Sorry - couldn't resist. I have a new pair of shoes, and the receipt says "shootie" but I think in the current climate, I want to stay away from "shoot" in any form.
So I'm calling them "Shoobooties." Kind of a play on the song from The Music Man entitled "Shapoopie." Just go with me here...
They're ABEO shoes; so far, so comfy. I was hesitant at first because they're enclosed. I have arthritis in the feet and high insteps. Wasn't sure how that was going to work, but lookee...Even with wool socks, they've been comfortable so far. I got them from The Walking Company, which is my favorite shoe store. I will tell you that you need to go there. Especially if you're ordering shoes that come in European sizes.
Did you know that your feet continue to grow? Or I should say, expand... I used to wear a size 8 shoe. Now, 2 kids, constantly barefoot, overweight then losing weight... I'm about a size 9 for the most part. These Shoobooties are 8.5, but most of my Dansko shoes are size 9.
I have to go on a "shoe purge" and clear out the last of the pumps. I'm not able to wear them because (a) I don't wear high heels anymore; and (b) most of them are size 8 and don't fit anymore. I can deliver them to the local women's shelter and they'll have a use for them. I need to add that to The Big To-Do List, I guess.
Today, it's rainy and the campus is a bit cool. We have the HVAC people coming out tomorrow, so hopefully, that'll get resolved. Also, the electricians are coming out to (finally) fix the lights.
I have a candle burning to "home-y" up the place. Our cleaners use non-toxic cleaners, but they're vinegar-based. It gets a little much sometimes! The candle is "Red McIntosh Orchard" or some such name. A mild apple-scent, not too overwhelming.
I have to figure out whether I want to change the water bottle (it's a big one) or see if I can snag a male student to do it. I probably should do it myself. I just get a little wimpy thinking about losing my grip.
I guess the best way to NOT lose your grip is to just strengthen your grip, right?
The To-Do List...
I've made a honkin' big "Things I Have to Do" list - kind of all-encompassing because I keep thinking about stuff, and it rarely makes it to my day-to-day list. It runs the gamut from "take the suit to Golden Needle to get hemmed" to "clear out the corner of your bedroom." Plus Christmas cards, learning music, wiring the guitar for Christmas Eve... It just makes me feel better about seeing it all in one place.
Will be working on the "learning music" thing shortly - I'm at work for the night shift, and before students get here, I can sing without anyone wanting to cart me away!
Politics...
It's about time, Harry!! Finally. Filibuster reform. Click here to read the full story. There is no logical reason why a MINORITY should hold up nominations. Look at what we have here, aside from the aptly-named "Obama Derangement Syndrome." There have been 82 nominees blocked during this man's tenure. There have only been slightly over 85 nominees blocked for ANY OTHER PRESIDENT - all of them included in that math. So for every OTHER president, nobody's blocked what they wanted to do. But not so for the black guy.
But we're "post-racial" right? I don't think so.
And in other news, CONGRATULATIONS, Illinois! Last night, Governor Quinn signed into law the gay marriage bill. Click here to read about it. Catholic Bishop Thomas Paprocki held an "exorcism" at the local church. I am dead serious. It's in the article.
This is, obviously, the only thing the Catholic Church has to worry about, right? I hate to tell them, but my straight marriage is in no way threatened by anyone else's marriage, straight or gay. If you feel that your marriage is threatened by ANY other marriage, then you probably have more problems that go deeper. You'd need counseling at least. Pronto.
Knitting...
The afghan. Almost done. Well, almost assembled. I worked on it today and I just have one more square to attach. Then I weave in about 6 million ends, and then I can do the border of the silvery-grey. I'll probably start on that border on Friday night.
Thanksgiving...
So I messaged the kids with Lola's picture. BOTH of them said, "So when is she going to be in OUR freezer?" Ha. Poor Lola.
The turkey is still hard as a rock. It's been in the fridge since Tuesday. I'm thinking that the cold water bath will be the way to go...
I don't think we'll need the ham. The kids will make the spuds on Friday. I wish they'd wait till Saturday, but I have to work with their schedules, too. My mom is - thankfully - making the lighter version of stuffing.
We do have a family recipe of giblet stuffing that's phenomenal. For grout. I mean, it's tasty. But nobody eats like that anymore. You can eat that stuffing and not feel hungry for a day. To say it's "heavy" is putting it mildly.
Personally, I'd try a wild rice stuffing. But I'm getting there. We just gradually introduce new stuff, and nobody really gripes too much. They get volunteered to cook if they kick up a fuss.
