DIS N DAT

THE GREAT AWAKENING

Did you hear about "the awakening"? It's been in all the papers.

The message is in part: "no longer are women to be treated as serfs!"

Some refer to it as "the women's movement" - as if, prior to this time, they were "stuck" to the kitchen floor - but now are allowed to relocate themselves to the one in the bathroom..

What has escaped many folks - particularly we men - is that women no longer are limited to menstruation, conjugation, procreation, and subjugation

Obviously this new freedom no longer is limited to previous descripted polysyllabic terms, but reflects a combination of awakening and opportunity..

The new studies proclaim women now have a brain and are even free and encouraged to run for office. While one might conclude that is an oxymoron - most of us choose to look at it as progress.

This is not the first time that strong women have demonstrated their combined strength.

There are some out there who, to this day, claim that the "straw that broke the Irish males back" in sectional divided  Ireland - was the Irish mothers and wives who were simply tired of all of the dying and took a stand that resulted in resolution ( apparently a bipartisan effort - seldom seen)

Simply put, the new awakening is long overdue and may have been resuscitated in an effort to emphasize the truisms contained in  Maltuse's Theory on food supply and population

A decision was made by some/many to increase (and improve?)  the "food supply'' to compensate for the increased population in this country - both legal and illegal..

This satisfies this old blogger and resolves my age old curiosity as to why back in high school the women (no longer girls) - by group measurement - had the highest grades but were less likely to pursue higher education than the males. They were also limited post-high school to their choice of acceptable professions. That enigma thankfully has been reversed dramatically.

Our modern day suffrage is back and not unlike the old Hollywood headline post WWII - "Gable's back and Garson's got him"  - there is a hint that "possession" is now officially 9/10's  of the law for women as well as men...
:
 WARNING: No longer are we men to use terms such as "the weaker sex" - the "distaff side" or my favorite "The little woman" (apologies to Louisa May Alcott).

We all know that most plants comes from a tiny seed.

Therefore, one can realistically posit that perhaps the women's movement started long ago, back when I first received the following anonymous piece written to a woman who was going through her own personal "awakening:

 " After a while, you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul.
   And you learn that love doesn't mean leaning and company doesn't mean security. And you
    begin to understand that kisses aren't contracts and presents aren't promises. And you begin to
    accept your defeats with your head held high and your eyes wide open, with the grace of a
    woman and not the grief of a child. You learn to build your roads on today, because
    tomorrow's ground is too uncertain and futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.
    After a while you learn that sunshine burns if you get too much. So you plant your own
    garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
    And you learn that you really can ENDURE, that you really are STRONG. And that you really
    do  have WORTH and that you keep learning. With every goodbye - you LEARN.

Now we're all learning.

RAMBLINGS

Was re-reading some of my old blogs recently.

 My goal- was to see where my mind was back then - but, also to see just how far it has slipped since 2008, when the personal blogs began..

So, what was learned? Quite a bit, I'd say and  - a reminder that it wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer 10 or 11 years ago either..

Then, why keep writing them?  Not that hard to answer.

We're a mobile society - particularly if we desire promotions, more money, a larger home and a real awareness of  whether we really wanted to attend all of those future high school reunions.

The mobility experience has often been conducive in conquering some of the desired perks; but it's not without it's potential impact on family relationships.

It's one thing to see your new born grandchild on Skype. It's a whole different experience to be close by and that day hold them against your face while taking in that unique new baby smell. (the good one - that is)

Some might suggest that keeping family close is a real plus. Others, not so much

One memory from a good friend, who unfortunately passed away much too young, was his frequent retelling of how his parents journey in life, including their home locations, consistently reflected the geographical destination that accompanied his latest promotion..

Sort of a "Groundhog Day" image of  "Everybody Loves Raymond".

Now retired, my highlight film would have to include being with family while vacationing for 4 to 6 six months a year in Pennsylvania , avoiding that Florida summer heat and pollen count and enjoying the comfort of a furnished apartment located three hours away from their Pennsylvania residences.

A photo of me right now would accompany my memory of the many happy family gatherings witnessed in person  as well as the smile that is splattered over this retirees craggy Irish face.

So, why write blogs?

It's a connection - (with perhaps an occasional thought about legacy thrown into the mix.)

.

Welcome Relief

To my senior friends:




Recently there was a movie review in the paper regarding the holiday movie "What A Wonderful Life" (WAWF) starring Jimmy Stewart and available on just about every network except possibly Animal Planet.



The reviewer - whom it can be assumed must be very young since she claimed she had never seen it before - was critical of its qualifications as a true "Christmas Movie" because it was sad and troubling.




