Here's a question to ponder...
If you could only be remembered for one of these two things, which would you want to be remembered for....
Your deeds?
OR
Your character?
I realize one should blend into the other, but not necessarily.
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Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Six more days...
Okay, I can't contain myself any more. There are only six days left and I just can't do it. I have tried to keep this a happy place, a mostly non-controversial blog--no politics. I did not want to step on toes, or perhaps I did not want to take a stand. Political choices are personal. This has truly been the most interesting and most covered election that I have ever seen. At times I've been fascinated and at times so sick of the whole thing. My husband, a political and history junky, is going to have withdrawal when it is all over. He's relished this and if his guy wins, it will be a sweet victory. He will be shouting just like he did when the Red Sox looked like they were going to make it to the World Series. The Red Sox disappointed him and time will tell if the election disappoints him too.
I am registered independent, however I am conservative. I have tried to watch different TV stations to see the biases and how different people react to the debates and speeches, etc. I even caught part of a special on the history channel that I can't wait until they rerun. It was on body language. I have been naive and was so disappointed to learn that besides speech making, all the candidates learn body language too. However, there are times when they cannot control their body language. I believe I heard them say (but I want to see it again) that McCain's body language was honest whereas Obama's was less so. In my gut, I did not need a history channel special to tell me so. From the last debate, I felt like Obama had a smug smirk which reminded me of another presidential candidate that I did not like.
What bothered me first was the Rev. Wright issue. I debated a friend about this. I could not understand how someone could continue going to a church and hear such things if they did not believe the same. My friend told me that she continued to go to a church when she didn't believe everything they said. Ah, there's the difference. She opened my eyes. I never realized that some people do that. My husband and I jump ship whenever a church starts preaching something we don't feel is right. Perhaps we take our religion more seriously? Besides that, Obama didn't just go to church there, he said Rev. Wright was his spiritual advisor. Of course, he has since denounced him, but only due to public pressure. He would never have done that otherwise.
Then there's Bill Ayers. It amazes me that this man is a professor. What a liberal world we live in. I saw the video of his wife, Bernadine Dohrn, praising the Charles Manson murders in horrible words. After 9/11/2001 Bill Ayers still said he had no regrets for any of the Weatherman's bombings and only wish they had done more. If any of you have been to the Spy Museum in Washington, DC (I highly recommend it), there was a large special section on terrorism in the USA and the weatherman were among the terrorists. It was quite educational.
I see that Bernadine Dohrn is still fighting against the government and here Obama was in their home when his candidacy was decided? Shouldn't this bother people?
Obama is close friends with Tony Rezko, a felon, who helped launch his political career. Tony Rezko was a global arms dealer who worked with Sadamm Hussein. Doesn't this worry people?
Obama clearly gave money to Acorn and they clearly have deliberately forged absentee ballots. I haven't heard that these are not going to be counted. It sounded like it would be too much of a hassle to do that--yet when Florida's ballot was questioned, we waited for that to be settled.
I never understood how Obama did not feel the need to pledge to the flag when this is the flag of the country that he wants to "reign" over. I would be so proud of the flag of my country. To be honest, often when I watch a parade and our flag is being carried and the patriotic music playing, my eyes well up. I am so proud of our country and happy to live here.
I will say that I was listening to NPR radio the other day and they were commenting on different neighborhoods and that they discovered that black neighborhoods were less likely to fly the American flag. They interviewed some black people and they said they still did not feel like this was their country. I find that very sad. I don't know what has to be done to change that. I wish they would consider the hundreds of thousands of white men who gave their lives for their freedom. Is this taught in the schools? America has developed special scholarships for black children and other minorities. I don't know what it is like for them, but I cannot understand how they still feel unAmerican.
Anyway, the list goes on and on of the company that Obama keeps. He has been in the company of some pretty scary people. If I could draw, I would draw a political cartoon of the White House with Obama in there and all these questionable characters looking out of the White House windows and of course, no American flag.
I also have heard on TV that people don't care about who his friends are. They care about the issues. Well, being conservative, I have to go the other way. Yet, if that were a supposed conservative candidate with all those acquaintances, I would think twice. To me, character is just as important as the issues. I've heard Obama change his mind on the issues several times. How can you know what he will do?
