In an attempt to get back to blogging about politics, and to refocus, I decided to cruise some of my old haunts and see what they're talking about.
I present the Random Roundup:
Pirate's Cove, always one of my favorites, notes that the Obama administration has unfrozen some $500 million for the Palestinian Authority. Someone please tell me why we are giving money to a terrorist group?
Must see! The Daley Gator has video of the Sergio Garcia shot he made yesterday one handed, backwards, FROM UP IN A TREE! Woah now! You've gotta see this. Amazing.
The Reaganite Republican has a picture of the 2014 Jeep Cherokee and I've got to say, as much of a Jeep lover as I am, I don't like it.
Legal Insurrection notes the collapse of the 7-round magazine limit in NY and the strategy behind it.
Bob Belvedere discusses the difference between conservatives and republicans.
If you've been following the Amanda Knox story, Saberpoint has a post you may find interesting.
Fishersville Mike is following the Cyprus bailout banking mess, as is Wyblog while Doug Ross hints at an "unimaginable solution."
Libertarian Republican notes an unintended consequence of the federal bullet buying surge.
Paco has questions about Joe Biden's travel expenses.
And that about covers it for now. I'll do some more poking and exploring tomorrow. I've got to pace myself, you know.
Surveying the political blogs it seems that things are still pretty much the same. That's not a bad thing or a good thing necessarily, but I do wonder, is anybody listening? I mean, does anybody really care if the Obama girls are vacationing in the Bahamas or what nonsense Bloomberg is up to this week? I guess we have to just keep shouting into the void and hope somehow we make a difference.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Forward Progress
I always feel better when I feel like I'm making forward progress on things, so today I contacted the attorney about setting up a meeting on filing the succession; I called the Social Security office and the other places mom got pensions from and make notifications there. That was about two hours of automated answering system hell so that was enough for the day.
Honestly, when you call a pension department to tell them this person has died, their recorded announcement of "We are so sorry for your loss. Please accept our condolences" would have so much more authenticity if it came from a real person.
I wasted another two hours today on Facebook and Pinterest. I discovered Smashbook on Pinterest. Is anybody doing these things? I think they're cool looking. I've ordered two and am going to give it a shot. I used to love scrapbooking and this seems like mini-scrapbooking on the go. I think I'm going to do one on the "treasures" I pick up from estate sales so I'll know where they come from. They'll be perfect for trips, like if I actually get to go to Iowa this summer to see Steve's family. Here's one from the blog Inspiration Everywhere:
If you're building a house it would be a cool way to keep up with ideas. Example:
Here's a little video about Smashbook:
I'm going to give it a shot and see if I like it.
After I wasted the morning on the internet, I went to the grocery store where I forgot half of what I went for and nearly left one of my bags on the carousel which make the clerk chase me out into the parking lot with my whole chicken in her hands. That's the second time in two days I've done that.
Forgetful.
Let me thank you again for all the wonderful messages and notes you've sent. It means a lot. I think the best thing for me to do is to stay busy. I do better when I'm busy. I have closets to clean out and a junk room to clean out this week. That ought to do wonders.
Forward progress!
Sunday, March 24, 2013
The Purge
Voila the purged blogroll.
I went through and deleted blogs that haven't updated in over a year or in a very long time. I've left a few that are "dormant" because I'm hoping they'll come back online; I left snaggletoothie because I can't bear to delete him and because I like looking at his old posts sometimes. I left one or two dormant blogs there because they are informative (The Dialysis Diary). I deleted three that had gone "invite only" and apparently I didn't get the invite.
As I get back into things I'll add blogs that are relevant and active. For now, we have a leaner, meaner blogroll.
I went through and deleted blogs that haven't updated in over a year or in a very long time. I've left a few that are "dormant" because I'm hoping they'll come back online; I left snaggletoothie because I can't bear to delete him and because I like looking at his old posts sometimes. I left one or two dormant blogs there because they are informative (The Dialysis Diary). I deleted three that had gone "invite only" and apparently I didn't get the invite.
