Creative Sisterhood

Tonight was our Creative Sisterhood gathering. I look so forward to having these women come together each month. Everyone was here tonight and it was a wonderful evening.

It feels good to have their energy in my house. They hadn't been here since I had the floors done. Teresa and Diana had seen them but the others hadn't.

When the six of us gather, it's always an amazing time together.

One of the things I discussed tonight was that I am feeling more and more like I do not belong in the US. I'm not sure where I belong, which is why I'm still here, and I may never figure it out and live here the rest of my life, but the actions of our government - not the talk, but the actions - demonstrate values that are completely opposite my own.

And beyond that - the real issue - is that a majority of people in this country agree that these are appropriate values - either by voting or choosing to vote, which is the same as casting a vote for "the winner," whoever that is. That is what really troubles me - that a majority of the people I'm living with in this nation think this is what's appropriate for a society.

I have tried to change it and failed miserably. I am at a loss as to what I can do. Majority rules in this country, and what the majority wants is not at all what I want. Obviously, the system is not going to change, so it seems that I must change.

I just don't have any idea how to accomplish that.

FEMA sends Ice to Maine

We don't know why... but FEMA has sent trucks full of ice for Katrina victims to Maine. Could someone please get FEMA a map? Delorme? Rand McNally? Mapquest? Someone?

http://ksdk.com/news/us_world_article.aspx?storyid=85020


FEMA Sends Trucks Full Of Ice For Katrina Victims To Maine
created: 9/19/2005 8:31:47 PM
updated: 9/20/2005 10:46:21 AM

The trucks started arriving this weekend, and they're expected to keep coming through Sunday.

City officials say they have no idea why the trucks are here, only that the city has been asked to help out with traffic problems. But the truck drivers NEWSCENTER spoke to said they went all the way down to the gulf coast with the ice -- stayed for a few days -- and then were told by FEMA they needed to drive to Maine to store it.

The truck drivers, who are from all over the country, tell us they were subcontracted by FEMA.

They started arriving over the weekend, and city spokesperson Peter Dewitt says as many as 200 trucks could come to the city by the end of the week.

The trucks are storing the ice at Americold, a company with a warehouse on Read Street in Portland. People who live nearby say all the traffic has been baffling them for days.

The trucks can only unload 4 at a time -- so the city is allowing some of them to sit at the International Marine Terminal and at the Jetport's satellite parking lot.

No one NEWSCENTER talked to has any idea when, or even if the ice will go back to the gulf coast.

The Day

It has been a trying day in many ways. And tomorrow is a busy, busy, busy one. Today there were five things I was supposed to be at from late morning to early afternoon. I just cannot be more than one place at a time.
I can never figure out how people just set a time for something and expect everyone to be there. I guess that works for lots of people, but it doesn't work for me. I just can't manage bi-location.

Zenor was here today again. Dennis worked about six hours but got that project done.

I had a board meeting tonight and then I went to the reception for Rob. I missed the one the other weekend, so really wanted to make this one. I had just a few minutes. I was practically in tears. I'm going to miss him so much.

I know it's a great opportunity for him and I'm happy for him and Shirley in that regard but I'm going to miss him so much.

I think I'll try to get to bed early tonight as I have a full, full day tomorrow.

It's all there. It's just injured.

"It's all there. It's just injured."

A Lorena Bobbitt wannabe didn't get the job quite done. What in the world possesses women to do this?!?!?

I've been pissed before - MAJORLY pissed - at men in my life. I have never, not once, thought of cutting off any of their body parts - much less that one. Is this a new trend? A way to show our displeasure? I think I'll pass on that one...

Read the full story at http://www.swtimes.com/articles/2005/09/19/news/news05.txt

______________

Estranged Wife Arrested In Stabbing


By Amy Sherrill
Monday, September 19, 2005 8:47 AM CDT

TIMES RECORD - ASHERRILL@SWTIMES.COM

Fort Smith police arrested a woman Sunday after she allegedly cut her estranged husband's genitals with a pair of pruning shears.

Police were called to the woman's residence in the 11000 block of Hunter's Point just after 5 p.m. in reference to a stabbing, said Sgt. Dawn Sprayberry of the Fort Smith Police Department.

