Oh yeah! I went to Walmart yesterday. You folks get to read about my every visit, because I seldom venture to the big box, and every trip is memorable. I'm close to phobic about going there. By his request, my grandson and I went to buy his birthday presents yesterday. He headed straight for the aisle which displays Lego Star Wars toys, games, etc.
When I go for myself, I have my list, I go directly to find my items as best I can, and then I'm out. Yesterday, it did not go that way. GS had to look at every toy in the aisle before he made his choice, just to be absolutely sure that there was not something that he would like much better lurking somewhere on the long line of shelves.
He took his time, and I was patient with him, thinking of this as "quality time" with grandson as we chatted during his search. He's the child whose parents divorced three years ago, and who also has been diagnosed with ADHD. His report card was very good at the end of the year, all "A"s and "B"s, and his reading level is above average, which was joyful news, as he struggled with reading at the beginning of the school year. He's quite good at math, a gift he surely did not inherit from his paternal grandmother.
Finally, finally, he chose his gifts within certain price limits, and I went on to find the two items that I needed, shampoo, and another POS alarm clock to replace the one that I purchased not so very long ago, but which had gone bad already. I could not find the alarm clocks. Of course! They were not in the same place where I found the POS clock that I needed to replace. I wandered the vast store looking for an employee, but nary a one to be found. We wandered and we wandered to likely places where the clocks might be, but no clocks. Again, finally, finally, I found an employee who very kindly walked me to the shelf with the clocks. I went a little more upscale, moving from approximately $8.00 to $12.00, in the, no doubt, vain hope that the clock was not a POS.
In truth, this visit was not as traumatic as some, because making my GS happy was the purpose of my being there, and it was not simply about my pedestrian need for stuff that I can't buy anywhere else, and we chatted as we roamed.
On to checkout, always a challenge at Walmart. The only quick-access checkouts were the self-serves, so I chose one, although the self-checkout generally does not work out for me. Twice during the process, I was prompted to bag items that were already bagged. What did I do? Not place them in the bags just right? With not enough force for the machine to register that they were there? GS helped me with the buttons on the machine for payment for the purchases, and we were finally done. He wanted a pretzel on the way out, and I told him that I would not go through the checkout line just for a pretzel, but - oh joy! - the pretzels were in a booth.
I know that some of you who read this post work at Walmart, and you need your jobs. Others of you must shop at Walmart or even like shopping there, and that's fine. Some of my anxiety about Walmart is due to my eccentricities, but not all of it. Walmart seems to overburden their employees by not having enough of them around and also is not generous with benefits, as many of their employees are part-timers with no benefits and low salaries. Then their stores are big, ugly boxes, which are an assault to the eyes inside and out.
All done with Walmart for a few months. Yay!
Disclaimer: Grandpère sometimes shops for groceries there. I try not to. Chacun à son goût.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
"Lessons Life Taught Me"
Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio:
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written.
My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:"
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."
Thanks to Ann.
Note: Regina Brett is not 90 years old. Thanks to Paul, the BB, for the correction.
Guilty confession: I do not research this sort of post. I takes 'em as they comes.
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written.
My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:"
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."
Thanks to Ann.
Note: Regina Brett is not 90 years old. Thanks to Paul, the BB, for the correction.
Guilty confession: I do not research this sort of post. I takes 'em as they comes.
Please Pray....
From David@Montreal:
strange how Life works at times
many of us are still reeling under the harsh unfairness of Terri-Lynn's death
our anger at the system she had to suffer, and our concern for her very young son
and to make it even more personal for many of us, there is the cruel irony of dear Doxy suffering the loss of one of her oldest friends with Terri-Lynn's death- literally within days of her joyous marriage to BF
and I've just received a call for prayers for Rosemary- who very much brought Terri-Lynne very much to mind.
the conditions are radically different. Rosemary has a husband who works for the Canadian govt. and of course living in Canada she also has the extraordinary benefits of our National Medicare system.
that said, she is the mother of two young sons, whose treated breast cancer set off wide-spread cancer in the lymphatic system, and yesterday they dicovered the first tumor on her brain. and yet, my dear sister Jennifer who is supporting her, tells me that Rosemary is a picture of almost a perfet picture of health- the last person one would expect to be told they have only three months life to live.
Rosemary still has a couple more weeks of chemo ahead of her, and then they want her to have a full course of radiation therapy- a treatment schedule which to my mind at least could seem to contradict the life prognosis.
