so I'm in the grocery store yesterday, and I'm walking by the meat counter.  A young woman (probably mid-twenties), stops me and asks my advice about the packages of meat she is holding.  She wants to know if one of them will be OK for grilling.  In one hand, she has a package of steaks, but the package in her other hand, the one she is asking me about, is a (drum roll please) pot roast.  Yes, I said pot roast.  I tell her that you don't grill pot roasts, and she says to me, "Well, I'm trying for a really thick steak."

A really thick steak?  I know the look on my face was priceless, and one of my friends, upon hearing the story, asked me if I was sure I wasn't on candid camera during this exchange.  I never had anyone jump out and say, "Gotcha!"  But who knows?  After I walked away, she turned and asked another woman the same question.  So, was she going to ask the question until someone said, "sure, grill the pot roast"? 

I have to wonder, "why did God make mosquitoes?  Anyone?  What good are they really?  And they are rampant in my neighborhood.  Our city does not spray for them, but the next closest one does.  So, all the mosquitoes come here.  And these are big enough that when they land on me, I feel them.  You know how usually they bite and run before you even know they were around?  Not these demons with wings, they are huge.  HUGE!   They are drinking blood by the quart easily.

Speaking of bloodsuckers.....  yes, I had to get around to politics again.  The Republicans in the senate are now accusing the Democrats in the senate of Partisan Politics.  So, what they were doing while they were in control of congress (or not doing) was not partisan politics?  Please......  If they had done their job when they controlled congress and policed this administration, instead of putting party before country, the Democrats wouldn't have to do it now. 

The other day I was watching Chris Matthews, and I almost spit beer all over my TV.  OK, I wasn't drinking beer.  But, if I had been, I would have probably spit it all over my TV.  Chris is talking to his panel about crime, and how it is going up in the big cities around the country.  And then he says something to the effect that the Republicans could use that when running for office and be the 'law and order' party.  What?  How quickly we forget.   When Clinton was president he passed a law that put more cops on the streets in major cities.  Crime went down, especially violent crime, and things were looking good.  He also had some other laws passed that benefited police and hurt criminals.

Lo and Behold, when W came to office, he decided that we didn't need those pesky laws that Clinton had signed into law.  And he quickly did away with them, including the law that put more cops on the streets in big cities.  So, you explain to me how the Republicans (who controlled congress when W did this) can be called the 'law and order' party? 

Which brings us to the AG, the idiot that can't tell the truth or keep a straight face when testifying in front of congress.  He has corrupted the office he holds making it a joke among the legal profession.  The really good lawyers got out while the getting was good, and if they didn't, they were later forced out if they didn't pursue what the party wanted them to.  Party before country.  Enough is enough.  And this President still supports this man.  I am beyond being surprised by anything this man does. 

But let me say this:  if the politicians in office do not stop putting party before country, nothing is going to get accomplished, and the very future of this country as we know it will be in jeopardy.  When W was elected he said he was bring the parties together.  He said he was unite, not divide.  Instead, he divided even further.  When Clinton was President, he was able to work with congress even when it was controlled by Republicans.  He understood that compromise brought about results.  Of course this President doesn't see that.  He just takes the law into his own hands and does what he wants to with or without the support of Congress.  And the Republican led Congress let him get away with that for way to long. 

This country was established on the basis of checks and balances.  Each of the three branches (yes, Cheney, despite what you think, there are only 3) has a purpose and a job to do within that system.  But the Republican led congress let W and Cheney take on more power and more power without doing their job, which was to check their power grabs.

Partisan politics?  Please.  Republicans made that an art.  and now that Democrats are trying to establish the system of checks and balances back like it should be, the Republicans dig in and call the Democrats names.  Whatevah!  Of course, if we had a President that would have reached out and tried to compromise through the years, maybe, then maybe something would actually get accomplished by congress. 

And the latest figures I've seen on Iraq have me totally disheartened.  Did you know that the Iraq government is going on a month's vacation (wonder where they got that idea?), and it will costs our country $200,000 per minute while they do?  What kind of mess are we in?  And what could our country do over here on American soil with that money they are spending in Iraq?  Not to mention how many American lives would be saved? 

I am trying not to give up hope.  But each day it becomes harder and harder.  Maybe it's all the blood I'm soding to the mosquitoes.  Or maybe, I should try grilling a pot roast. 

When I was a child, we had flip flops.  They were for wearing to the creek, or outside to play.  And as children, we could wear them in public, but not to school, or church, or any place considered formal.  I'm not even sure my mother owned a pair of flip flops, and I know my dad didn't.  Beyond the age of a child, we never wore flip flops outside the yard, or lake.