Cherie Jones, 61, was arrested on suspicion of first-

degree domestic battery in connection with injuring Harold Jones.

Harold Jones, 58, showed up earlier at the residence, where the two used to live together, with some beer and plans to talk things over, said detective Cpl. Kris Deason.

Harold Jones had moved out a couple of months ago and into an apartment complex on Meandering Way.

The two have been visiting off and on trying to work things out and Cherie Jones had just arrived home from an out-of-state trip.

At some point Harold Jones went to sleep in a bedroom and he awoke to find Cherie Jones cutting his genitals, Deason said.

Blood was all over the bed, police said.

"He didn't lose anything," Deason said. "It's all there. It's just injured."

Harold Jones left the residence and drove to his apartment complex where someone called police.

He was later transported to St. Edward Mercy Medical Center where his condition was unknown late Sunday.

Police said Cherie Jones told authorities she couldn't remember what happened.

Talk Like a Pirate Day

It's Talk Like a Pirate Day today. While I don't intend to engage in any celebratory activity as a result, I can direct you to The Lope's blog for a photo of him as a pirate, posing with a pirate model.
http://thelope.blogspot.com/

Weekend Winds Down

Mark and I had a lovely, long, leisurely lunch today at Houlihans. I had the penne and it was very good. I only ate about half of it so will have the leftovers tomorrow.

Mark then helped me move some things around the house - including a couch. I got some little things done around the house and it did make a difference. He also helped me set up the TV again so once again I have a TV working downstairs. I have, literally, not seen anything but CNN, MSNBC and such in weeks, so it's curious to have TV going again.

Greg spent all day at the fair. I drove up to Skaets and met him for dinner at 9. I drove him to his car in the fair parking lot and headed home.

I've been getting ready for the work week. It's going to be a busy one. Seems that's the story of my life lately - lots happening in all directions. But things are getting done - slowly but surely - just more slowly than I'd like, but what else is new.

Kansas City Star Turns 125

The Kansas City Star is celebrating its 125th Anniversary today. They've done a neat layout with the old fashioned look from their first day. The stories are current ones but the look is from 125 years ago. Neat idea. I wholeheartedly approve. (Like they need my approval - they're the freaking KC Star.)

http://www.kansascity.com/multimedia/kansascity/archive/SUNDAY.pdf

Saturday at the Fair

I spent most of the day at the fair, covering the rest of the things I hadn't gotten around to doing.

I know I've mentioned that this is an agricultural fair. One of the exhibits that has only been there a few years is the birthing center run by the vet school. They bring in various critters about to give birth and you can watch it in all its glory during the fair - at least that's the hope.

I grew up on a farm, and yet somehow had managed to never see anything born. That changed a couple of years ago when I watched them pull a calf. Let me tell you - if I'd ever had any doubts about my decision to not have children - that quelled them. Chains were involved - need I say more?

Today when I went in, there were some sows that had new piglets. This sign cracked me up. Being a farm girl, this seemed evident, and not something that needs a sign - much less a laminated, color sign.

One of the other "must-dos" for me each year is riding the train. OK, so, technically, it's for children, but they don't stop adults from riding. They have two trains and the tracks snake through the fairgrounds. It takes about eight minutes and costs $2.

It was about 9:30 by the time I left tonight. I'm very dusty and need a shower, but I think I'll just go on to bed and use that as a good reason I need to change my sheets tomorrow.

Quote

Whenever I put pen to paper, I expect magic. And I'm rarely disappointed. - Patsy Terrell

PHC

Since seeing Garrison Keillor at the fair last weekend, I've been reading at the website now and again.
One of my favorite parts of the show last week was the catchup bit because it included blogging. The script is now on the website, as well as the whole show. The friends I was with were mighty interested to see my reaction to the blogging bit. Laughter, of course - what else could it be.


When I read Garrison's responses to people, I'm sometimes struck anew at what a nice command of the language he has. I think that's the determining factor. His voice is pleasant - certainly - but his words carry a message far beyond definition.

I don't listen to the show regularly, so that means I've got a backlog of ones to hear online.