So prayers for Rosemary, her heroic husband and her two young sons please.
i'd also beg your continued prayers for my very dear cousin Frank and his heroic wife Carol; Frank's battling his lekemia with genetic therapy and now c-difficile.
prayers for our Jane who is buzzing up to Boston and then to Halifax
prayers for my neighbour Robert, battling lukemia with radiotherapy
prayers for a certain cherised sister in St. Louis, and William: both of whom have some discernment ongoing
prayers for John & Mary, and John's sister our beloved Elizabeth and her spouse Barbara, who are all dealing with the reality of John's alzheimer's diagnosis
I might also suggest thanksgiving for the radiant example of our dear Doxy and BF- who so recently reminded us of the radiant beauty, generosity and grace of true love
thank-you my giants of prayer and pratice- living blessings each one of you
love always- always Love
strange how Life works at times
many of us are still reeling under the harsh unfairness of Terri-Lynn's death
our anger at the system she had to suffer, and our concern for her very young son
and to make it even more personal for many of us, there is the cruel irony of dear Doxy suffering the loss of one of her oldest friends with Terri-Lynn's death- literally within days of her joyous marriage to BF
and I've just received a call for prayers for Rosemary- who very much brought Terri-Lynne very much to mind.
the conditions are radically different. Rosemary has a husband who works for the Canadian govt. and of course living in Canada she also has the extraordinary benefits of our National Medicare system.
that said, she is the mother of two young sons, whose treated breast cancer set off wide-spread cancer in the lymphatic system, and yesterday they dicovered the first tumor on her brain. and yet, my dear sister Jennifer who is supporting her, tells me that Rosemary is a picture of almost a perfet picture of health- the last person one would expect to be told they have only three months life to live.
Rosemary still has a couple more weeks of chemo ahead of her, and then they want her to have a full course of radiation therapy- a treatment schedule which to my mind at least could seem to contradict the life prognosis.
So prayers for Rosemary, her heroic husband and her two young sons please.
i'd also beg your continued prayers for my very dear cousin Frank and his heroic wife Carol; Frank's battling his lekemia with genetic therapy and now c-difficile.
prayers for our Jane who is buzzing up to Boston and then to Halifax
prayers for my neighbour Robert, battling lukemia with radiotherapy
prayers for a certain cherised sister in St. Louis, and William: both of whom have some discernment ongoing
prayers for John & Mary, and John's sister our beloved Elizabeth and her spouse Barbara, who are all dealing with the reality of John's alzheimer's diagnosis
I might also suggest thanksgiving for the radiant example of our dear Doxy and BF- who so recently reminded us of the radiant beauty, generosity and grace of true love
thank-you my giants of prayer and pratice- living blessings each one of you
love always- always Love
The Wedding Of The Year
Here they are, my friends Doxy and Dear Husband. Aren't they beautiful? The ceremony was lovely, everything in proper order, all the participants playing their roles perfectly, everyone getting their lines right. I don't believe that I have ever been to a wedding in which the couple were so obviously and romantically in love with one another. Doxy and Dear Husband seemed quite relaxed and thoroughly enjoying themselves at their wedding.
Doxy's dress was gorgeous and so very flattering, showing off her lovely coloring and graceful figure. The tiers upon tiers in the skirt of her dress were beautiful. Dear Husband is fit and handsome, and he cut no mean figure in his well-tailored cassock. He reminded me of a character from an Ingmar Bergman movie, looking a bit Lutheran to me. Is it all right for an Episcopal priest to look a little Lutheran?
Bishop Michael Curry, who officiated at the wedding, preached a terrific sermon. HE PREACHED! I wanted to shout, "Amen!" more than once, but since I am a proper Episcopalian, I settled for vigorous head-nodding. My friend Jane R. is not so proper, and she let out an "Amen!" or maybe more than one.
The choir, of which one my hosts for my stay is a member, performed beautifully.
To the right is a view from the rear of the handsome pair walking together.
Thanks to Paul for the pictures of Doxy and Dear Husband. Mine did not come out good.
The Rogues Gallery, minus one, in church, pretending not to be rogues. Left to right: LJ, PJ, Jane R., Paul, and Fran
How about Jane's lovely hat? Oh the irony of Paul surrounded by women! But we all love him so.
Paul, Doxy, and Daughter of Doxy
What can I say about Daughter's hair? Words can't describe its beauty. See for yourself. She would not allow me to photograph her from the front, although I would not have published the photo. I don't why because she's quite pretty.
