Why I Am Afraid

Today we left the safety of our urban environs for a country locale.  After lunch and shopping we scampered back to a more urban area.  While in the country Natalie and I didn't touch, kiss, hold hands, or say I love you at all, but we were watched with open hostility by many around us.  I have not been that uncomfortable in a long time.  We kept asking ourselves was it like this before and we just didn't notice? Or is this new?  I don't know the answer, but it made me afraid.

Done with this week

First there was real family drama.  2nd came the soul crushing results of the election.  My wife had serious problems at work.  I had to break up with a friend,.  Finally, Leonard Cohen died today.  I am so done with this week.

Devastated

One word for how I feel today: devastated.

9 Years & Counting

A very merry Unbirthday to me and my blog.  As of today I have been blogging for 9 years (https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6995577290615134533#editor/target=post;postID=6689280161304650187;onPublishedMenu=editor;onClosedMenu=editor;postNum=607;src=postname.)  How crazy is that, I have been keeping up with this for a long time.  Thinking I will try to keep blogging for another year, this time next year I want to say I have been prattling on about my silly self for a decade.  Saluting the milestone.

Still wishing for that perfect tea party.

Hey Girl...

My summer has not been the best. If you have been reading my blog, you know I have been struggling with Mama Drama.  This last week did not improve, and Wednesday night I was visited by my old friend, insomnia.  Somewhere in the night I gave up on sleeping and did some late night shopping.  I am not proud of my late night binge shopping spree, but I own it.  For some reason I always buy bigger after midnight.  Last year I bought a 3 foot diameter mirror, last month I bought a 4 foot finial for our house. 


4 foot finial on roof

Thursday morning on my way to work I confessed the binge to my wife and apologized for the 4 foot finial.  I ended with, "Then I find myself wondering why did I buy size 3X leggings.  By the way the leggings will be arriving next week."

My wife looked at me and said, "You are so going to so rock those leggings."

I love my wife and thank her for the total Ryan Gosling, "Hey, girl" moment.

Long Weekend or Reflection on Through the Looking Glass

I don't know what it is about a 3 day weekend, but why do you always get slammed right before it?  My work week has been crazy busy.  I keep trying to keep up.  As the Red Queen says to Alice in Through the Looking Glass, "My dear, here we must run as fast as we can, just to stay in place. And if you wish to go anywhere you must run twice as fast as that.”  Too true Mr. Carroll.

Freedom

I have noticed that many people spend a great deal of time fussing over what others do during patriotic rituals.  I get it some people think those things are important, okay they are.  However, I always ask myself what is more important the symbols of freedom or the freedom itself?

For example I no longer say the pledge of allegiance to the flag.  I am polite when it is recited, but I stopped participating.  As an agnostic, I do not believe, one nation under God is appropriate.  First I don't believe it and second it feels ridiculous for me to repeat words I don't believe.  Wonderfully, I don't have to say it.  I have the freedom of speech, says so right there in the constitution, and I can refuse to recite the pledge of allegiance.  Thomas Jefferson would  be proud to know that I am exercising my rights.

Now if they ever go back to the original pledge of allegiance to the flag, I will gladly recite that oath anytime.

1892 version