YEA! We finally have done a right thing!

No person in their right mind would want the job of President of the U.S. in today's world. Our finances are that of the Titanic - our people demoralized by a never ending war that should never have been started. Many people out of their homes - even more on the fringe of disaster. No jobs. No healthcare except for the well to do. So here we are and now we have an African-American President. Many states still showed their colors though - and not just Republican colors... it is denial to not acknowledge that racism is still alive and well in this nation. However, I will hope that nothing bad happens to this young man and that he is able to "right" the ship of state - bring our troops home - and reunite the country into a place of unity and peace. Before I am gone. Congratulations President Obama and may the force be with you.

Pre-Election Fright

Hokey smoke 1 more day! I am so nervous... I am so afraid this election will be stolen (again!) and apparently I am not alone since even Michael Moore (one of my idols) said he felt that way in a recent interview on Democracy Now! It is a grand thing to finally have someone other than a caucasian in the running - and a terrifyingly sad thing to see racism again playing such a big role in the process. I had hoped to see and end to that in this country.

What a mess this whole campaign has been. It has been like a circus and not in any positive sense, including the millions wasted while the country is in fiscal decay. Whatever does happen, if the phoney baloney contingent steals this election then I must consider moving to another country. I cannot sit here and watch another four years of piracy and plundering. And if everyone in this country - this time - if the election is being stolen - does not take to the streets, en mass, then I have no hope left.

And lest anyone think I totally believe the Dem's - I do not. Surely Obama is kidding when he speaks of continuing the war in Afghanistan? Moore spoke about that too - and the very inadequate healthcare plans the Dems have? Come on - all nonsense and insufficient to help the middle class public like myself - much less the poor. I don't bite my nails, but I am thinking about it!!!

Related to a Princess? Gimme a Break!!!

Waiting on what could be a brutal phone call today, I read that Ms. Palin is related to "Princess Diana". Now come on folks! her folkseyness is rude enough to begin with, her answers (debate or otherwise) nothing but fluff and empty rhetoric...but pLeAse!

Something is the very much the matter with a nation when an individual such as this (male or female) is put forth as a candidate for office, much less a high office in the land. Looking over the "facts" regarding the woman and her family - realizing that if you subtract 50% from most things said, you might come close to reality - there are so many "ethical" questions regarding general conduct that this is, a fearful situation. The minister of her church has a voice that sounds like the demon from the original Exorcist movie. Witch hunts? Life has become a cross between a bad Disney movie and Chiller Double Feature.

Feels more and more like everything is spinning out of control. Such a by-line should "not" be on the face page of Yahoo news. 1. Who Cares!!, and 2. What about more real time information about people's ability to stay ALIVE!!! right now - losing huge portions of their 401k funds - losing their homes. Banksters and Wallstreetsters stealing money left and right. AIG giving Roman parties! Nauseating!

Crisis on Wall Street

Facing the Elephant - complex but a real breakdown of what is actually happening!

Used...our Abused Society: The Unregulated Fracas

Nobody "strolls down" and takes a photo when they know it kinda captures what is going on today. Yesterday returning from the food store I noted this banner strung up across the entrance to the yacht dealer - harbor below my windows. First thing that went bada bing! in my mind was that this banner must have been created by the same folks that brought us the bush campaign! Putting a positive humorous face on a sleazy reality.

There are people down there today looking. I should prepare postcards and go down and stroll around passing out handouts -- Hallo! these "featured boats" are the same boats that have sat in the water at their moorings all summer because no one has the extra dollars to "take da boat out'...do you? Hey even I would have loved to have had, a small boat (in my case I would have wanted a sailboat and to learn sailing). However as someone whose salary only achieved in the 30k's at my peak before my health departed (for a mere 2 years or so) - those kinds of expenditures were never in the cards.

Astute informed journalists everywhere today are writing chapter and verse about how deregulation and then the heinous illegal selling of 0 collateral mortgages - for houses at very INFLATED prices to begin with - sold to those who could not afford those houses on one of their good days ... was the off balance Ace of Spades toppling our house of cards. I knew folks who signed up for these mortgages and I even know someone who remortgaged at an unaffordable sum in order to finance his small business. Sale of his home and all he had on the cusp of foreclosure occurred in June of this summer. The saddest worst part of everything including the illegal war is that none of the people responsible for perpetrating these occurrences, is even in a loop to be prosecuted. I am not living with the reality of that very well.