There's some beauty in that - just like seeing the powdermilk biscuits logo with a grain elevator in the background.



http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/

Friday

I spent most of the day doing little jobs - those things that only take a couple of minutes, but you can let pile up until you have hours worth of them to do.

On the upside, you feel like you've accomplished a lot at the end of the day.

I had planned to go to the fair tonight, but Greg and Mark were there and wanted to eat at Skaets so I went there and then it was getting a little late to head to the fair. We ran into Sandy and Leland and it was good to chat with them. The three of us were doing a little ranting about the democrats and why they don't get off their asses and DO something, instead of just letting the Republicans run unchecked doing one stupid thing after another.

Anyway, after Skaets, I went out to Lowe's to look around at some things for the house and ran into Reba, who I hadn't seen in awhile. We chatted for quite some time and it was nice. She used to own a little shop that I was in regularly. I miss her store and I miss her. So, it was good to see her.

Mark turned in early. Greg has popped by to download his pix. Terry called and was on his way out to Wal-mart. I think I'm going to turn in shortly. I'm weary tonight - maybe too many chiropractor visits and too much ibuprofen.

Davis-Bacon

So... there's this little thing called the Davis-Bacon act. It was passed in 1931 - you may recall that was during the depression era - to set a minimum pay scale for workers on federal contracts.

This guy named Robert Bacon thought it would help get the country out of the depression if government contractors had to pay a "prevailing" or "accepted" wage in a particular area. He got a northern guy to put his name on it too and there you go.

Sounds reasonable? Right?

It was a way to insist that people be paid a basic level of wage for certain kinds of work. It would help people get their feet on the ground and since most of the work those days was government work, it was all the more helpful.

Well, we've been going along all this time - almost 75 years - with this idea that companies hiring people to work on government contracts should pay a certain, average, wage.

That was until this week, when Bush suspended the law so that his buddies who own construction companies, can make MORE money when they rebuild from the hurricane.

Prevailing wage for a construction worker in New Orleans was $9 an hour. I wish I could hire one for that out here on the plains, but I digress. OK, so, Bush has decided that's just completely unreasonable. So, lets say a company was going to build a $20,000 building. Maybe they'd spend 9,000 of it on labor. Now, the building is still going to cost $20,000 but they'll only have to pay $6,000 (or whatever) in labor. So, gosh, the company (can you say Halliburton?) get to keep an extra three grand.

He's saying that $9 an hour is overpayment for rebuilding a community. Can he screw this up even further? I swear, every day I don't think so, and every day he surprises me yet again.

Never mind we already had an area that was depressed economically, now he's trying to make it worse - all the while lining the pockets of his friends.

How do we stop this madness? When will it end? We aren't going to have a country left to save in another three years. We've got to get rid of him.

Impeach Bush. He's demonstrated incompetence - surely that's sufficient. He said the debacle of the hurricane relief was his fault, thankfully ending all the stupidity I've been reading the last couple of weeks about how it wasn't his fault. I knew it was. Any thinking person knew it was. Finally, a week and a half later, he caught on too. I'm willing to make this one exception and BELIEVE what he says this time.

_________________

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/10/opinion/10sat2.html?incamp=article_popular

Bill Maher to George Bush

In case you missed HBO's "Late Night with Bill Maher," here was his open letter to the President:

Mr. President, this job can't be fun for you any more. There's no more money to spend--you used up all of that. You can't start another war because you used up the army. And now, darn the luck, the rest of your term has become the Bush family nightmare: helping poor people. Listen to your Mom. The cupboard's bare, the credit cards maxed out. No one's speaking to you.

Mission accomplished.

Now it's time to do what you've always done best: lose interest and walk away. Like you did with your military service and the oil company and the baseball team. It's time. Time to move on and try the next fantasy job. How about cowboy or space man?

Now I know what you're saying: there's so many other things that you as President could involve yourself in. Please don't.

I know, I know. There's a lot left to do. There's a war with Venezuela. Eliminating the sales tax on yachts. Turning the space program over to the church. And Social Security to Fannie Mae. Giving embryos the vote.