As I get back into things I'll add blogs that are relevant and active. For now, we have a leaner, meaner blogroll.
Loose Ends
It'll take some time for me to re-establish old routines, I guess, or to establish new ones. It's just crazy windy outside today, and cold, or I'd go work in the yard. The sun is beautiful but I don't do cold.
I've tinkered around the house a little; done some laundry, piddled around rearranging things in china cabinets. My son wants me to make gumbo today so I might do that.
I want to thank you all for the messages, notes, prayers and support you've sent my way. It means a lot. Really, it does.
Over the next few days I'm going to get this 'ol blog dusted off once again and see if she still starts. I'm going to update the blogroll too. Since the election some of those blogs over there in the sidebar have "gone dormant" as my good friend Bill Jacobson noted when he checked his own blogroll. I'd like to update it with new, active blogs and since I've been out of the loop for about a year feel free to share the names of any really good blogs you're reading these days.
Right now I'm just sitting here enjoying the quiet and watching the neighbor's oak leaves fall like rain in this wind.
Maybe I should get started on that gumbo.
Saturday, March 23, 2013
On the Passing of My Mother
Mom died in her sleep during the night.
It's sad for those of us that loved her but she was more than ready, was totally at peace with it, and was looking forward to seeing my father, her parents and her good friends. And I know she isn't suffering anymore.
She was frustrated in later years by neuropathy that robbed her of feeling in her hands, by hearing loss, and eventually by diminishing eyesight.
It's difficult, of course, because I've spent the last eight years or so taking care of her needs. It will take some time to get used to not going by every day to check on her.
It will be okay, though. She and I spent a lot of time talking about this; she wanted to be sure I was ready and so she had everything organized and lined out ages ago. I've even found a little notebook where she wrote down every little piece of cut crystal or vase, every wedding gift and piece of silver, every piece of furniture, jewelry, and every item of importance to her in her house; she wrote down where it came from, who gave it to her, or from whom it was inherited. She wrote down which child she wants to have it after she's gone.
In that notebook she also left me a list of things to do: "Call the Social Security office so they don't send anymore checks!" "Get plenty of death certificates! EVERYone needs one!"
She had been through this with her parents and was trying to make it easy for me.
I still bungled things though. I did the obituary for the paper but I should have done it ahead of time rather than after they called me. I left out a couple of things, like that she was a graduate of Centenary College and a Chi Omega. She was proud of that.
She'll forgive me for that, though.
Mary Earle Texada Phillips
Shreveport, LA - Mrs. Mary Earle Phillips passed away on Tuesday, March 19, 2013. A graveside service will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, March 22, at Forest Park Cemetery, St. Vincent Ave. Officiating will be The Rev. Paul Martin, Rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
Mrs. Phillips was a native of Coushatta, LA and a resident of Shreveport, LA for most of her life. She was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church and a graduate of C. E. Byrd High School.
Mrs. Phillips was preceded in death by her parents, Florence and John Pintard Texada; her husband, William H. Phillips, Jr.; and granddaughter, Melissa Renee Phillips. She is survived by her daughters, Mary Margaret Grayson and husband, Gordon and Patricia P. Becker and husband, Steve; son, William Hutch Phillips and wife, Laura; grandchildren, Mary Francis Archer, Patricia Nicole Sumrow and John P. Austin; and great-grandchildren, Alex Archer and Benjamin Sumrow
The family requests that memorials be made to the Byrd High School Alumni Association.
The family would like to express their sincere appreciation the The Glen and Harmony Life for their compassionate care.
"Well, she really liked Frank Sinatra, but...", and he laughed.
"I'll tell you what," he said. "I can do 'What a Wonderful World' by Louis Armstrong. How would that be?"
Perfect! Mom loved that. I just couldn't have planned it better.
Bill Allen will never know what a wonderful gesture that was and how much it meant to me.