To be honest, he kind of scares me. I know he's not the anti-Christ, but I wonder about him. He does not seem to be a proud American (his wife certainly wasn't), yet I feel he is smug and has too many dangerous and questionable associates. I want someone running for president who is proud of our country. I haven't seen that in him.
He is urging people to take off election day. Excuse me, this is the man who is supposed to understand the middle class...how many middle class workers can just take the day off? Or want to when they have only a couple of weeks vacation days?
Well, there I did it. I have surely offended or disappointed some--to which I say, get your own blog. It's free and very easy to do.
No matter what, pray for our country because it needs it.
I am registered independent, however I am conservative. I have tried to watch different TV stations to see the biases and how different people react to the debates and speeches, etc. I even caught part of a special on the history channel that I can't wait until they rerun. It was on body language. I have been naive and was so disappointed to learn that besides speech making, all the candidates learn body language too. However, there are times when they cannot control their body language. I believe I heard them say (but I want to see it again) that McCain's body language was honest whereas Obama's was less so. In my gut, I did not need a history channel special to tell me so. From the last debate, I felt like Obama had a smug smirk which reminded me of another presidential candidate that I did not like.
What bothered me first was the Rev. Wright issue. I debated a friend about this. I could not understand how someone could continue going to a church and hear such things if they did not believe the same. My friend told me that she continued to go to a church when she didn't believe everything they said. Ah, there's the difference. She opened my eyes. I never realized that some people do that. My husband and I jump ship whenever a church starts preaching something we don't feel is right. Perhaps we take our religion more seriously? Besides that, Obama didn't just go to church there, he said Rev. Wright was his spiritual advisor. Of course, he has since denounced him, but only due to public pressure. He would never have done that otherwise.
Then there's Bill Ayers. It amazes me that this man is a professor. What a liberal world we live in. I saw the video of his wife, Bernadine Dohrn, praising the Charles Manson murders in horrible words. After 9/11/2001 Bill Ayers still said he had no regrets for any of the Weatherman's bombings and only wish they had done more. If any of you have been to the Spy Museum in Washington, DC (I highly recommend it), there was a large special section on terrorism in the USA and the weatherman were among the terrorists. It was quite educational.
I see that Bernadine Dohrn is still fighting against the government and here Obama was in their home when his candidacy was decided? Shouldn't this bother people?
Obama is close friends with Tony Rezko, a felon, who helped launch his political career. Tony Rezko was a global arms dealer who worked with Sadamm Hussein. Doesn't this worry people?
Obama clearly gave money to Acorn and they clearly have deliberately forged absentee ballots. I haven't heard that these are not going to be counted. It sounded like it would be too much of a hassle to do that--yet when Florida's ballot was questioned, we waited for that to be settled.
I never understood how Obama did not feel the need to pledge to the flag when this is the flag of the country that he wants to "reign" over. I would be so proud of the flag of my country. To be honest, often when I watch a parade and our flag is being carried and the patriotic music playing, my eyes well up. I am so proud of our country and happy to live here.
I will say that I was listening to NPR radio the other day and they were commenting on different neighborhoods and that they discovered that black neighborhoods were less likely to fly the American flag. They interviewed some black people and they said they still did not feel like this was their country. I find that very sad. I don't know what has to be done to change that. I wish they would consider the hundreds of thousands of white men who gave their lives for their freedom. Is this taught in the schools? America has developed special scholarships for black children and other minorities. I don't know what it is like for them, but I cannot understand how they still feel unAmerican.
Anyway, the list goes on and on of the company that Obama keeps. He has been in the company of some pretty scary people. If I could draw, I would draw a political cartoon of the White House with Obama in there and all these questionable characters looking out of the White House windows and of course, no American flag.
I also have heard on TV that people don't care about who his friends are. They care about the issues. Well, being conservative, I have to go the other way. Yet, if that were a supposed conservative candidate with all those acquaintances, I would think twice. To me, character is just as important as the issues. I've heard Obama change his mind on the issues several times. How can you know what he will do?