But, Sir, none of that is going to happen now. Why? Because you govern like Billy Joel drives. You've performed so poorly I'm surprised that you haven't given yourself a medal. You're a catastrophe that walks like a man. Herbert Hoover was a shitty president, but even he never conceded an entire city to rising water and snakes.

On your watch, we've lost almost all of our allies, the surplus, four airliners, two trade centers, a piece of the Pentagon and the City of New Orleans.

Maybe you're just not lucky. I'm not saying you don't love this country. I'm just wondering how much worse it could be if you were on the other side.

So, yes, God does speak to you. What he is saying is: "Take a hint."

Pig Races

Doesn't your state fair have pig races? Pity.

Art at the Fair

I went to the fair tonight with a group and checked out the professional art show.

Of course, I am somewhat biased to my friends who are in the show. Jocelyn's piece was "Emily with the Blues" and is one of my favorites in the show.

Another one I loved was Kathie Moore's piece. I didn't get a decent pic of it because of light reflection, but it's beautiful. Kathie and I were in a book club together years ago and are now very involved with the democrats locally.

Don Fuller, who I'm on a board with, won the Hutchinson Art Center's Grand Award for his mixed media work called, "Balancing Act."

J. Alex Potter got an award of merit for her pastel of pears. I adore her work. It's always amazing. Her work is way out of my price range but I certainly admire it. Being in her house feels like being in a really fun art museum to me - really great. I didn't get a good shot of her entry this year, but it's wonderful.

Hutchinson is such a small community that I realized as I was looking at the art that I knew all but a couple of the Hutchinson artists, either personally or through mutual acquaintances.

There were pieces there from all over the state, of course. I really enjoyed this particular one from an artist, Marty Ferguson, of Wichita. Beautiful work.

It's always interesting to see what the judge picks from year to year. This year it seems to be the slightly unusual, but not too far out there, things. It varies from one year to the next. That's one of the great things about art - different strokes for different folks.

Apotemnophilia and acrotomophilia

You learn something every day and today I've learned that there are people who want to have limbs amputated. It's a desire. Well, it's actually a condition called apotemnophilia, and was first noted in the late 1970s.

Causes are being investigated.

One thing is certain, the internet seems to be offering people a way to accomplish these goals; as well as connect amputees with people who are attracted to them, a condition called acrotomophilia.

Bertrand Berger and colleagues wrote in the research journal, "Comprehensive Psychiatry," about a patient who packed both legs in dry ice until frostbite require amputation.

They write, "The Internet helped provide a blueprint for self-amputation. Without the Internet, our patient may never have conceived, let alone used a method to bring about, self-amputation. We anticipate that increasing Internet access will lead to more cases of self-amputation."

I'm not sure what to do with this information... but it's out there... and I didn't want to be alone with that knowledge so I'm sharing here. Lucky you.

Bush Light Bulb Joke

Mia sent this joke and I can't resist sharing it...

HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A LIGHTBULB?

The Answer is TEN:

1. One to deny that a light bulb needs to be changed,

2. One to attack the patriotism of anyone who says the light bulb needs to be changed,

3. One to blame Clinton for burning out the light bulb,

4. One to tell the nations of the world that they are either for changing the light bulb or for eternal darkness,

5. One to give a billion dollar no-bid contract to Halliburton for the new light bulb,

6. One to arrange a photograph of Bush, dressed as a janitor, standing on a step ladder under the banner "Bulb Accomplished,"

7. One administration insider to resign and in detail reveal how Bush was literally "in the dark" the whole time,

8. One to viciously smear #7,

9. One surrogate to campaign on TV and at rallies on how George Bush has had a strong light-bulb changing policy all along,

10. And finally, one to confuse Americans about the difference between screwing a light bulb and screwing the country.

Life is Weird

Today I went to ship my ex boyfriend's things back to him. There are some incidentals and then some really important things. I just haven't wanted to face doing it but decided to just go ahead and get it done. So, I get to the shipping place, and discover that something that was in the box has spilled out onto some of his clothes. So, I brought them home to wash them again. For some reason, I guess I wasn't supposed to send them back yet.

I never really stop loving someone, once I fall in love. When I'm forced to, I change the way I love them, but I never stop. It's a curse in many ways.

