August Already

Where the heck did the summer go? It is August already. I like fall -- the colors, crisp and cooler weather, but the impending winter casts a shadow over the season. Summer is only 3 short months. It has been a cooler, wetter summer this year and actually more enjoyable than the drought summers of the past few years. Oh, how I wish summer could last 4.5 months, early fall 5.5 months, winter 1 month and spring 1 month. Don't bother telling me about growing cycles.....if this was the way it was it would all work out. Trust me on this.

Escaped

I have escaped NL! Moved out and closed on the house Thursday --- such a liberating feeling. For how many years did I desperately want to leave NL and now have achieved that goal. A great new chapter has begun.

Packing/Moving

overwhelmed, overwhelmed, overwhelmed
stressed, stressed, stressed
tired, tired, tired
achy, achy, achy

BUT

happy, happy, happy

Jesse Jackson

Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton have gotten so tiresome. Men who have had their moment in the spotlight, black men who worked to better their race at a time when blacks did not have equal rights. Men who still crave the spotlight so jump into crises allegedly to help but distract from issues instead.

It is time for these two to step out of the spotlight. If they want to "do good" and better "their" people or any people why can't they do it without drama? Bill Clinton is the white counter part since he can't stay away from the spotlight either. Such people lose credibilty after a time, ruining their reputation by opening their mouths too often and too inappropriately.

Barack Obama seems to rile both Jackson and Clinton even as he proceeds calmly toward the Presidency. Jackson doesn't think Barack's black enough, and Clinton compared him to Jackson and both former leaders have had to apologize for nasty remarks made about the nominee. It seems Clinton and Jackson are jealous of Obama: Jackson was not able to reach the heights Obama has and Clinton seems jealous of his win over Hillary. He also hasn't needed any of these men to help him reach this goal. (yes, past actions by them have gotten the nation to accept a black candidate) It is Barack's time in the sun and Jackson/Clinton need to realize they are mere shadows now and with each verbal faux pas they are losing any political stature they might yet have. It would be better to quit while they are ahead than be laughed at from behind.

Democracy

Democracy consists of choosing your dictators, after they've told you what you think it is you want to hear.
Alan Corenk

The great thing about democracy is that it gives every voter a chance to do something stupid.
Art Spander


Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve.
George Bernard Shaw

At the Zoo

We went to the Milwaukee County Zoo yesterday. A nice, sunny 80 degree day and while we did not see all the animals we saw our fair share. My favorites were: gorilla (Cassius -- 430 lbs), orangatang (Tommy -- and one hairy guy), zebras, sea lion show (how fun to be a trainer), penguins (Empirer and rock hoppers), elephants (Brittany was putting on a show with her trainer -- she paints and the paintings are for sale). The male rhino was huge and his horn was very long. In the rhino's case his horn size matches his penis size because this guy was unbelievably huge on both ends!

Simon and Garfunkel sang "At the Zoo" and the tune and lyrics are catchy:

"The monkeys stand for honesty,
Giraffes are insincere,
And the elephants are kindly but they're dumb.
Orangutans are skeptical of changes in their cages,
And the zookeeper is very fond of rum.
Zebras are reactionaries,
Antelopes are missionaries,
Pigeons plot in secrecy,
And hamsters turn on frequently."

Interesting personification of the animals. I doubt I think giraffes are insincere. Are lions hardline bargainers, flamingoes divas??

I enjoy going to the zoo as long as I don't think about large animals being locked into small environments. While understanding that many of these creatures are endangered and that by breeding them in captivity allows the species to survive and knowing that trainers work to keep them mentally stimulated makes the unnatural living circumstances palatable to me, how sad that animals are reduced to surviving by our good graces.

4th of July

I just took an online citizenship test. Immigrants wishing to become US citizens must pass a written test. How many US citizens who were born here could pass the same test? Now, maybe with studying for the test prior to taking it more people would be able to pass it. But just pulled off the street, out of the blue, and plunked down to take the test -- how would we do?

I received a 90% although I admit to having to guess at some questions. Maybe I'm feeling a bit smug about my score. But my online test was multiple choice and the real test is fill in the blank (at least that is my understanding).

Maybe all of us should have to take and pass the citizenship test every 5-10 years to be called a US citizen. But, I suppose forcing someone to be informed would be a violation of our independence.