The Js, LJ and PJ
Only KJ is missing. PJ is melting in the humidity. I didn't notice it, because I live my life in high humidity.
Me and Bishop Michael
What was so funny? I can't remember.
Fran and Angie, Doxy's sister
Angie is a woman after my own heart. I loved meeting her. And she's beautiful, too, as is my dear friend Fran. All my friends are beautiful. This picture is stolen from Fran's Facebook site.
Fran and Jane R. outside the church
Fran and Jane R. both look lovely, but Jane is now wearing her beautiful blue hat. Thanks to Paul, the BB, for the picture.
And a grand time was had by all. I already miss my blogger friends. I have more to tell and more pictures. Before the accounts of my trip to the wedding are over, I may bore you to death.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Liberty University - No More Democratic Club
From the Washington Post:
Liberty University will no longer recognize its campus Democratic club because, officials say, the national party's platform goes against the conservative Christian school's moral principles.
Officials at the private Lynchburg school, which was founded by the Rev. Jerry Falwell, said they made the decision after receiving complaints from trustees, parents and donors.
"They really are great kids and good friends of mine," said Jerry Falwell Jr., who became the school's chancellor after his father died in 2007. "It's just an issue of what Liberty's mission is."
Falwell's words reminds me of the words spoken by opponents of equality, "Some of my best friends are gays and lesbians."
What surprises me is that there are any Democrats at all at Liberty University.
Liberty, which has 11,500 residential students and 35,000 online students, has had a College Republicans club for years. The College Democrats formed in October and worked aggressively to elect Obama president.
The college officials "let the Liberty University College Republicans stay on campus, but they don't let us," said Brian Diaz, 18, the club's president. "Sounds like censorship to me."
Diaz was informed in a May 15 e-mail from Student Affairs Vice President Mark Hine that the club, which has about 30 members, will no longer be able to use Liberty's name or be eligible for funding because of the party's stand on abortion rights and gay rights issues.
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Mathew D. Staver, dean of the university's school of law, said Liberty recently came up with new guidelines for all student groups. On May 15, a campuswide review began. The recognition of only the Democratic club has been revoked. Staver said the students can continue to meet in certain locations on campus, and school officials have encouraged them to find a parent organization that supports a "pro-life, pro-family" platform.
I commend Notre Dame University for not backing down from honoring President Obama at their commencement in the face of tremendous pressure and likely loss of income from donors who were opposed to the invitation.
Thanks to Lapin for the link.
Liberty University will no longer recognize its campus Democratic club because, officials say, the national party's platform goes against the conservative Christian school's moral principles.
Officials at the private Lynchburg school, which was founded by the Rev. Jerry Falwell, said they made the decision after receiving complaints from trustees, parents and donors.
"They really are great kids and good friends of mine," said Jerry Falwell Jr., who became the school's chancellor after his father died in 2007. "It's just an issue of what Liberty's mission is."
Falwell's words reminds me of the words spoken by opponents of equality, "Some of my best friends are gays and lesbians."
What surprises me is that there are any Democrats at all at Liberty University.
Liberty, which has 11,500 residential students and 35,000 online students, has had a College Republicans club for years. The College Democrats formed in October and worked aggressively to elect Obama president.
The college officials "let the Liberty University College Republicans stay on campus, but they don't let us," said Brian Diaz, 18, the club's president. "Sounds like censorship to me."
Diaz was informed in a May 15 e-mail from Student Affairs Vice President Mark Hine that the club, which has about 30 members, will no longer be able to use Liberty's name or be eligible for funding because of the party's stand on abortion rights and gay rights issues.
ad_icon
Mathew D. Staver, dean of the university's school of law, said Liberty recently came up with new guidelines for all student groups. On May 15, a campuswide review began. The recognition of only the Democratic club has been revoked. Staver said the students can continue to meet in certain locations on campus, and school officials have encouraged them to find a parent organization that supports a "pro-life, pro-family" platform.
I commend Notre Dame University for not backing down from honoring President Obama at their commencement in the face of tremendous pressure and likely loss of income from donors who were opposed to the invitation.
Thanks to Lapin for the link.
Friends Of Jake In Anaheim
IT is exploring the idea of a blogger meet-up in Anaheim, California, during General Convention of the Episcopal Church in July. See Friends of Jake in Anaheim if you are interested.
Sadly, I won't be there except in spirit, but I hope that many of you will be able to gather and get to know one another in real life.