COOKING da Books

TaDa! My new stove (cooker for all my friends in UK). Time to give into the fact that I will NEVER have the moola to finish fixing up my kitchen, and that my 1987 stove is more than half gone, sooo

Today I got my very first - all new, stove with convection, self-cleaning oven, and smooth top surface with five (get that 5 !) burners!!! On sale and free shipping and despite the fact that next year their may be no such store, or manufacturer... well I'd rather do this than get caught later. Pray for me with my extended warranty.

I think between the lines and lies on Wall Street and at Pennsylvania Avenue, we have a rolling dirge proceeding towards another great Depression. If so I wanna at least go out with a new stove before I exit the planet. The totally awe inspiring thing about the events of the past few months is that people just don't seem to understand the balONEy they have been served by fund managers, all along. HeLLoooo out there. 6 into 4 won't go. Pave paradise, put up a parking lot! Our McMansions, Land Yachts and other obscene attempts at having and living the lifestyles of the rich and famous? hmmm could be we are in the death nell

Bridges to Nowhere - Our Infrastructure

Watching C-span - the Senate today, discussing the infrastructure was like diving into a pothole. When I was traveling back and forth from my new home base - to my old home base (in excess of 500 miles each way) - I took advice from a friend and... took an alternate route through the NYC area. Doing so - after doing my usual dyslexic wrong way on one expressway (delaying me well over one hour) - I crossed the Verrazano Narrows bridge for the first time in say twenty years.

I am still here. My car is still in one piece. But...crossing just at dusk after my 20+ miles in the wrong direction on that other expressway...I was faced with lurching towards the bridge siderails without pause for thought - to avoid being side-swiped by a car - swerving to avoid the potholes!! (craters!!) on the bridge. You would only "know" about these potholes if you crossed the bridge regularly... I did try and research my routes before the trips to avoid detours, construction, or major road failures (there is no one site that provides these kinds of information).

Sadly this is only one example of the state of everything - bridges, highways, school buildings. The list is endless and the neglect decades in the making. We surely have jobs for many people - skilled and unskilled - to bring everything back up to standard or code in these areas - as well as huge opportunities in all the environmentally friendly energy industries to get on a right path with our transport modes. **Caveat here - without any further building or use of nuclear power please... we have no space for any more spent plutonium: the safety and condition of all our plants also being a part of, our deteriorated infrastructure (duh?).

However - how are we going to get back to the right paths with fiscal bankruptcy looming large. And we have a bridge to nowhere veep candidate who believes everyone should produce more children. I am worn out. Anyone else feel the same?

http://www.asce.org/reportcard/2005/page.cfm?id=103

Abbott and Costello - Math

This is exactly the same kind of "math" the banks and financial institutions are using!! Even my dyslexic jumbled math and failure at Algebra 1 - tells me this is questionable?

Moon in Saturn? (not) 1999 Saturn SC1 – A troubled history

It's white – it's benign looking to be sure. 1999 seems like a lifetime ago, but back then all I wanted in “wheels” was good front wheel drive transport that got decent mileage. My internet reviews showed that Saturn had a reasonable reputation in the industry...sooo. That should be the end of the story, but due to the fact that from 1999 through nearly 2004 I was unwell enough I did not even drive 3,000 miles a year – I got taken to the cleaners!! regarding this lemon of a vehicle.

At this late date I write this all down since last winter I discovered the inside of the passenger compartment had major water leakage. And I always had “moisture problems” inside the windows. But due to my health issues and the major move to a new home (in a state where my health insurability would be protected) this “new problem” was not addressed until now. To digress - part of this delay was because I had a major leak inside my newly purchased condo (about which both the realtor & owner lied on the disclosure agreements). 2007 was a blur of tearing out a six foot square of my living room ceiling (on the 6th of 8 floors mind you)... and attendant schlock workmen spewing slurry on my first time brand new carpeting – and uniformly covering my new living room
furniture with paster dust.

No wonder I did not get to the car's newest problem... I would say.

Below this entry you will find copies of the 1st Saturn Dealer repair – a REBUILD to the engine at 29,000 + miles (out of warranty) costing $2,059.17 and again a subsequent bill showing the additional repair replacement of a defective rocker arm – work done by an excellent local garage...
another several hundred dollars.

So I owned the car from 1999 through 2005 only putting 29,749 miles on the innocuous looking car, when I developed a catastrophic engine knock. I should digress and say that back in the 1970's my second husband and I had owned a sports car repair garage and during those years I not only learned much about engine and transmission repairs, but also about cars in general...so I have never considered myself a true novice since.