I love as much on day 1445 as I did on day 223. I don't experience that drifting away. Love, for me, only grows in a relationship - it does not diminish. I guess I'm odd in this way since that's not how it's "supposed" to work.

I didn't want this to end, but there were two of us in it and I was the only one who felt that way. So, there you go...

Nothing to do but the laundry, I guess.

Question

The question was: What are you proud of having taught yourself to do?

One of the greatest skills I have, that I had the foundation for, but have honed myself on, is I can make conversation. That sounds stupid, but incredibly few people can sit down at a table with seven people they don't know and have actual conversation.

I have started to dread going to events because as I told my friend, Trish, "I'm always the floor show." Some days I just don't feel like being that "up" and want to just take someone else's lead. And, sometimes I run into someone I know and just enjoy visiting with them, but in general I am the conversation starter.

I sit down, extend my hand to the person next to me and say, "Hi, I'm Patsy Terrell..." I then go around the table and ask everyone's name. Then, I try to engage people in a conversation. I always wonder if I didn't sit down if they would just sit there the whole meal not talking to anyone except the person they came with.

Another thing I taught myself to do, that I'm very proud of, is swim. I'm terrified of the water and decided that everyone should face at least one fear. So, I learned to swim. I'm not an exceptional swimmer by any means, but I can move myself through the water. And everytime I do it, I have to convince myself to put my face in the water all over again. It's not a natural thing for me at all.

I grew up on a farm and I know what Bull Shit looks like, smells like and sounds like. People in the southeast are getting a lot of it these days from insurance adjusters in the aftermath of Katrina. Most people don't have flood insurance and insurance adjusters are telling them the damage to their homes is due to floods, not the hurricane. I just knew this was going to happen. On day one I said to a friend that the insurance companies would try to avoid paying.

I'm soooo fortunate to have a great insurance company, but I have dealt with some that view their entire purpose to be avoiding paying any claims. Weasels.

After much chiropractic care today, my back felt good enough to head out to the fair tonight. Greg was kind enough to drive me to a gate and let me off so I could limit my walking on concrete, which was helpful.


We went to see the hypnotist, Ron Diamond, who's always entertaining. We also took in the tiger show and the pig races. I did a quick run through of domestic arts.

What could be more state fair-ish than jars of canned goods?

I have more pix to post, but I'm too weary to do it tonight... but soon.

Oh, my aching back

Last night about 5:30 my back started hurting and it just kept getting worse and worse. I got very little sleep. And, had to not go to the Food for Thought event this morning. I hated to miss, but I just couldn't move around enough to get dressed and go.

I went to the chiropractor and he helped a ton. I'm going back in the morning for another treatment.

I just don't lead a lifestyle where I can be "sick" this much. I've got to get my body back to cooperating with me.

Aches and pains are such a boring topic - I must find something new to talk about!

Tuesday

It's been a busy and not especially productive day. I was scheduled to have electricians here today, but they didn't come. How you actually GET the people you've arranged in advance to work on your house to show up when they've agreed to, I don't know. It's a trick I've not mastered. And, yes, this is the most reputable company in town.

I got a lot of MHA things done, so that was good. But, it seems I'm always behind, regardless.

I went to the Democratic Women's Club luncheon today and it was really great. Greg Halling of the Hutchinson News talked about their mission and how they make decisions about candidates and such.

Tonight was Altrusa. We're getting ready for our Mad Hatter party in two weeks.

I'm moving very slowly. I am suffering some serious pain in my left leg. I stepped off a ladder a little crooked the other day and it seems to have affected a muscle. Ouch! I'm taking piles of Ibuprofen. Hopefully it will be better tomorrow.

Well... I'm off to bed. I have a breakfast in the morning at 7, so I need some sleep.

LJ Meme

The LiveJournal meme... sent by someone... sorry I can't recall who...

1. Your LiveJournal user name and what it means:
It's my name. Nothing fancy.

2. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being the highest) how well does your LiveJournal represent who you actually are? 10 - as much as people in real life know me, other than intimates

3. How much about your life do you post to LJ? I write about my life in general but it is for publication - not like my private journals. My private, written, journals are not shared with anyone.