Random Picture...
 |
| River |
The random picture today is an old one. It's of my lovely River, who went over the Bridge a couple of years ago. She was a sweetheart, and I still miss her every day. Yes, I love my elkhounds, but I'm a "Husky girl" for the most part. I love their independence, their tails, their blue eyes, their big fuzzy heads and the way that no matter what, they're the fastest kissers in the land!
Beware of the Husky kiss. It's slobbery, quick and all over your face before you can duck. Sneaky little buggers, they are.
I belong to the "Husky Tales" Facebook group, and it's feeding my addiction... I know that at some point, we'll have another dog and it'll be a Husky. I want to be able to have this one be a therapy dog, too. It gives them something to do, and I enjoy working with Tippi like that, so it's a good thing all the way around.
Off I go - gotta sing before we have company!
I dunno - I must've missed it, since I haven't been in church in a while. Last time I was there, BENEDICT was pope. Not that I like him much, but hey - he was duly appointed by the cardinals, and I saw the white smoke.
One thing I do like about him is that he isn't burying his head in the doctrine when it comes to some social justice issues. Note his stance on health care:
http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=39239
The title of this little ditty is: Pope Benedict XVI: Universal Morality, Justice Must Guide Access to Health Care and the gist is this (italics mine):
In his Message the Pope highlights "the need to work with greater commitment at all levels in order for the right to healthcare to be effective, facilitating access to primary medical assistance. In our own time", he continues, "we are witnessing, on the one hand, a care for health which risks turning into pharmacological, medical and surgical consumerism, almost a cult of the body while, on the other hand, we see the difficulties millions of people face as they seek to obtain minimal subsistence and the medicines they need to cure themselves".
But. Then we have Pope Santorum.... who says: "I would tell you that my first priority as a president of the United States is to repeal Barack Obama's healthcare plan. It is the reason that I'm running for office. I believe Obamacare will rob America, the best way I can put it is, rob America of its soul. I say that without any kind of fear of being discredited, I really believe that. That the reason the left for a hundred years has been trying to get a national healthcare plan done is because they realize that once they have you dependent on the government for your health, freedom as we know it in America is forfeit."
He said this in Iowa Falls, IA in 2011.
Now, just this week, I saw a Jamie Oliver program. He's "cooking his way across America" and as a Brit, he's being exposed to some very different sides of America. He was in the deep south, and was talking to some folks; he happened upon a trailer park and was talking to some disgruntled construction workers and the poor lad heard the "N"-word uttered in a totally contemptible comment about the president. He was shocked. But then he talked to a restaurant owner about the economy.
The restaurant owner remarked that her daughter had cerebral palsy and that they hadn't taken a paycheck in months. Oliver says, 'Oh, but the government steps in, right?' --- and he's again visibly shocked when the woman says that in order to be a Medicaid patient, the government makes sure you have no assets at all. He says, in reply, "Well, I guess being a Brit during a recession isn't all that bad since we have universal health care." You could see the wheels working in the mind of that woman, because I'll bet you that all she listens to is Fox, and of course they paint "Obamacare" as the devil's work. But here's a charming young Brit saying, 'No, not really - it helps you get through rough patches like this without worrying about whether you can eat or see a doctor. You don't have to make that choice.'
Except that if Pope Rick gets elected, by some strange confluence of the planets, who clearly says that the separation of church and state is "abominable" to his ears, we will all be in deep crap. He wants to be the head of a theocracy. The theocracy that's apparently in his head.
Like I said: I missed the memo that some guy doesn't want to be president - but pope!
Santorum wants everyone to be "his" particular brand of Catholic. And he's outta luck. Christians still view Catholics as "cultists." And there are a whole lot more of them than there are Catholics. And as well, Catholics aren't the most generous people in the world when it comes to religious tolerance. Take, for example, the "communion rule."
I was investigating Episcopal churches, because I absolutely can't sit in the pew one more time knowing that the Catholic bishops are now "fighting to the death" about birth control, while they played chess with priests to stay one step ahead of the child abuse scandal. Anyway, funny thing about the Episcopals: they welcome everyone to communion.
The Catholics don't. And that's just one little thing. Some priests (and the Cardinal in Chicago) will not give communion to people who are gay. Some tell you how to vote from the pulpit. Some will actively counsel a woman to not divorce a spouse who's abusive or who strays from the marriage. Which begs the question of how someone who's never navigated a marriage can give advice...
Anyway, I'm watching how this Republican stuff goes on and on and on (how about it, Newt -- please just hang it up and go home!). I'm watching as Poopsie Palin "offers" herself at a potentially brokered convention.
And I'm watching Santorum shoot himself in the foot every time he opens his mouth. He's almost as entertaining as Mitt - but what's scary about Santorum is that he is not flip-flopping. He's dead serious. And I'm afraid that if he manages to get elected, the inmates will be running the asylum.