The steel on steel knocking was no mere “ping”... it was a jaw-dropping and heart skipping sound of real trouble. I knew it. But I also knew the car was well out of warranty despite it's mileage due to it's AGE. So, I proceeded to a local garage that I trusted... with ethical hard-working
real mechanics who knew their stuff.

I asked Pete to remove the valve cover to the engine (for the 1st and only time it had ever been removed on the car) – give it a visual look over – and call me. My wake-up call the next day wasn't a good one – not that I was expecting a “Hallo... can't see a thing.... looks OK to me. Can't be anything serious!” kind of call... My friends all know I am one of those folks with my own personal – black cloud, so: Pete said – “Hey! Get over here and have a look. We have all looked. We called another service station – their mechanics all came over...none of us can believe it!! There is an ENGINE PIECE missing!! Really!!! Never seen this sort of thing before!!! Wow!! The piece is called a “Valve Lifter Guide” and you can see it is missing without us touching the engine at all!!!”

aaargh I went over. I did not own a digital camera at that moment, and sadly was up to my eyeballs in a life catastrophy problem: my mother having just been installed in a nursing home – by her doctor. Since 2002 besides my own problems – all I had attended to was my mother's deteriorating condition – doctors, emergency rooms...and a partridge in a pear tree.

Pete did take photos of the engine with the cover to the engine off – but they did not come out well enough to use them - plus it was middle of the winter – with 2 feet of snow on the ground. Pete naturally wanted the Saturn dealer to work with this repair since it was a “factory defective” parts issue. I agreed, but would have preferred Pete make the repairs.... cheaper no doubt, and certainly done with due diligence. However

I did, naturally contact Saturn. What ensued is nothing new to women living on their own – in the world of men. I wrote a Certified Letter to the heads of Saturn – spoke to their Customer Service Reps – as well as to the head of my local dealership. That local dealership is owned and run by a man who also owns MOST OF the dealerships in that pretentious horrid town – who has a terrible reputation with nearly all his customers, unless they also belong to his Country Club and are
part of – the monied ruling class. I personally contacted him myself – trying to maintain my composure in the midst of issues with mother. Naturally I NEVER did speak with Beans (much less meet with) - he diverted my call to his son-in-law, who voiced platitudes and blew me off besides. As an only child, with no other family even living in that area – or even willing to lend a hand or word...I tried to stand up for my rights and myself.

Long story short but Saturn did send in a “factory technical representative” for a going over of the engine and matter – along with the technical rep at the dealership. The Saturn dealership SERVICE MANAGER however – would not allow me to be present – for that conference...and in fact was surly and unpleasant with me. But that would be my word against his, wouldn't it? I did the usual female thing when I returned home that day. Do I need to say it.

So I obviously could not go get another car. They did try to get me to trade this bum in on a newer vehicle... taking on more car payments --- and another “devil you don't know compared to the
devil you do”... which I soundly refused. In 2005 I had been out of work with my medical problems since 2002 – fighting insurance cancellation, etc. So, I went through with this $2,059.00 repair... only to have more trouble surface in the form of a bad ROCKER ARM in 2006 – which may or may not have been one that was bad, or going bad, at the time of the 2005 engine rebuild ... (or was a replacement part that was in turn itself, bad). Who knows. I did not call that dealer again needless to say. Saturn sent me a "fruitcake" (somehow doubly insulting in view of circumstances), and a car mug [who cares] for my $2,059.17.

So August 2008 will include another go round with a glass specialist trying to solve the buckets of water the car leaks into the passenger compartment and also in the trunk. This fellow was so kind, and so normal in talking with him – I have confidence that he will, fix this issue. If I am lucky and he does – I will write him and his business up on the internet because finding honest repair people
is more than, a shot in the dark. And kindness? Isn't that what the world and people, should be about? Where is Peter Sellers when you need him!

1999 Saturn SC1 Repair Bills and Mileage

The "Morgan's Garage" bill - From an honest true blue reliable shop with skilled workmen.