I have a strong support system, a great husband, and good friends, so I'll be okay.
It'll take some time, but I'll be okay. Mom would insist on it!
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Sequestration Cancels the 2013 Barksdale Defenders of Liberty Air Show
The Barksdale Air Force Base 2013 Defenders of Liberty Air Show has been cancelled. It was scheduled for the first weekend in May. Officials are blaming the cancellation on budget cuts forced by the sequestration.
The show attracts tens of thousands each year from all around the three-states region: Mr. SIGIS and I went last year and had a grand time.
Yes, air shows like this one are expensive to produce. But it is events like this one that not only are huge recruitment tools for the Air Force, but are also fundraisers for individual squadrons. The Shreveport Times spoke to retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Peyton Cole who wasn't surprised:
"That's what I figured was going to happen," said Cole, whose concerns are for the effect on individual units on base, such as squadrons and the Global Power Museum.
"I'm concerned that if you don't have an air show or open house, your squadrons that rely on vendors to make their money for the year don't have any venue to do that," he said. "This is a blow to the operational squadrons on base that derive their funds from vending at the air show and open house. These are funds that go to pay for ancillary things the Air Force doesn't pay for...".
These funds might be going away gifts for outgoing squadron personnel, wedding gifts, etc. Another thing that squadrons raise money for is to fly airmen home for Christmas.
The Blue Angels were slated to perform this year but last week it was announced that the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds would be cancelling their schedules due to sequestration, so it's likely that the Barksdale Air Show won't be the only one affected.
Oddly enough, last year when Steve and I were on base touring the static displays and watching the air performances, he commented that it might be one of the last air shows for a while. Elections have consequences and just as most of us have seen the negative ramifications of Obamacare coming down the pike from the very beginning, Steve predicted the negative effects coming down the pike for the military.
I mean, really, Obama has no concern for the recruitment aspect of the military. He'd like to downsize and drastically cut the military. "Peace through superior firepower" holds no special significance for him. It's back to the days of Jimmy Carter when airmen would rob parts from one plane just to keep another in the air. Enemies sensed weakness like a shark sense blood in the water.
Obama wants the sequestration cuts to hurt as much as possible. Thus the cancellation of the White House tours but so far no White House calligraphers have lost their jobs. Maybe the calligraphers are too busy penning invitations to Michelle's birthday bash.
It's all enough to make one want to bang one's head on a wall. I'm sure liberals are just fine with the cancellation of frivolous things like air shows - after all, that money could be so much better spent on....new TSA uniforms? At least when you get your invasive pat down it'll be by someone who is dressed for success! Oh well, you know. The military is so 2007 now. We're withdrawing from Afghanistan, don't you know? Think of all the Obamaphones we can buy with the cost of just one air show! Think of all the food stamps! The golf outings with Tiger! Hawaii!
Good grief. I used to wonder if people would wake up before it's too late but I don't worry about that now.
The goose is cooked. The low information voter rules the day.
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Take a Trip to Watch Some Centenary Baseball
There's nothing like a little snap of spring in the air to make one's heart long for baseball. The crack of the bat, the satisfying smack of ball to glove, the chatter from the dugout...it's pure heaven.
Steve and I live within a good fastball of Centenary College and I can hear the baseball team's batting practice from my house. So we decided this weekend to venture on over to Sheehee Stadium and check out some Gents baseball.
We went yesterday for the first game of a double-header against the University of Dallas; Centenary lost the first game and won the second. It was cold and windy so we only made one game. We were surprised to learn there was no admission cost; we asked a couple of people if we needed tickets or needed to pay and everyone looked at us with a quizzical expression and said no.
As the weather was much warmer today, and no wind, we headed back out to catch the last game in this series against Dallas.
It was a small crowd but everyone was settling in for a nice afternoon of baseball when we got there; this lady was working on her tan while cheering on her team:
Parents and photographers:
Even Sock Monkey had a front row seat:
As the game began the Gents lined up to cheer on their batters (note all the baseballs on the roof of that building on the right):
Play ball!