4. Is there anything you refuse to post about?
very personal things

5. On a scale of 1-10 how interesting do you think your own journal is to others?
I don't have a number for that - but I get about 65,000 hits on my blog on my website, which is the same info, every month so someone must be looking/reading

6. Has anyone ever joined LJ because of you?
don't know

7. What proportion of your posts are friends only?
none... I don't get the point in having a public journal that isn't public

8. What are your top five favorite interests on LJ?
??? don't know what this means

9. How often do you post in communities, and did you ever start your own?
I've posted in one within the last week or two. Don't know much about them.

10. How often do you respond to/comment on other people's journals?
a few times a week... I read often, but don't comment often

11. Do you prefer to write in your journal or read other journals?
I write more often than read

12. Have you ever had something mean said to you or been stalked, harassed, or got into an argument on LJ?
nope... been stalked in real life and it was very unpleasant...

13. Have you ever banned someone from your journal?
no

14. Who are your four favorite LJ friend(s) and why?
you can look at the friends list and judge your favorites - that's probably more helpful

16. Why are you most likely to add someone to your friends list?
Because I find their journal through some method and enjoy what I'm reading. My friends list is to bring together the journals that I want to read.

17. Do you automatically add friends to your journal if they add you first?
no... but if I enjoy reading their journal, I do

18. What is the most likely reason you wouldn't add someone to your friends list? All they talk about is whatever illness they have or are just very, very, very dull. For awhile there was someone who read mine that - literally - talked about her day moment by moment - very dull stuff.

19. Is your "significant other" on LJ? No significant other at the moment. Last bf was not on LJ and can't imagine him ever donig such a thing

20. Have you ever wanted to meet someone on LJ? there are people I'd like to meet... most on my friends list.

Start with a Bang

The work week started with a bang - OK, not so much - I was dragging today.

I think I kicked some allergy into high gear at the fair on Saturday because I woke up dozens of times last night, unable to breathe from my congested head/nose/throat/etc. I would sit up, drink some water, clear it out and go back to sleep for about - oh 13.2 minutes - and then be back up again.

I know why people who have sleep apnea are always tired now. Good grief - it's exhausting to be up every few minutes. Hopefully I'll get to bed earlier tonight and be able to actually SLEEP, which will be a bonus.

I did accomplish quite a few things today - despite my lagging energy. Tomorrow will be a busy day and then Wednesday even busier, so I do have to get right into the week.

Mark is coming back this weekend for more of the fair. I'm not sure how much I'm going to get out there this year. I do enjoy it, but it seems the week is getting pretty full.

I do enjoy the State Fair. It's one of the last agricultural fairs in the country and I find it charming to see ribbons on tomatoes and peppers and pumpkins.

There was an event yesterday afternoon that I really wanted to go to - a gathering for Rob - but I just couldn't do it and the other things that were on the agenda.






Tonight I was at an Arts and Humanities Council board meeting and they were giving us dates of events. There were 7 things, I think, and I had something competing with everyone of them. I'm not sure how to find more time and more energy.

Greg is still thrilled with his Garrison Keillor picture with Ace Jackalope and it is very cool.

Garrison's performance is still the talk of the town. We were thrilled to welcome him to Hutchinson and hope he returns soon. In fact, he's coming to Lindsborg next year, so he will be back in the area.

Mark Ponders Pumpkins

Mark Ponders Giant Pumpkins at the Kansas State Fair on Saturday... I don't think this needs any further comment...

CSI Effect

Does this seem like a good idea???

Our local newspaper has a story today about how local prosecutors are working to keep up with the "CSI effect," and how that changes the public's expectation of how a trial will be.

"From the prosecution side, we have tried very hard to increase the entertainment value of our trials," District Attorney Keith Schroeder said.

Katrina Investigation

"The president said he's going to lead the investigation into what went wrong. He needs to look only in the mirror."

-- House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California

Tired

It's Sunday night and I'm tired. The weekend had some fun in it, but I get weary when I'm around people constantly, and I have been most of the weekend. I'm 4/6 respectively on the introvert/extrovert scale and I need quiet time.

But, we had a good time at the show last night and it was fun to run around. I just need more quiet than other people do, I think. Maybe that comes from growing up as an only child. Maybe if you have siblings around all the time you're used to more noise and commotion. I need quiet to think and relax and restore. I stayed up very late last night to have some quiet time.