Self-Indulgence, Ego and Perpetual War

Childhood memories hold a jumble of unrelated mental blurbs, everything from certain toys you had or bad cases of poison ivy, to curiosities about photos in your parents albums.
Vividly I can only imagine now, what memories and unforgettable times my parents surely had in Manila during WWII. This photo is of my father standing with another American officer and an Australian (on the plane itself) which had already been ransacked for mementos by other servicemen. In the Army medical corps, my father dealt with water sanitation for his unit and the unmentionable STD's (which he did speak to me about when I was old enough). But other than a total disdain for war in a general sense, he did not want to speak about the war - period.
Later years when Viet Nam was happening, both my parents spoke with horror of the realities Churchill had spoken of - that we would be doomed, and in fact repeating past mistakes, in going into other wars in the first place. Both parents questioned the necessity of that war - and my mother of course questioned the war in Iraq from it's start.
Weekly I sigh at hearing callers to C-span, with anger in their voices, shaming others in this country for "not supporting the troops" and other such admonishments. Even though we have all repeatedly stated that our non-support of "war" has NO connection to a "non-support of troops"... still these misperceptions persist. And as Eisenhower said - it is our military industrial complex - combined with a throughly entrenched corporate culture supporting only the greed and avarice of a few people now holding all the straws - that has emptied our coffers, as well as sucked up oil resources (as if Hummers and tanks don't abuse gasoline?).
So we consider engaging in Iran - and/or engaging in the Georgia/Russia fracas? What can we be thinking? The country is bankrupt - everything from the housing debacle (pushed by legislation loosening regulations on the banking industry brought to you by the likes of Phil Gramm started during the Reagan administration), to the nearly bereft of all logic - tax laws allowing most corporations to pay 0 or minuscule taxes.
And yet those very military/industrial folks and their mindsets still seem to believe that when we no longer have a middle-class to pay taxes (since we are paying more of them than any other group)...that things will still be fine? Except for the corporate farmers, our mom & pop farmers are going belly-up in huge numbers. We have horrid numbers of people forced to swallow their remaining pride and apply for food stamps - the food banks are mostly empty and struggling besides? What is wrong with everyone. Open your eyes!! Except for writing down my total disdain for what is happening, has happened, and what is being proposed...and always voting - as always it is the people in power who have to make changes! We need a total change. And at this late date we have to put our own country to rights starting with bringing jobs back home, creating a healthcare system for everyone, and working out how to care for all the veterans and their lives that have been wrecked by the greed and avarice of the men at the top. All this without even mentioning the total decimation of the country of Iraq and the millions of lives we have brought to an end. Lastly do we really BELIEVE we have any right to tell Russia what to do, after the things we have done in Viet Nam and in Iraq? As a nation we are overdue to connect the dots from what have been our own actions/reactions...and the fiscal and psychological results both abroad and at home.

Can You Hear Me Now? Liars, con men & creeps

When my mother's pension fund sent a notice through of a considerable lowering of her monthly income several months back, it nearly hit dead-on, the expected raise in rates of the nursing home. That sum now equals about $7k per month, without medications or other extras, or her medicare and insurance premiums. We are 3/4 the way through year four now.

lalalalala So many people are STILL not listening. lalalalala Like many other bloggers, I started tuning in and reading through massive financial blogs in order to keep my own head above the sand. Personally I would prefer to have an idea whether or not tomorrow was the day my arse was being blown to smithereens...so I can cover my eyes, or attempt to hobble away with my bad knee joints! Apparently far too many other folks - are in the ostrich category.

Except for Democracy Now! and the world of bloggers, the media by and large are still covering piffle including the latest advice about how to invest your money for retirement. ALL of the people I count as friends, do not have any spare dollars to invest, in anything. Many are early retired and struggling to work out how to keep "some kind of" health insurance - or how to plan for next winter's heating bills. I fall in this category and have lived with being uninsured or under-insured most of my mostly-working life.

The yachts at the club near my building, stayed moored at their slips all Spring and Summer - few ever were out cruising the bay. Most of the Spring and Summer for my friends and family brought a reassessment of current finances and a cutting of most unessential expenditures. I've been shopping at the Dollar Store and Wally World since 2002 when I lost my last job...so I've been ready a long time. However,

Sitting on one's yacht, bobbing about moored at a slip, still beats what July 08 brought to me personally. Through a friend here I was introduced to a man, she thought, she knew well. Divorced, grown children - and a seemingly good sense of humor - he seemed a possible person to date and/or have fun with - back in March that is. It's end of July now and he's done a runner, catching me completely off guard. Since I refuse to be victimized (which is how I feel) I will give him some press here. Women of Maine watch out for a 61 year old man from Scarborough who frequents and buys/sells toys at the flea markets in and around the area. He swore not only that he loved me - but that he would be faithful - and never ever leave me.