Dallas had some really good hitters:
And the game stayed close.
A view from our seats:
Faithful fan Princess comes to every game:
There were several dogs there today. All very well behaved, of course!
A respectable crowd stayed until the very end today:
This is the concession stand; yesterday we kept them busy selling coffee and hot chocolate because it was so cold. Today we had hot dogs, peanuts, and cokes! What else are you going to have at a college baseball game?!
The game was tied going into the ninth:
And the suspense was high:
At the top of the ninth it was all tied up:
When the Gents came up to bat, no. 25, Jemari James hit a ball down the first base line, Dallas had a little trouble fielding it in the corner, James rounded second and ran to third; the ball was overthrown toward third and James made home plate. Gents win!
After a wild celebration at home plate both teams shook hands and another game is in the books.
It was an exciting finish to a good game.
The Gents will be at home again next weekend against Trinity University with a Saturday double-header. The schedule is here.
If you're looking for a nice way to relax and enjoy some top notch baseball, keep the Centenary Gents on your radar. It's a great way to spend an afternoon!
Take a Springtime Trip to Second Hand Rose Antiques in Minden, LA
Take a Trip to Logansport, Louisiana
Take a Trip to the Lock and Dam on Red River
Take a Trip to the 2012 Barkus and Meoux Parade
Take a Christmas Shopping Trip to Second Hand Rose in Minden
Take a Trip to the Fourth Annual Barksdale AFB Oktoberfest
Take a Trip to Grand Cane's Fifth Annual Pioneer Trade Day
Take a Trip to the 2011 Highland Jazz & Blues Festival
Take an Autumn Trip to Jefferson, Texas
Take a Fall Trip to Second Hand Rose Antiques in Minden
Take a Trip to the 8th Air Force Museum at Barksdale Air Force Base
Take a Summertime Trip to Grand Cane
Take a Trip to Desoto Parish
Take a Summer Trip to Second Hand Rose Antiques in Minden
Take a Trip to Natchitoches and Melrose Plantation
Take a Trip to Ed Lester Farms and a Random Antique Stop
Take a Trip to the Norton Art Gallery and the Masters of Cuban Art Exhibit
Take a Trip to Natchitoches to See the Christmas Lights
Take a Trip to the Third Annual BAFB Oktoberfest
Take a Trip to Natchitoches and Oakland Plantation
Take a Trip to Jefferson, Texas
Oktoberfest at BAFB
Steve and I live within a good fastball of Centenary College and I can hear the baseball team's batting practice from my house. So we decided this weekend to venture on over to Sheehee Stadium and check out some Gents baseball.
We went yesterday for the first game of a double-header against the University of Dallas; Centenary lost the first game and won the second. It was cold and windy so we only made one game. We were surprised to learn there was no admission cost; we asked a couple of people if we needed tickets or needed to pay and everyone looked at us with a quizzical expression and said no.
As the weather was much warmer today, and no wind, we headed back out to catch the last game in this series against Dallas.
It was a small crowd but everyone was settling in for a nice afternoon of baseball when we got there; this lady was working on her tan while cheering on her team:
Parents and photographers:
Even Sock Monkey had a front row seat:
As the game began the Gents lined up to cheer on their batters (note all the baseballs on the roof of that building on the right):
Play ball!
Dallas had some really good hitters:
And the game stayed close.
A view from our seats:
Faithful fan Princess comes to every game:
There were several dogs there today. All very well behaved, of course!
A respectable crowd stayed until the very end today:
This is the concession stand; yesterday we kept them busy selling coffee and hot chocolate because it was so cold. Today we had hot dogs, peanuts, and cokes! What else are you going to have at a college baseball game?!
