otherwise I'll have a breakdown).

Unlike her first birthday, I didn't force her to wear a tiara on a walk around the neighborhood. A new toy and some treats were her gifts this year. Happy Birthday, Elston.

Time flies

I wish I could say it has flown by because I have been having fun. After 4 weeks of a worsening cough, I was diagnosed with pneumonia. I am now resting and taking lots of drugs. Why is it that I always think of all the things I could do with bed rest but now I am too tired to do any of it? It always works out that way.

Other things going on:

Trip to Davis: I did drive to Davis for a long weekend. We had a nice weekend other than sounding like a TB ward. We spent a nice day in Napa and buying too much wine. Movies, hanging out in her neighbor's pool, and coughing. Elston went along for the ride and enjoyed her second trip to Davis. We also drove down with one of my co-workers. We had a nice drive chatting about everything.

Conventions. I don't really know where to start. I should have just live blogged both of them because I am drawing some blanks. The entire Republican convention left me frustrated. Palin? Hockey mom? Please. If anyone really think she is that involved in the day-to-day lives of her children...you need to be examined. I love that Jon Stewart called her a four eyed wolf hunter. Based on their speeches, you would never know that the economy is in the tank. National security...blah...blah....freedom....blah blah. Change? They are the ones in power. I am horrified and a little scared of the Palin pick. She was far too comfortable getting up there and throwing out her one-liners. McCain was boring. Really boring. Rudy? I can't even describe my anger. Best moment of the convention - Palin's youngest daughter smoothing the baby's hair with her spit.

Democrats - I thought Biden, Obama, Gore, and the Clintons did a great job. Enough said.

I'm just not optimistic about November. I guess I don't have enough faith in my fellow citizens.