I know, the irony was not lost on me either that a member of the media (even if by association) was disturbed about sad and troubling news, particularly the kind which is featured 5+ nights a week on the "Late Breaking News" lead in on ABC Evening News - while we wait 28 minutes to get to the good stuff about people 'helping' people.




Those of us who have pretty much come to grip with most changes now taking place have simply acknowledged we are living in a different time but admittedly occasionally throw up the question "And Why?" - before finishing our evening prayers
.


We do this also while shaking our heads (old poops do this a lot) as we read the headlines like the one recently about some of our most prestigious universities cancelling mid-term exams for the later part of the day. They did so because when the election results about 2 AM confirmed that their favorite Presidential candidate was defeated the disappointed students were thought to be way too devastated  and emotionally injured to sit for the exams.




Those of us who were around in 1948 when the Chicago Tribune prematurely and incorrectly posted the headline "Dewey Wins" were only now sadly realizing that we didn't receive even as much as a snow day to repair the reaction of both our parents and neighbors and by extension - ourselves.




There really is a panacea for dealing with the overabundance of recognizable and allegedly authentic
news sources "bad news" that has been heaped on us (and don't even get me started on the whole "fake news"  phenomenon). OK, I will anyway.




 I learned about fake news early in my life. My experience was while patiently awaiting my turn in the chair, and deciding to read cover to cover both "Confidential Magazine" and the "Police Gazette" favored by my local barber and neighbor Johnny Pedrotti,.


Johnny (nobody called him Mr.Pedrotti)  whose tonsorial parlor was replete not only with these "dirty magazines" but was known for it's slowly revolving red and blue cigar shaped sign  prominently displayed on Sumner Avenue where both our families resided.


This was, of course, as opposed to the blinking red one at the top of the street in the front window of Widow Shanahans house.




So, what do we do about incorrectly reported or simply fake news we're now exposed to every day?


Here's one suggestion:Find an ear torn copy of the old children's book we read as kids entitled  "Chicken Little". It's a quick read.


When you finish, take an oath that you will never again walk under an acorn tree - speak to Henny Penny if your paths cross - or watch the evening news by yourself without first taping it for appropriate editing and re-examination of it's authenticity.




It also might benefit we "old poops" if we are willing to recognize that we also made a slew of mistakes in our business and personal life before arriving at our present status. Worse yet, they made perfect sense to us at  the very time we were making them and we continued to defend them to our wives for many years after.
.


If that still doesn't work - try to catch and tape the Farmers Insurance commercials where the host  - wearing his outdated corduroy jacket and jeans assures us of the reliability of his sponsor because (paraphrasing) "We saw a lot and we did a lot" (or whatever)




 Feel free to play them whenever necessary unless you would rather opt for watching WAWL for the "eleventy-seventh" time as you reminisce about the good times and the bank failures.
.


Seriously, the now passe' advice of "chilling" is  an exercise of "welcome relief" and really much more tasteful than the application of the old formula we used in order to get here in the first place:


"Plop- Plop / Fizz - Fizz - Oh, what a relief it is."




May your holiday season be filled with nothing but good news.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY

Having been off my blog for some time and struggling to get back in for almost 2 hours I find I am speechless.


My password has been changed after several unsuccessful tries but if I shared it with you it would become painfully obvious the one I chose was done strictly out of frustration.


However, every time I go into the bathroom I should be able to remember it.


This will be my shortest blog. intwo minutes the Steelers game comes on.

DOWN, PRANCER!

The bizarre movements were so flagrant they caught my eye and forced me
  to put down the sports pages.

Me:     So,what's all the prancing around about? It's just another birthday.
           Don't expect any special creature treats!

Bella - Apparently you forgot this is my 9th birthday.

Me:    Not really. You've been leaving hints all over the house - singing "99
          bottles of beer"- complaining about cats having 9 lives - reminding
          me the Pirates opposition won again in the 9th - suggesting to me
          that 9 out of 10 times I am wrong - and arranging  your toys on the
          floor in a formation of a huge NINE. So, what's the big deal?

Bella: I told you! I'm nine years old today. That's special all by itself.

Me:    OK Pal. Tell you what I'm going to do. How bout I take off your
          brightly colored collar and you can do your prancing in
          your "birthday suit"

Bella:  You'd like that wouldn't you? You old pathetic lecher!

Me:    Trust me there is nothing about a 2.7 lb Chihuahua that turns
          me on.

Bella:  I'm assuming this means you've stopped chasing dogs then!

Me:    I may risk one eye!. Look, what's this all about - the attitude
          and stuff?

Bella:  Ahh, Why do I even try?  Do you not know what the age 9 is
           in doggie years?