Now, flip flops are worn by everyone everywhere:  to school, to weddings, to parties, to church, to the White House....

Good lord, it is ridiculous.  I will see students wearing flip flops in the middle of winter.  Recently, I saw pictures from a wedding, and there was a young female guest wearing flip flops.  A recent story on the web discussed the fact that a young woman had been told her casual work wear was inappropriate:  she had worn an outfit with flip flops.  She didn't see anything wrong with it.

Which brings me to the other part of this ramble.  I usually have one of the news shows on in the morning when I am getting ready for work.  The background noise is almost soothing in a way.  And one morning this week, the news woman interviewed the young female star of the latest Harry Potter movie.  Her question was something along the lines of, 'how does it feel to be a smart girl instead of one of the stupid girls we see so much of?'  She quickly tried to say by that she meant 'stupid characters'.

But think about it.  Who are the role models in today's world for young girls?  Can you think of a female under the age of 30 that you would want your daughter to emulate?  The young women who are capturing the eye of the public right now, are scrawny, self-centered, party girls, who believe the world revolves around them.  Have you seen the Sweet 16 parties on MTV?  Neither have I, but I know what they are about:  competition to see which parents can throw the biggest Sweet 16 party for their daughters?

Yes, there are worthy young women out there, but where are they in the public eye?  Does anyone in our media realize what they are doing by the constant parade of young women in rehab?  driving while intoxicated?  baring their breasts and whatever else they can think of in front of the cameras?  seeing just how thin they can get?  More rehab?  but not staying in rehab?

I heard the story just this week of a young girl who got on drugs.  She wrecked 2 cars and end up in rehab where she met a friend, and they left to party.  But, they were surprised when they got back and were not allowed back in?  So, she went to another place.  and met another girl.  Together, they left the place before their time was up, and her mom finally told her, 'you are on your own'.    But those girls the media cover keep hopping in and out of rehab like it's the star football player's bed, so what are young ladies learning?  And those girls in the media appear to be 'stupid girls.'  Why can't there be some smart, intelligent, young women in the headlines?  What would be wrong with that? 

So, how many of you are members of a gym?  and how many of you actually use the thing?  Our campus has a great gym.  for some time I've been using the pool as I participated in water aerobics.  It's a great exercise, and you use a lot of calories (see, your body has to work harder to get to the core temp and keep it). 

but at the end of March, I signed up for a 4 week course:  Women on Weights.  With this, they did a fitness evaluation, and they gave your group a personal trainer.  For those 4 weeks, we went twice a week, and learned how to use the machines, both weight and cardio.  After the 4 weeks ended, I started working out on my own, combining weights, cardio, and the water aerobics.  And this summer I started taking a class that one of my students is teaching:  Body Sculpting with weights.  mmmmm, sounds like a slow methodical workout with weights, right?  Not.  It's an aerobic workout with weights.  And it kicks my ass every time.  I keep thinking that it will get easier.  It doesn't.

Of course, most of the people I see working out are young college students.  There are a few older professors in the gym on occasion.  But, for the most, they are young and beautiful.  Which brings up the reason for this blog today.

Why does everyone else look so good working out, while I look like someone who has been worked over?  Their hair stays in place, their clothes show muscle bulges, and their sweat glistens on their bodies.  The guys especially catch my eye when I'm working out.  Then, I catch a glimpse of myself in one of the mirrors.  Who is that?  Hair flying in all directions, clothes drooping and sagging, and sweat dripping off the end of her nose?  That can't be me?  Surely?  That one girl over there doing the splits?  A person can split like that without breaking?  That guy just leg pressed 300 lbs.  And that one pulled 210 on the tricep pull?  (I do 15 to 20).   I have to adjust machines to make it easier on my knees, and because I'm short.  They tighten everything so tight, that I can't adjust them.  I carry around a towel and some water.  They have their i-pods plugged into their ears. 

I don't feel old really; no one ever believes me when I tell them my age.  But when I go to the gym, I feel outdated and frumpy.  Frumpy?  There's a word  you don't hear every day.  But, it's been 3 months and one week, and I'm still there.  I still mix my water aerobics with my weight sculpting class, weights, and cardio.  I can see muscle definiton:  hey, I do have triceps.  And I feel better about myself.  I'm not losing a ton of weight yet, but my body is changing, re-shaping itself.  And I still get to spend time at the gym looking at those guys with their muscles.  (do you know how hard it is to take a look without them noticing when there's mirrors all around?)

peace out......

who can blame them?  Wednesday, it was the dreaded fireworks all around, and now it is my crazy landlord.  He decided that this weekend he would paint the place.  but first, since it's been ages since this place was painted, he has had to scrape and blast the old paint off.  If he would keep up this place on a regular basis, it would be an easy job, but no, he waits until forever has passed.  First, he has to talk about it for a year or two, or maybe three?  I learned a long time ago not to ask for anything from him because he won't do anything.  The only time he really jumped in and did anything was after I called the police on the drug dealer he had rented to.