The game was tied going into the ninth:
And the suspense was high:
At the top of the ninth it was all tied up:
When the Gents came up to bat, no. 25, Jemari James hit a ball down the first base line, Dallas had a little trouble fielding it in the corner, James rounded second and ran to third; the ball was overthrown toward third and James made home plate. Gents win!
After a wild celebration at home plate both teams shook hands and another game is in the books.
It was an exciting finish to a good game.
The Gents will be at home again next weekend against Trinity University with a Saturday double-header. The schedule is here.
If you're looking for a nice way to relax and enjoy some top notch baseball, keep the Centenary Gents on your radar. It's a great way to spend an afternoon!
The SIGIS Take a Trip Series:
Take a Trip to the 2012 Natchitoches Christmas FestivalTake a Trip to the 2012 Grand Cane Pioneer Day and Christmas Parade
Take a Trip to the 2012 Defenders of Liberty Air Show at BAFBTake a Springtime Trip to Second Hand Rose Antiques in Minden, LA
Take a Trip to Logansport, Louisiana
Take a Trip to the Lock and Dam on Red River
Take a Trip to the 2012 Barkus and Meoux Parade
Take a Christmas Shopping Trip to Second Hand Rose in Minden
Take a Trip to the Fourth Annual Barksdale AFB Oktoberfest
Take a Trip to Grand Cane's Fifth Annual Pioneer Trade Day
Take a Trip to the 2011 Highland Jazz & Blues Festival
Take an Autumn Trip to Jefferson, Texas
Take a Fall Trip to Second Hand Rose Antiques in Minden
Take a Trip to the 8th Air Force Museum at Barksdale Air Force Base
Take a Summertime Trip to Grand Cane
Take a Trip to Desoto Parish
Take a Summer Trip to Second Hand Rose Antiques in Minden
Take a Trip to Natchitoches and Melrose Plantation
Take a Trip to Ed Lester Farms and a Random Antique Stop
Take a Trip to the Norton Art Gallery and the Masters of Cuban Art Exhibit
Take a Trip to Natchitoches to See the Christmas Lights
Take a Trip to the Third Annual BAFB Oktoberfest
Take a Trip to Natchitoches and Oakland Plantation
Take a Trip to Jefferson, Texas
Oktoberfest at BAFB
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
The Sip Heard Round the World
After Barack Obama stands before the nation and vows to send us spiraling further into debt with a multitude of new programs that miraculously won't cost a dime and all anyone can talk about is Marco Rubio taking a sip of water?
Never mind that the proposal to raise the minimum wage to $9.00 will increase unemployment. I mean, if I have a small business and I have ten employees, I'm going to cut back to eight if I can because I can't afford to keep ten anymore. If I have a business with enough employees to force me into Obamacare, I just got an incentive to cut a few of them back.
But for goodness sake, let's don't talk about that! Let's talk about Marco Rubio taking a sip of water!
Drudge, in his own way, pushes back:
Because it's okay when liberals drink water. Just not Republicans.
Obama made no mention of Benghazi and his massive failure to protect those Americans, respond to their call for help, or even hold accountable those responsible. But who cares? Marco Rubio took a drink of water on national television. From Politico:
Obama vowed to expand the federal government's role in federal education - as if holding states hostage by forcing Common Core on them was not enough. Most states have been compelled to accept the pitiful Common Core curriculum in order to be considered for federal grants and monies. National education standards are, in fact, unconstitutional but this president has coerced the states to adopt them. Shame on them all. But what difference does it make? Marco Rubio was thirsty.
The New Yorker:
The New Yorker breaks down the moment into microseconds:
By the second minute of Marco Rubio’s official Republican response to the President’s State of the Union address last night, it was clear that the Senator’s body was betraying him. His lips caught each other in the way they do at moments of stress, when we are suddenly confronted, after long lapses of unthought, with the actual mechanics of speech. Under the hot lights, Rubio’s mouth went dry. A few minutes later, sweat trickled down his right temple, and he moved his hand instinctively to wipe it away. The dry mouth persisted, and, at times, his eyes flashed with a kind of pleading and mounting desperation: the speech was less than halfway over, with words and words to go. His hands, already large in the frame when he kept them low in front of him, flashed a few times to his lips. And then back to his temple.