He runs on his monthly cash - having no credit cards - and at tax time - did not have his money to pay his taxes. Like the new partner and woman in his life I thought I was - I loaned him the money. Yes - he did pay it back. But I now suspect that is just "part of his routine": to gradually gain the woman's confidence and then, take financial advantage. To me directly, he spoke of other women he had been involved with - including intimate details about them that no one would wish publicized. As his partner, to be told these kinds of details I viewed as very unwell...and I did tell him that because he also seemed to find his revelations about these other women, funny somehow. His habits and behavior was often very coarse and I was trying to steel my way through much of this, thinking he had been alone quite a while.

He habits not only the flea markets but sales and also goes to regular church suppers (often with one of his mature sons) - always trying to find gold or silver to purchase -- and toys. He's mostly bald, over six feet tall and wears ball caps with I BUY TOYS emblazoned on the cap. From the bottom of my heart I believe he is a very practiced and artful con man. He is also quite a creep. No one swears love and devotion and constancy and walks out on someone they have declared a "partner", without ever even having a proper good talk with the person - except someone who fits into one of those categories. Be aware and be warned. Don't play ostrich regarding your life.

First Outdoor Concert Nearby

Lovely night out tonight - and a free outdoor concert with a great band! I was happy to sit and listen to the music from my folding chair nestled under a large tree - breeze blowing.
Naturally I had just settled when a 6'4" man, wife and children settled in front of me - replacing the first group with two boys...one of whom is NOT going to be a music lover I fear. I did manage to grab a photo of him with his response when the band started (and, it was not loud -- those of us that lived the 60's know what LOUD is)! His parents had to hustle away... to some safe location.
This will be the summer I think for most here in AmEreeKa because traveling to former preferred locations ain't an option any more. It could still have been if those same folks did not own Hummers or Cheby SubURbeens and the like. And if those same folks were not expectating on the crude prices this next winter!! Eeech. At least my somber childhood prepared me for now - that's the good part in my case.

Sunrise, Sunset??... end of our culture

This is a sunrise - from today, here. However I feel it is a sunset we are watching as a nation, when I see such fragmented statements as those made recently in public forums by politicians - about this heinous war.

As a people we seem unable to "connect the dots" - we forget past quotes and comments, we fail to look at the actual decisions of the same people we elect to public office. Keith Olbermann this week once again tore apart one of the people running for office of President, and showed film clips of his various remarks dating back to 2002 - clearly showing the utter obfuscations of those remarks - coupled with the hubris of a statement made regarding the unimportance of lives lost in Iraq...when viewing the "overall" picture and future!! gained from having, this war.

The public here has not thought clearly for decades it seems to me and I shudder to think about what these future years will bring in a nation where the middle-class has disappeared - the poor are becoming poorer... and we blow and burn our money on senseless marketing campaigns for the campaigns of people who should (at best) be sitting home playing checkers. Everything here is about nothing other than money and power and greed/avarice and $175 hamburgers. What bull.

Eliot Spitzer

Honestly!! With my varied and sometimes more than I would have wanted, experience - I am sick to death of men and their sh*tty behavior!!! Eliot really. My mind waxed off to what could possibly be worth between $3 and $5k an hour?? much less $31,000/day!!! Back when I had a man in my life who really did scatter my acorns, there was little I would not have done for him - or learned, in order to keep him sexually in MY bed. So sad.


Then my mind placed Sir Eliot in a set of those leather straps with metal studding - head cage and all... either whip in hand - or being bent over and whipped by a female in full gear. Somewhere between the Dominatrix Room - and the Matrix!! Ride me baby. Now what would make anyone do things like that, when they have managed to cull hundreds of thousands of dollars from supporters and go through election cycles and attained a position loaded with power and paid handsomely? His wife is a beautiful woman in appearance and no doubt well educated and without question a person who is interesting? And yet?

What is the H the matter with everyone? anyhow. And the Presidenital election cycle is equally disgusting - as if someone whose husband was in office 8 years - and who was part of the those who voted for the war in Iraq and also - was in favor of the trade agreements - should have a right to attain and be voted into - that same office?? The public isn't thinking either it seems and the woman is (in my mind) quite possibly another one who could very well wear one of those strappy outfits too!! Not a pretty picture. I've worked for lots of females like that sadly. Bullies with not one fragment of female gentility remaining in them.