Sadly, I won't be there except in spirit, but I hope that many of you will be able to gather and get to know one another in real life.
Now She's Gone
From Doxy:
She was beautiful. Big brown eyes and a veritable mane of dark brown, unruly hair. A crooked tooth gave her a interesting smile.
She was sarcastic and wry. I was always glad that I wasn’t the subject of her witheringly funny scrutiny. She could cut through bullshit in about two seconds flat. You never wondered what she thought about anything--she was always happy to tell you.
....
She was fiercely loyal to her friends, including me. And she was loving--to her son, to her family and friends, and even to a few people who didn’t deserve it.
....
She died because, when she started having pain and other symptoms almost five years ago, she didn’t go to the doctor because she couldn’t afford it. What might have been easily curable had it been caught early was a death sentence by the time she was no longer able to bear the pain and dragged herself to the emergency room.
She died because the people in this country are so fucking selfish that they have fought healthcare reform tooth and nail.
Please read Doxy's entire beautiful and furious elegy for her friend, Terri-Lynn.
Excerpts from Terri-Lynn's poem, "Where I'm From":
I am from the wild tangle of honeysuckle
the salt-cured planks of the pier
the cool green sanctuary under the willow tree.
....
I am from Jesus loves me
just as I am.
I am from dinner on the grounds and I'll fly away oh glory
and Jesus Christ Superstar.
....
I am from pirates and poets and painters
All of the gifts; none of the glory.
I am from Mason's shrine and Granny's cedar chest,
from Daddy's photographs and Tracy's poems.
May Terri-Lynn rest in peace and rise in glory.
May Terri-Lynn's son find a home where hearts overflow with love and arms open to take him in and embrace him.
May God heal the broken hearts of Terri-Lynn's son and all who loved her and somehow, some way give them peace.
If you felt rage rise in your throat as you read the story, Jane R. in her post titled "Killed By the Health Care System" tells you what you can do to channel your rage into action so this will never happen again.
Lord, have mercy.
And Then There's This
From The Advocate:
In a bold move that takes a new approach to achieving marriage equality, two attorneys who argued opposing sides of the 2000 Bush v. Gore lawsuit before the U.S. Supreme Court have filed a challenge to Proposition 8 in federal court, The Advocate has learned.
Theodore B. Olson, the U.S. solicitor general from 2001 to 2004 under President George W. Bush, and David Boies, a high-profile trial lawyer who argued on behalf of former vice president Al Gore, filed the suit May 22 in U.S. district court on behalf of two California gay couples.
The attorneys argue that relegating same-sex couples to domestic partnerships instead of granting them full marriage rights is a violation of the equal protection and due process clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
I'm not a lawyer. I know. What a surprise! Therefore, this is posted without commentary, except with respect to the words in bold print, I say, "Didn't I tell you?"
Thanks to Lapin for finding the link.
UPDATE: More discussion of this story in the comments to my Cal Supremes Say "No" to Equality post.
In a bold move that takes a new approach to achieving marriage equality, two attorneys who argued opposing sides of the 2000 Bush v. Gore lawsuit before the U.S. Supreme Court have filed a challenge to Proposition 8 in federal court, The Advocate has learned.
Theodore B. Olson, the U.S. solicitor general from 2001 to 2004 under President George W. Bush, and David Boies, a high-profile trial lawyer who argued on behalf of former vice president Al Gore, filed the suit May 22 in U.S. district court on behalf of two California gay couples.
The attorneys argue that relegating same-sex couples to domestic partnerships instead of granting them full marriage rights is a violation of the equal protection and due process clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
I'm not a lawyer. I know. What a surprise! Therefore, this is posted without commentary, except with respect to the words in bold print, I say, "Didn't I tell you?"
Thanks to Lapin for finding the link.
UPDATE: More discussion of this story in the comments to my Cal Supremes Say "No" to Equality post.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Interesting - Or Not?
AT 5 MINUTES & 6 SECONDS AFTER 4 A.M., ON THE 8TH OF JULY, THIS YEAR, THE TIME AND DATE WILL BE:
04:05:06 07-08-09
THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL THE YEAR 3009!!!
(I had a deep feeling that you just needed to know this) :-)
Aren't you glad you are in my address book read my blog?
Doug strikes again.
04:05:06 07-08-09
THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL THE YEAR 3009!!!
(I had a deep feeling that you just needed to know this) :-)
Aren't you glad you
Doug strikes again.
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