To be honest, he kind of scares me. I know he's not the anti-Christ, but I wonder about him. He does not seem to be a proud American (his wife certainly wasn't), yet I feel he is smug and has too many dangerous and questionable associates. I want someone running for president who is proud of our country. I haven't seen that in him.
He is urging people to take off election day. Excuse me, this is the man who is supposed to understand the middle class...how many middle class workers can just take the day off? Or want to when they have only a couple of weeks vacation days?
Well, there I did it. I have surely offended or disappointed some--to which I say, get your own blog. It's free and very easy to do.
No matter what, pray for our country because it needs it.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Carpe Diem
Just a thought for you today. We know that life is short and that we will never have had "enough" time with our loved ones, but today think about this...Who in your life, family, friends, acquaintances, someone you know well, someone you don't know that well but would like to...who if they were gone tomorrow would you deeply regret not having spent more time with?
Now you know what to do.
Now you know what to do.
Monday, October 13, 2008
"The Rainmaker"
We both had long days on Saturday, but since the tickets were bought, we went out Saturday night to see the Goshen Players presentation of "The Rainmaker". Now, I remembered parts of the old movie with Burt Lancaster and I knew it was a good storyline, but never saw it performed as a play.
First we did not get our favorite balcony seats. The balcony is small and there are only about five front row seats that are perfect. Any other seat in the balcony has poles in the way or the other rows are not slanted enough to be able to see over the heads in front--though they did put in new chairs that are movable so you may be able to alter them between heads.
Now that's not to complain about the main floor seats. From every seat on the main floor you can see perfectly. They set it up cabaret style with coffee, tea and little pastries and cookies with four chairs at each table. It is very nice. We just like the full view from above of the balcony. I shouldn't be spreading this around because everyone is going to be fighting us for our favorites seats!
To the play itself...this is the first play that Les Ober has directed there as far as we know. We know him as former director at our local high school. Whatever performances we saw there were high caliber. We were surprised to see such talent at high school level.
I don't know how much he had to do with drawing out the talent at adult level in Goshen, but "The Rainmaker" was excellent. Every single actor shined. Tom Denihan as Jim, the younger, not so smart, yet well-meaning brother was goofy but likeable. He provided much of the comedic aspect of the play.
Andrus Gates who played Lizzy was my husband's favorite. He was so impressed by her. She did have the deepest part showing a person's struggle with life and losing faith in hopes and dreams and then realizing the faith has to come from within to make dreams come true.
Noah Curry, the older brother was the serious, heavy handed character who wanted to control the others when he felt his father wasn't giving them the proper guidance. Michael Reilly delivered this extremely well.
Burt Lancaster's part in the movie was Bill Starbuck. Jonathan Jacobson protrayed the fast talking, con man, yet not such a bad guy after all. He did so excellently.
Keith Martin convincingly played the concerned yet perplexed father not knowing what to do to help his family. Also, struggling with life issues, Deputy File was well played by Anthony Urillo. We were interested to read that Anthony has appeared on some TV shows and a couple of movies. Finally, Jeff Savage was the Sheriff, a role that fit him well.
The play made you think and made you laugh. The stage was set with three different scenes yet interestingly and cleverly done so that there was no curtain needed. Although we were so exhausted from our days (and a lesser play I would have dozed), we are so glad that we went. It was an enjoyable performance, an excellent job done by one and all. Long live community theatre and the wonderful talent hidden within it.
First we did not get our favorite balcony seats. The balcony is small and there are only about five front row seats that are perfect. Any other seat in the balcony has poles in the way or the other rows are not slanted enough to be able to see over the heads in front--though they did put in new chairs that are movable so you may be able to alter them between heads.
Now that's not to complain about the main floor seats. From every seat on the main floor you can see perfectly. They set it up cabaret style with coffee, tea and little pastries and cookies with four chairs at each table. It is very nice. We just like the full view from above of the balcony. I shouldn't be spreading this around because everyone is going to be fighting us for our favorites seats!
To the play itself...this is the first play that Les Ober has directed there as far as we know. We know him as former director at our local high school. Whatever performances we saw there were high caliber. We were surprised to see such talent at high school level.