OK, that deserves some explanation.  While I live in a house, I live on only the top floor.  Below me are two small apartments, and we all have our own entrances without access to the others.  Now, a few years ago, my Landlord rented one of the small apartments to a 17 year old.  He smoked pot so much that I got the munchies.  Which, I complained to the landlord.  And I told him that starting about 3 in the afternoon, traffic was crazy, with cars going in and out of the place.  Months passed.  I had my car vandalized, and when friends would stop by, young guys would go up and down the street right in front of the house, either on skateboards, bikes or cars, and just stare us down if we were outside.  It had gotten really kind of scary.  I begged my landlord to do something.  NADA.  I finally went to the police.  I took them license plate numbers.  The guy was dealing, of course, and he ended up moving within 5 days.  Right after all of this, after the police had contacted my landlord, he did some things around the place that needed doing.  This lasted about a week.  He's a loser.  I have a private drive, but it just has gravel which tends to get washed away.  I have asked him for 2 or 3 years for more gravel, and he keeps telling me about his plan to pave it.  but, the years keep passing.

so why do I stay here?  Because I can walk to campus.  And parking on and around campus is hard to come by.  Heck, I even have people parking in front of my place to walk to campus.  Also, it has a screen porch.  and I can let my cats out without really letting them out.  It has been great for them.  But back to the landlord.  While he's scraping paint, he is making a lot of noise, and a mess.  Does he clean the mess up?  No.  He just leaves old paint where it lands.  He trimmed a tree, and left the branches where they fell. 

and then, he has the audacity to knock on my door, and ask me if he's making enough noise for me?  Well, I was on the phone when he knocked, and although I answered the door because I thought he might need me to move something, or whatever, I just shut the door in his face.  What a goober.  He's always got a funny story, but I don't always have time for funny.

Anyway, this has become a rant.  and what do you know?  It's not a political rant.  Although, I do think my landlord is a republican.  Mmmmmmm, now it all begins to make sense.  LOL.

I have been traveling around some blogs the last few days.  It's been a long time, but I decided to get back in touch with some of the special people I have found around the Blogosphere.  And I'm glad I did.  There are some amazing people out there.  And as the noise gets louder, I think I'll join my cats, and hide.

But, please, come by and see me when you can.  I promise to try to blog more, and visit more.  and from this hippy chick a loud peace, love and light to all of you who stop by........

well, well, Happy Birthday tomorrow to the Prez!  You should be proud.  No, really. 

Who decided that we have to have firecrackers going off on the fourth of July?  And why is it that people think shooting them off until and thru midnight is kind of cool? 

I have to teach today.  Getting students interested in literature is hard, but not as hard as some people make it. 

So, what are you doing 07/07/07?  and why is it that some people think that's going to be a lucky day?  People are strange. 

anyway, have a great summer day wherever you are. 

well, well.....  Be sure to watch Countdown with Keith tonight on MSNBC..... Chris Matthews has said it best so far:

“The irony in this case is that the president said he would 'deal with anyone who leaked,' and now his way of dealing with Scooter Libby is to pardon him.”

“For him to say that the penalty is 'excessive' may well be true, but it was the same crime that President Bill Clinton was impeached for by a Republican House of Representatives and in which 50 U.S. senators, Republicans, voted to remove him from office. So Republicans as a party thought perjury and obstruction of justice were sufficient to remove a twice-elected president from office. And now the president is saying that 30 months in prison is an excessive penalty for the same exact crime. It’s inconsistent.”

Matthews considers the human aspects of all this. “He was President Bush's political ally, so I certainly understand that he sympathizes with Scooter Libby and his family. The human aspects of this are totally understandable. And it may well be that Libby has suffered enough already and will suffer in the future... you could argue that the punishment has been exacted without Libby going to prison.”

Matthews thinks this decision wasn’t exactly a proud moment for the White House. “If the president were proud of his decision (and that’s his decision and his right to make it), he would have held something at the Rose Garden.  He would have said it in person and not issued a statement on paper. He wouldn’t have done it on a 4th of July holiday period with everyone out of town. He would have done it with some flourish and some pride.”