Finally September

Sophie’s Press is back, thanks to some WordPress magic. What happened and how to fix it are on a need to know basis, evidently, and being the author of the blog that disappeared doesn’t qualify me. She coulda told me, but then she’d have to kill me, she said. I’m busy copying and pasting so I don’t lose my stuff, in case whatever happened happens again. 

This week I’ll be sticking my head in the sand and avoiding the “news” from the GOP convention in St. Paul. Maybe glean a little satire from The Daily Show, maybe scan some headlines from the New York Times online. I’ve been disappointed in John McCain for a long time now, even more so since he decided to risk the safety of our country in favor of getting elected, nominating Sarah Palin as his running mate. Until this campaign I never figured McCain for a panderer. Now I know I can’t trust a single word he says, and that disappoints me.

I love how Karen says it here. You know there’s something alarming going on when a practicing zen priest steps off the Cheerio Road to speak her mind about politics. 

But the real news is September’s here, my favorite month, and just to prove a point, the weather came in chilly. I like it.

There’s something rotten here

Someone stole my blog. Sophie’s Press disappeared. When I posted yesterday, my entire design was gone, replaced by a new blog. 

Ironically, I was writing about deconstruction. I don’t even know if anyone can read it over there. Could somebody clue me in?

A Busy Morning – and the Rolling Stone

     It’s been a busy morning. My husband slashed his hand right above the wrist while taking out the trash. Broken glass in the trash can – not good.

     We attempted to rush him to urgent care. Unfortunately there is no “rush” at 7:30 am – people getting to work, along with 2 school zones with crossing guards on the way to the clinic, made us almost wish we’d gone to the local ER.

     Unfortunately in addition to being no “rush” this morning, there was neither any “urgent” in urgent care. The receptionist promptly told us there was no one there, office hours at urgent care start at 8:30. See, we should have called the number on the back of the card and made an appointment.

…an appointment at urgent care. Right.

(…can you believe those sick and injured people, always doing it wrong…)

     Luckily they made room for him, and the proper professionals arrived to help. With skill and good will they stitched him up good – 11 stitches, to be exact.

     Meanwhile, in the waiting room I picked up a copy of Rolling Stone and was happily absorbed in one of the best essays/articles on the presidential race I have yet read.

One eye-popping excerpt:

Immediately after his (McCain’s) speech in New Orleans, a pair of sweet-looking old ladies put down their McCain signs long enough to fill me in on why they’re here.

“I tell you,” says one, “if Michelle Obama really doesn’t like it here in America, I’d be very pleased to raise the money to send her back to Africa.”

That was not the only outrageous direct quote from random event-goers that day.

     While decidedly pro-Obama, the article nevertheless highlighted a deeper issue in than the ideological differences between conservative and liberal – the sinister and unshakeable adherence to tribalism, ignorance, and fear. 

     This makes me afraid for my country.

Watch Out, McCain – Librarians Can Be Dangerous

It seems one 61 year old librarian got out of hand in my city yesterday. She showed up with a sign saying, McCain=Bush at an open town hall meeting and was issued a ticket for trespassing and escorted off the premisis by a police officer.

Check it out here.

A Silver Tsunami

You never know what great things you could wake up to on the web some days. I found a great article here about powerful baby boomer women going gray with style. I love it!

I love this online mag, by the way. Check it out: wowOwow

I’m a Sucker for Meme’s

Here’s one from my new friend Jennifer. Check out her blog, called Torchwood.

Step One – pull out a book on the book shelf.
Step Two – go to page 123.
Step Three – read and write out the 5th sentence.
Step Four – tag 5 more people.

I chose Marian Keyes’ Sushi for Beginners, a paperback I nabbed at Sam’s in preparation for a flight a couple years back.

Page 123. Sentence 5:

With a long sigh, Lisa exhaled a plume of smoke – the memory of Ashling’s shocked face needled her, made her feel mildly shitty.

Mildly shitty. Yes.

OK, whom shall I tag?

Christy, because she needs some ideas at Dry Bones Dance.

Justin

Kathy

Maybe I’ll just tag 3.

When it rains it pours, unless it doesn’t

Whew. It was a bit of a whirlwind weekend with our son and daughter-in-law’s visit, coupled with Sue’s return. Lot’s of people in the house, eating and laughing and getting on each others’ nerves a bit.

I love having my house full. I’m a people junkie, to be sure. I want everyone to gather at my house, meet each other, and get along. Let’s all be one big happy family.

I need a commune.

My Husband’s Ant-thology

Ted is waxing eloquent in his theology class these days. He has a great theory about trying to understanding Christianity. He says:

Perhaps we can only comprehend as much as our minds can bear. I sometimes like to think about an analogy concerning ants. I call my theology of ants “anthology”. If I could become an ant and die for them, I don’t think they’d really understand too much about humans, the universe, the meaning of life, and everything. But to be sure, if they were like us, they’d die on their little anthills defending their various views. And all the time, they’d only understand as much as I had been able to communicate by becoming one of them.

I can try to comprehend it. But there’s some of it I’ll never understand, and it surely makes no sense to part company with others when we come up with different views.

Pretty good, eh? I think so.

Making History

I’m watching CNN. Pray for me.

Right now I’m listening to John McCain and I am very disturbed. He’s reading a speech full of some kind of sarcasm, with a strange pasty smile plastered on his face. I’m kind of creeped out.

My personal opinion is that John McCain should have been our president for the last 8 years. I was quite disturbed when he didn’t get the Republican nomination in 2000, back when I was a Republican. It felt like something bad was happening at the time. I didn’t trust George Bush in my gut. I liked McCain because he was willing to reach across the aisle when he found a cause he believed in. I felt at the time he lost, that he had been offered a deal – concede and play nice this time and we’ll (meaning the Bush money machine) help you get elected next time. He’s even looked nauseous as he played ball these last 8 years.

It feels to me like he sold his soul to the devil and he can’t get it back. He seems broken in a way that concerns me.

He’s not a good speaker. He comes off stiff and false and vacant.

Too bad.

I Got an Autograph!

Thanks, Colleen, for informing me that Stephen White would be speaking and signing books at the new Border’s at Park Meadows. I’ve been inhaling a steady diet of Stephen White ever since I began my recovery from burnout. Reading about another therapist, however fictional he may be, has helped a lot.

Saturday Ted and I went to hear him speak about being an author, how he does it, how he got published, etc. I was momentarily inspired. Afterward he took several minutes with each person standing in line to sign books. Just like his character, the psychologist Alan Gregory, White sat silently, waiting for me to talk. Thank God I didn’t spill all my guts on the spot. I asked him if he missed doing therapy. He said, “can I be honest? Not at all.” I knew it.

I didn’t have the nerve to tell him I’ve been toying with the idea of writing my own novel about a therapist, which is why Colleen told me to read his books. I’m encouraged that White is a show up each day and see how the story develops kind of writer. No outline, no plan. Just an idea. It almost gives me the courage to continue my project. Almost. I’m so very chicken.

Oh me of little faith.