Me:   Wait! I'll go find a calculator.

Bella: What? Your abacus is broke again?.

Me:    You know, I've just about had enough of your attempts to do
          your stupid   Cantinflas impression. You Hispanics just aren't
          that funny.

Bella:  So, Trump tells me,, but George Lopez isn't doing so bad as a
           Chicano in your country.

Me:    I suspect he's really Gringo and mastered the dialect through several
          lessons via Rosetta  Stone, but we're getting off the subject again.
          Why is the number 9 so important to you?

Bella:  It means I'm 63 in human years. That means I'm over the 55 year
          old requirement in this old fart co-op of yours. So, now I'm a
          shareholder and can kick you out of my home. Time  to pack,
          Chubby.

Me:    Your home ???

(Sounds of dog both running and laughing while elderly man chases
 and his wheezing almost drowns out both noises. Dog stops - takes off her
 collar herself -and is now flaunting it in his face while he leans against
 curio cabinet to catch his breath . This is  followed by the sound of broken
 glass and  a screaming woman!).

INVISIBLE OR ANONYMOUS?

"I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me. Like the bodiless heads you see sometimes in circus sideshows. It is as though I have been surrounded by mirrors of hard, distorting glass. When they approach me, they see only my surroundings, themselves or figments of their imagination, indeed  everything and anything except me." - Ralph Ellison- "Invisible Man".

"The time has come for a movement 'morally strong' enough to do battle against the forces of evil, bigotry, and fascism that have come to the forefront at this election cycle"

Anonymous - The hacker group.

Let the games begin.

"NOBODY DOES IT BETTER".

Why is it some of us fail to realize that if we want to stop watching the GOP debates - but are concerned with the disastrous withdrawal possibilities - possibly catching up on Jerry Springer re-runs may be an easy temporary fix?

With all the chaos the cash strapped media is highlighting and stirring up for our viewing pleasure  - via the debates - campaign ads - and more polls than you'll find in your local barber shop - or neighborhood bar - perhaps we're all missing the point. 

A guy - whom I do not know - wrote (before the recent Trump rallies) what I believe could be a sensible but seldom discussed political opinion about this amazing bombastic political spectacle we've been inundated with: 

"It's clear that the Republican insiders do not understand what is happening in America with the unprecedented success of Trump. Someone called it a 'quiet revolution'  - and I agree.

In my personal opinion, politicians need only look in the mirror to see why the American Public is so incredibly outraged.

Generous health care and retirement programs, vacations disguised as 'fact finding trips' and a torrent of lobbyist and special interest money are dumped on them regularly. In exchange for living like kings and queens on our dime, we get gridlock, stalling, waffling, inaction and long recesses.

Guess what, Washington! The people finally recognize that the king has no clothes and it's payback time.

Oh, and let's not forget term limits that hopefully are coming down the road."(end of article)

****************************************************************

 Biased? Possibly, but then again, perhaps the reason the "mirror watching numbers" are apparently so low is that the politicians didn't have to come up with the "scratch" to purchase the expensive mirror.

The point in the opinion that I found most fascinating and with which I found agreement was there clearly appears to be a pattern of avoidance by both the "political establishment" and/or the media that anything which brought us to this point is really wrong. The overwhelmingly perceived attitude is "the status quo is just fine, thank you."

Oh yeah, I'm sure we all agree we're hearing otherwise from the candidates; but that's par for the course when you're running for office.

My gripe with them is that their failure to supply us with problem solving details is uncomfortably similar to denying "Dorothy and Toto" even a glimpse as to just how powerful the wizard behind the curtain in Oz - really is.

The sad reality is that - while the political rallies get larger - the rhetoric stronger - the promises more "HUGE" - the TV and news coverage even bigger -(even the threats to make all the male GOP candidates put on O.J.'s ill fitting glove) - we seem to be spinning our wheels. 

To date despite everything that has been downloaded into our living room we continue to be witness to an unwillingness by the political establishment as well as the media to show any indication they even recognize: "we got a problem" - let alone "we got a solution."

Unfortunately, the one and only constant in this nonsense appears to be "we'll do it like we've always done!"

And, forget your partisanship. It's an all too familiar scenario promoted by the leadership of both parties. And, like the guy says, "it's happening on our dime."

For example, our current candidates have as many opinions on what to do about immigration  - something that has remained unresolved for years - as people who insist they have the one and only correct answer to the best way to enjoy an Oreo cookie.

Perhaps, collectively, we need to regain our focus -adjust the aperture - start with the basics - and simply ask ourselves, the politicians and the media the following question: 

(1)"When did enforcing the law become optional in this country?"

Let's give it a try. "Nobody does it  better".