I think I'm also just worn out from all the emotion of the past couple of weeks - not that I have been doing anything difficult compared to what evacuees are going through, but listening to people who don't "get it" has just worn me out.

Today, of course, is the four year anniversary of 9-11. It seems that was a world ago and I guess in many ways it was. I lead a very different life now than I did then.

At the time I was working at the radio station and learned about it when I went in that morning. We watched TV for awhile and then the manager sent everyone who didn't have to be there home. He was always wonderful about that.

I went home and thought that I'd take advantage of the day to do some things around the house, but could not tear myself away from the television. I kept trying to, but I'd find myself curled back up on the couch crying, everytime I'd try to get away from it.

It hit me in an odd way - it was four months to the day after my mom's death and I was just getting through the really tough grief part. It was still very fresh and very raw. Very raw. And knowing how grief was, and that all those people were going to experience it en masse, it just seemed like the whole world was going to crumble under the weight of all that grief.

I have felt the same way about the hurricane victims, even though my own grief is more "managed" now. But, there's something about grief that is magnified when many people are suffering at the same time, for the same reason.

I have not watched any television today. The first year it felt like a "celebration" to me more than a commemoration and I haven't wanted to participate in that since then. I'm sure the TV is filled with salutes of various sorts, but I don't want to invite any more sadness into my life. It's not that I don't remember what happened, but I don't want to "celebrate" it in any way.

I'm going to try to get back to a more "normal" sense of posting here, but frankly every time I try to write much these days it just comes off trite if I'm talking about daily life.

But, of course, that's what this blog is about - daily life - so I will get back to that. That does not mean there will not be political posts - those will definitely continue - because I think that is the only way we can make changes.

I looked at the stats last night to see if I had driven away all my readers because of the political stuff, and readership has actually increased.

But, I will also be trying to offer more "normal" things mixed in. I still have not blogged my Puerto Rico or Route 66 trips. Life has just been a really fast merry go round lately and time at the computer has been scarce to do time intensive things like photos. One of these days soon...

But, that's not tonight. I have promised editors that freelance writing will be in their inboxes when them come in Monday morning so I must get about making that happen.

That's a Jackalope

Ace Jackalope and entourage went to the Kansas State Fair tonight where the headlining act was Garrison Keillor with a live broadcast of "A Prairie Home Companion."
Garrison was delighted to make Ace's acquaintance, and pose for a photo after the show. As he exclaimed, "Whatever the joke is, I'm in on it."

How can you not love that?


Kansas native, Kelley Hunt, did a fabulous job during her songs, and made us proud. She's been on the show before, and we're lucky to get to see her around here now and then.

Our beloved Governor, Kathleen Sebelius, played herself during the Guy Noir skit and did a great job. She was on stage again and just handled herself amazingly well. She and Garrison seemed to really hit it off. She is a democrat in this very red state, and is loved by many in both parties.

Garrison is very interested in politics, and did have a few comments about everything from evolution to the lack of response to the hurricane victims. The crowd was very responsive to him.

The set was an elaborate one, including a house front with a porch, from which Garrison started the monologue. But, he only sat down briefly - showing his red socks and shoes off - but then got up to wander the stage as he talked. He does favor the left (his left) side of the stage so if you're planning to see him you might bear that in mind.

Later tonight there was a fundraiser for the democratic party that both Garrison and Kathleen were going to. I wish I could have gone, but I just couldn't. Instead I ended up working the democratic party booth with Debbie, as last minute replacements.

Garrison signed autographs and chatted with people for well over an hour after the show. He was really quite charming, although Greg and Ace were the only ones in our party who visited with him.

I got to see Garrison years ago in Minnesota when the station I worked for did a trip. He was much more casual tonight about chatting with folks.

You can listen to repeats of the show on the website if you miss it. Prairie Home Companion has been the most popular public radio show for years.
http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/programs/archive.php

The show was really great. If you listened to it tonight or if you catch a repeat on Sunday and hear the Catchup script late in the show, you'll know why this photo is here, although I don't have a cheese danish handy.