Rainy September

Rainy day. Strange for what still seems like summer. Cool and rainy.

Green green. No cows across the street. Usually by now Sam is stretched out in the window, soaking in the warm sun but no sun.. yet.... maybe by the afternoon.

Used the electric blanket to get the bed warm and toasty...
Might even have to put some heat on in the house...

Lots of cows so Rick has new rounds of mooing to do.

Election news has changed gears, with the finish of the conventions... Europe is not impressed even alarmed at the thought of the likes of Palin being a heartbeat away from presidency. But even Snopes has authenticated the Kilkenny letter from an Alaskan about the realities of Palin's much touted expertise... Several years of questionable accomplishment as mayor of a town of 9,000 and Gov of the 47th largest state can be made to sound great if you yell loud enough and don't look too close --- the Republican approach to government service.

For me, I am looking for a change from the arrogant and brash mind-set of pre-emptive war strategies that have marked the past 8 years that have taken us into deeper debt than ever before.

I only hope people will look closely at issues and beyond the hollow "jingoistic" patriotism of policing the world...

Jingoism is defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as "extreme chauvinism or nationalism marked especially by a belligerent foreign policy

Perhaps we should remember the often-quoted words from the 1860's -- but seldom spoken in full form, which reveals its true meaning:

My country right or wrong, if right ot be kept right; if wrong to be set right. --Senator Carl Schurz (1829-106), US Senate Feb. 29, 1872.

But that's not all Senator Schurz said that day.

"The American people," he continued, "should be specially careful not to permit themselves to be influenced in their decisions by high-sounding phrases of indefinite meaning, by vague generalities, or by seductive catchwords appealing to unreasoning pride and reckless ambition. More than ever, true patriotism now demands the exercise of the soberest possible discernment."

Still good words to live by -- especially in times of great confrontation.
Peace, Don

Winter Winds

Winds have arrived. Outside howling literally along the trees at the side of our house. Inside it sounds like a heavy draft up the chimney as when you open or shut the flue. Sound of wind inside is muffled by the double glazing, so when one hears it inside, you know it is a heavy gale. The trees along out fence line are not leaning like last year having grown substantially. Last year the winds left our young trees leaning up to 60º -- especially our one eucalyptus, mostly a pole with a small "globe" of leaves at top. This year after much growth, substantial branching and greater girths, the trees seem to withstand the same winds with more dignity. Even the eucalyptus, which had the greatest "lean" after all the wind seems more resiliently vertical.

Some of the window boxes this week bulbs have sprouted, pointed clusters of leaves opening into small iris blooms--the first today. Even the crocus are on their way. Tulips and daffodils won't be seen for another month. Don't know about any ground hogs here or when they are due in the states either. Eire is not as cold as in the East US, I gather. Lots of rain here still.

Much news given over to the primary watch. The stock market has taken over the news and now a scandel of a French banker who made off with several billion euro.

Sammy is growing back the undercoat on his tail that he "chewed" away. But now seems taken by some itching and scatching on his neck, with what RIck calls a "hot spot" which keeps itching and then scratched, removing hair in a itch-scratch cycle. Special solution to dry it up and break the cycle and scratching response. Sammy and Mickey have been sleeping lots -- during the day and then running all over crazy at night! With all the wind (and noise), it's amazing how Sam wants to be right by you, sleeping, when not asking for food. A small mew but food-based none the less.

Well enuf for now. A quiet moment outside. Perhaps the winds have settled a bit.

Anyway. Peace.

Good Night, Chet!

Jan 24 1 am
Ireland

Another day. Continuing rain. Midnight and noisy gusts of wind and rain even thru double glazing. Makes the cats even wander around.

Found an interesting site of old nostalgic things from the 50's and 60's. Nifty videos, well made and bring back floods of memories: tv shows, cars, movies, radio programs, music, rock'n'roll. Car tail lights. I remember being able to identify them from 40's thru the 50's. Our old 57 Olds. Cool tail lights -- massive front bumper. "Minnesota raspberry" my grandpa called it. Otherwise, known as magenta pink. I used to polish it...even wore off some of the paint in one area!

But nosing around more of the "nostalgia site", one sees myriad military posters, American flags, many videos, moving from nostalgia to diatribes about the "good ol' days", playing to the sentiment of how good it was back when people knew values and were part of the "melting pot". Moving on to videos explaining how to ruin America with multi-culturism, and blingual folks, no more melting pot, less respect for the flag and pledge of allegiance. Governor of Colorado warning of illegal immigration, dangers of the Mexican hordes moving in like a wave over the whole country. The muslim plan since the 70's to take over the world; how Iran will be building portable atom bombs to take to their "sleeper cells" in cities thru America to destroy cities and the country.

Is there no end to such paranoid extremist conservative garbage?

Nostalgia has its place and I have fond memories, but no desire to go back to a time of life remembered in b/w tv shows of the 50's. Where is the path out of the jingoistic hysteria? Makes me afraid as to where the "fear" of change is taking us now.

Such a happy note. But it does make me treasure my friends whom I know are not caught up in such drivel. And seem to still cherish a faith in humanity.

Peace. Good nice Chet.

Gray Day

Rainy kinda gray day this Tuesday. Typical of January. Reports of gusting winds -- But hasn't blown through yet.

Nigthtime -- yet, just noticed a lighted sky outside. Must be the moon's up -- will be nice to have some light. Still dark here till 8am. Should be changing -- sunrise/sunset changes faster here than in states longitudes.

Otherwise life is filled with newsletters: layouts, font choices, sizing photos, pdf forms...

And now, more mundane issues of residency. Went to see a barrister today. When we came back this time, lack of a resident stamp in a passport was a problem. Though we applied more than 14 months ago, bureaucracy seems in no hurry to process it. Hence a conflict between issuing it and using it -- if you go and come. Barrister -- you have to learn a whole different vocabulary here -- referred us to another in Castlebar who deals in residency issues.

So, in the rain -- from torrents to sprinkles -- we went to Castlebar (about 35km) and I sat in the car while he consulted.

An hour and a half later... Seems immigration and residence policies, in response to all the influx of folk from other EU countries, are only now being formalized. As it turns out, the informality of the small town life of Eire is changing. Local life here has meant that after 25 years, everybody knows everybody's business. He knew the barrister's dad and family and they knew him -- relatives who knew him over the many years he has been living and working here. Word is to gather more forms and letters, copies of what previously submitted, etc. and proceed quickly. Technically he is here on a 3-month visitor visa. Bizzaro, no?

Makes one realize that bureaucracy is alive and busy in ALL countries, large or small. However, it is just possible that the closeness of rural country life, with everyone knowing everyone, might help solve situations quicker. Perhaps not. We'll see.

Been thinking off and on all day about the film Rain Shadow (2007). Story of a veterinary doctor (Rachel Ward) who takes on an assistant in her practice in rural South Australia. Drought. Town of secrets. Slow starting but builds on you. A six hour miniseries from Australia. Great acting and good sense of life in Oz. farming, hardships, and more. Other profiles of Oz: All Rivers Run, A Town Like Alice, Thornbirds... So much to tell! And fascinating profiles of life.

Sammy seems to becoming less aloof. He comes over and sits by me through the day. Most of the time when he follows you around, he's just after food. But that doesn't seem to always be the case. Or maybe I would only prefer that to be true!

Well. Off to meet the sand man.

Good night!