Free Hugs

"Everythings Amazing...Nobody's Happy"

I don't know who Louis CK is, but this man is absolutely dead-on! A prophet.

MY FEELINGS EXACTLY.

I Am an 80-Year-Old Woman

A brief description of dining out last evening:

We decided to go to a restaurant we loved 20 years ago -- the same restaurant, in fact, where our wedding reception was held.

It is no longer there. Apparently it hasn't been for some time.

So we re-grouped and chose another restaurant, The Bagel, because we knew it had parking.

I ordered the Mish Mosh -- a half-gallon-sized bowl of chicken soup with matzo ball, kreplach, rice, noodles and kasha -- and hot tea. I commented on the fiber content of kasha.

I re-used the tea bag three times, ate only an eighth of my soup, and took the rest home, commenting that I could get two meals out of the leftovers.

As we got back into the car, I commented on how I hoped to get home and into my pajamas before the news came on.

Upsetting

Hello. I know I haven't written since the election. As you can imagine, I'm quite pleased. I just haven't been able to completely process the event. I tend to shut down.

Living 150 feet from the President Elect of the United States of America is very different from living 150 feet from a presidential candidate. We live within the perimeter, so our dry-cleaner has to have his van scanned and checked by bomb-sniffing dogs before he can deliver my shirts. One need carry identification at all times -- even when walking the dog -- because you never know when it will be requested of you.

The Secret Service is supposed to set up a command-center hotline so we can call to put expected guests "on the list". The problem is, they haven't set up that line and they don't have anyone assigned to keep the list. I'm having a bunch of people for Shabbat dinner on Friday -- they said I should make a list and give them several copies in advance. I wanted to ask them if this was the first time they had protected a President, but I didn't think it was prudent to mess with a guy who, while looking like Anderson Cooper, I knew to be a highly-trained killer.

All in all, I'm glad they are protecting President-Elect Obama, and, while I may grumble at the thoughtlessness which has accompanied their implementation, I won't complain if they go overboard. As long as the President-Elect is alive and safe, I'll grin and bear it.

So, what is upsetting?

We live in a 9-unit condo building. Two units recently changed hands. The unit above ours is now owned by a lovely couple and their 1 year-old son, and I am glad to have them around.

The other unit that sold is another story. It is another couple -- both from Sri Lanka, I believe -- and their 7-year-old daughter. I have known the mom for 10 years -- she teaches in the pre-school at Norbert's school. She is a genuinely pleasant person, and I like her very much.

Her husband may be one of the most disagreeable, ugly, rude, dismissive, hateful people I have come across. they have only lived in the building since September, but from the first moment I have disliked him.

The first time I met him, he came for an obligatory meeting with Myfanwe -- the president of the Condo Association -- which is required before a prospective owner can close on a unit. I, as you can imagine, brought out a pot of coffee and a plate of cookies as soon as I heard the bell. When I came into the room, he said, "I don't have time for this foolishness. I have somewhere to be. Let's get this over with."

NOBODY calls my cookies "foolishness".

Since early October, this man has been calling to argue over the heat. It isn't hot enough for him. He calls and leaves long, ugly messages on the voice mail. He calls during Shabbat to yell at me. Everyone gives him the same answer -- the heat is set at 71 degrees, none of the other units are cold -- in fact some of the units are too hot, there was never a complaint by the old unit-owner, and we can't raise the heat because one tenant isn't pleased. We already spend 40% of our association budget on heating.

Today I had to listen to a 30 minute argument he had with Myfanwe over the phone. It made me VERY upset. And I have to see him in the building. I don't know how to respond. I want to just be rude and ignore him, but I wasn't raised that way. Oh dear. What to do?

Obama, the Porch, and Grandpa Roscoe

Obama, the Porch, and Grandpa Roscoe

Posted using ShareThis

CHANGE

This video -- like almost everything today -- moves me to tears. You may need to try a couple of times -- I have gotten "No Longer Available" messages, but with persistence, you can view it.

Yes We Did!

YES WE DID!



This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Give thanks to the Lord, for G-d is good and His mercies endure forever."

This victory is not the end. It is the beginning. Everyone who worked to send Senator Obama to the White House must now commit themselves to working with him to bring the change this country has demanded.

More tomorrow. I'm more tired and more moved than I can find words to express.

My Neighbor.

Election Day

I woke up this morning when the alarm sounded at 5:14 a.m. and dutifully hit the "snooze" button on the clock as instructed by my Beloved, the Lovely Myfanwe. 8 minutes later, when the alarm again cried out, we both rose from our slumber -- Myfanwe to walk Mitzi and I to put the coffee on. (Myfanwe -- having not availed herself of the early-voting perogatiove -- still needed to vote.)

Having dispatched my duty with my usual efficiency, I decided to climb back into bed and enjoy the warm blankets. I immediately fell asleep.

A few minutes later, the Lovely Myfanwe woke me up with the words, "I need your help. I found a dog."

On our back porch was a poor wretch which, for lack of a better word, must be described as a dog, but was only barely recognizable, being so dirty, malnourished, and matted that it looked more like a pile of refuse. I'm calling him/her Buddy for the moment. (Can't even try to determine gender -- this dog is THAT matted.)

Buddy has water and dry dog food, but hasn't sampled either. I put out a can of chicken noodle soup, thinking s/he might have dental problems which make eating dry food difficult. Nothing. And I can feel how thin s/he is.

We are going to take him/her to the neighborhood vet as soon as it opens.

Oh, did I mention Myfanwe was at the polls before they opened, has been in line for over an hour, and doesn't expect to be home before we leave for work/school?

And there are helicopters constantly overhead -- I don't know if they are part of the increased security or if they are news, but they add to the level of unrest in the house.

If you haven't voted, you better haul ass to the polling place. Take a book and a good attitude.

Go Obama!