I don't know how much he had to do with drawing out the talent at adult level in Goshen, but "The Rainmaker" was excellent. Every single actor shined. Tom Denihan as Jim, the younger, not so smart, yet well-meaning brother was goofy but likeable. He provided much of the comedic aspect of the play.
Andrus Gates who played Lizzy was my husband's favorite. He was so impressed by her. She did have the deepest part showing a person's struggle with life and losing faith in hopes and dreams and then realizing the faith has to come from within to make dreams come true.
Noah Curry, the older brother was the serious, heavy handed character who wanted to control the others when he felt his father wasn't giving them the proper guidance. Michael Reilly delivered this extremely well.
Burt Lancaster's part in the movie was Bill Starbuck. Jonathan Jacobson protrayed the fast talking, con man, yet not such a bad guy after all. He did so excellently.
Keith Martin convincingly played the concerned yet perplexed father not knowing what to do to help his family. Also, struggling with life issues, Deputy File was well played by Anthony Urillo. We were interested to read that Anthony has appeared on some TV shows and a couple of movies. Finally, Jeff Savage was the Sheriff, a role that fit him well.
The play made you think and made you laugh. The stage was set with three different scenes yet interestingly and cleverly done so that there was no curtain needed. Although we were so exhausted from our days (and a lesser play I would have dozed), we are so glad that we went. It was an enjoyable performance, an excellent job done by one and all. Long live community theatre and the wonderful talent hidden within it.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
My Cape Cod Treasures
My goal when I walk the beach is to find a piece of sea glass. This is a picture of my treasures from this weekend. The white and green pieces in front are sea glass. I found two, Ben found two and George found one (but who's counting?) But actually this is only the second piece that George has ever found. He's getting better.
Then there are the beach rocks. I love the feel of the ones that have been smoothed by the ocean and the others that have physical layers that you can feel. The baseball size one on the right rolls like a ball. I just am fascinated by the colors, the shapes and designs. I have always liked rocks and I cannot leave a beach without taking some home.
The rocks go into a container I have at my house displaying them outside. The sea glass is in a jar in the house, which is kept on the same shelf as the ceramic paw print--coincidence?
Dog Paw Rock
As we were sitting on those big rocks, I looked down on the rock that I was sitting on. There was this perfect circle where it may have been blasted, I don't know. I happened to look inside the circle. You will see above that the rocks wedged in there look liked a paw print. Since Ben and I were talking earlier about our dog's ceramic paw print that we have, both he and I were amazed. He liked to think it was a sign from our dog in heaven saying hi to us. When we touched the rocks, they were wedged in permanently in the sand and rock. It is amazing to think that they landed that way when the rocks keep getting covered with the water as the tides come in. We were both were in awe of this wonderful find.
Then the next day we went out to eat at Cooke's for fish and chips. They serve a few onion rings on top of the platter. Ben put his onion rings on a napkin to save them for last. The top right picture is what we saw when he lifted up the onion rings--it was even hard to fathom how the rings could have possibly made that design, but we saw it as another paw print--other people see Mother Mary, we see paw prints. What does it all mean????
PS I've added a picture of our memorial stone for Patches. It's hard to see but that is another place that I had put some of my precious beach stones around. Also I keep my jar of sea glass near his ceramic paw print. All seems to tie in together some how.
Cape Cod Rocks
These large rocks are a favorite spot of ours to sit and rest and talk. Note how big these rocks are as I am going to reference them in the next blog.
Ocean View
Just some more pictures of our ocean view this weekend. The tents on the beach were for a wedding. They had fireworks at night, so that was an added bonus for us.
Cape Cod
This is mostly going to be pictures of our wonderful weekend at Cape Cod. We have traditionally gone to Cape Cod yearly (sometimes twice) to East Sandwich. My parents go twice a year and rent out this 5 bedroom house on the ocean and always invite us along. It has a lot of happy memories and we were not happy when we saw that it is for sale. With the economy I don't imagine it will sell quickly and they may still rent it out, but in the back of all our minds was the thought that this may be the last time we were all there together. If anyone has an extra $975,000. that they want to donate towards our purchase, you will make all of us so very happy.
Three of the bedrooms are upstairs with sliding glass doors to the ocean view. These are just different pictures of the house. I'll continue this on the next blog entry.
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