McCain?? hmmm well coming from a deeply military family and part of the Washington gravy train - how would someone like that be equipped to bring about fiscal responsibility to D.C. - much less care to restore the social programs this country so desperately needs? Feels more and more everything is spinning out of control.

Shafta NAFTA

We are so "shafted"!!! While doing a bit of research regarding the new fluorescent light bulbs, I came across the site linked here regarding some facts on NAFTA ... because besides the bulbs, I was responding to a comment online addressing the safety (mercury) issues with the bulbs - and also spoke about the government mandate and use of MTBE in gasoline!!

While with an engineering firm in another state in 1996-1999 I was there when the first problems with MTBE in the groundwater and wells in that same area - became known. These engineers were THE engineers for the local water authorities not only in my county - but for several of the surrounding counties. Typing the actual reports on the status of the local water supplies, I pointedly asked direct questions of the few engineers WILLING to discuss this heinous situation. Each in turn said that all the chemists and scientists KNEW how lethal this additive was, as well as what a high level carcinogen, it was!!! They also said that MTBE could not be 'completely' filtered out, at least as far as the capabilities of the filtration systems that existed then were concerned.

So here we are now - and the public having become more aware of the total lack of oversight regarding public health and safety, now wants to NOT segue into use of these fluorescent bulbs due to their mercury content. Logical - however it is more than likely that the hubbub about the bulbs is directly related to the companies! that produce the OLD bulbs, not wanting to retool their company - than with public safety. Money governs all decisions it seems!!

I would suggest everyone go to this site with information on NAFTA - and see how a Canadian company that produces MTBE - helped leverage it's use here - and how NAFTA is also setup to provide easy access to lawsuits back and forth between the U.S., Canada, Mexico - and the World Bank - who oversees many of the lawsuits (IS THIS A "CIRCLE JERK" OR WHAT???) -- and

Carry on. We need to rethink - and not only with changes in Washington at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, we also need to completely 'clean house' in the Senate and House - and put the public's welfare - back in as PRIORITY 1 which includes the DEP, the FDA, HUD and all agencies. This will mean rescinding the corrupt laws that exist, and in my view - demolition of all the trade agreements and
laws that have allowed OFF-SHORING of our entire job base. Employ Americans First!!
(which is not - in any way - a swipe at alien or immigrant workers, their own need to work or earn a living!!)

Create new jobs ... through clean environmental products, real standards of public safety first. A new WPA - fixing schools and the rest of our infrastructure, cleanup our food supply, the safety of our medications and on and on. I am not - as usual - holding my breath.

http://www.mindfully.org/WTO/NAFTA-Powerful-Secret.htm

Realtors...next to Politicians? Who is the bigger liar?

Dance of the 7 Veils... Veiled in Stupidity

Sword to shoulder with an expression like a gargoyle, oh brother! Sadly our witless leader does not realize that after this Sword dance, comes an escorted trip to the chambers of the harem and instructions on changing into women's dancing garb.
Then, the dance of the 7 veils (which Herodias's daughter in the Bible was supposed to have participated), will ensue for everyone's entertainment. He'll have nothing on Salome. However, NOW the big party REALLY starts when the Dance of the 7 Veils is completed and he's ushered into the tent of the leader, and ... um, boinked (wishing I dared used the more visceral term here)!!!
Clueless. Our leadership can't even speak a complete sentence and our foreign policy is based on neither intelligence nor education about either Middle Eastern, or Asian cultures (much less customs) and we are now sandwiched between the two - with them holding, all the gold. And among cultures, both are infamous for their ruthlessness. Oh my gawd.

Dennis Kucinich & ABC News

Kiss my hand said the princess? Citronella was what I named a doll I had as a child since I could not say the Disney name for the proverbial cartoon character. Oddly even a truckload of citronella candles could not hold off the mosquitoes that should be buzzing around this weekend's Democratic debate since ABC has seen fit to 'disallow' Dennis Kucinich's participation.

Surely we have all become rats on the runway of life if the only information provided to us regularly (and worse yet, important to us) is Brittany's latest escapade or what's "in" in Paris. We could not be at a more crucial moment in the history of this country and the news is not reaching the public -- unless that is, an individual has a computer and looks at sites other than TMZ or ones carrying porno movie downloads.

When folks think it's acceptable for Chuck Norris to be in the group photo behind a Presidential candidate, I mentally wax off to edit my shopping lists. Nothing is making any sense. World affairs are messier by the minute and this is what is on the telly?? OMG OMG

We need the Big Top and circus music and some weird clowns...