By the eighth minute, he seemed to have adjusted, and it looked as if he might push through to the end. But then, three minutes later, he made a gamble and reached for a water bottle offscreen: he lurched down to his left and fumbled a bit, making a terrifyingly intimate moment of eye contact with the audience before taking a quick sip from an unfortunately tiny bottle and then ducking to put it back.
In his speech, Obama continued his partisan politics by blaming Republicans for sequestration and just about anything else that he can get away with, but he accepts no responsibility for anything. Disgusting. But at least he didn't take a drink of water on the national stage!
At least Rubio has been a good sport about it. He's been chugging water on the news shows all day long today.
Good grief. Don't we have anything else to talk about?
The only winner here is Poland Spring.
No wonder this country is going down the tubes.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Healthcare Gone to the Dogs
I'm not watching the SOTU address. I'm well aware of the SOTU.
I was, actually watching the Westminster Dog Show which was ever so much more interesting. That's kind of where I am with politics these days. Gone to the dogs.
True story:
I was visiting with a liberal friend whom I adore. Politics aside, we have other areas of common ground on which we can be friends.
Tonight this friend, who is almost 70, told me he needs a hip replacement. The doctor looks at the x-rays and says, "Yep. You need a hip replacement. You've got no cartilage.". But then the doc tells him that because Medicare has clamped down on such procedures he has to do physical therapy first.
My first thought was "Are you serious?!"
But ten seconds later, of course, you realize that with Obamacare naturally nobody is going to get a hip replacement. Why waste resources on the old and infirm?
So, this friend will do the PT which has zero potential for success (because the doc says he has no cartilage, remember) and will likely exacerbate the pain, but hey!, maybe in ten years, he can get a hip replacement if he sits around on a list long enough.
This is reflective of why I've seemingly stopped political blogging. I'm screaming into a void. I tried to warn people that this was coming. Your doctor doesn't get to make decisions about your care - the ipab does. Your doctor can't look at your x-rays and prescribe treatment! He has to look at a formula, your age, and the cost in order to determine if treatment is feasible.
Faced with the inevitable reality of Obamacare, in the same breath this friend also expressed profound hope that "we can get everyone covered on healthcare.". Free healthcare for all.
Free? What's free? Somebody has got to pay. It's not going to be "free.". Ever. Never ever.
Here comes the tide of illegals now about to drain your healthcare system, baby. You think finding the care you need NOW is hard? Just wait.
Why are liberals shocked when what they voted for shows up on their daily plane and bites them? We TOLD you this was coming. It's basic economics, people! Nothing is "free!"
My friend is a wonderful, kind, big-hearted person and like I said, we agree on many (non-political) things. I'm sorry my friend can't get the treatment he needs when he needs it.
He should have read my blog back when I was screaming "Don't do it!! Don't vote for Obamacare!"
The sad thing is...I don't see it getting better. Ever. The Republicans are too divided. The Tea Party conservatives vs. the Democrat-Lites. I don't see a reconciliation there which means a perpetual Democratic stronghold on the horizon shored up by imminent amnesty.
We are screwed.
I once thought that we're going to have to just let it all destruct, implode and rebuild from the ashes but I'm no longer that optimistic.
I was, actually watching the Westminster Dog Show which was ever so much more interesting. That's kind of where I am with politics these days. Gone to the dogs.
True story:
I was visiting with a liberal friend whom I adore. Politics aside, we have other areas of common ground on which we can be friends.
Tonight this friend, who is almost 70, told me he needs a hip replacement. The doctor looks at the x-rays and says, "Yep. You need a hip replacement. You've got no cartilage.". But then the doc tells him that because Medicare has clamped down on such procedures he has to do physical therapy first.
My first thought was "Are you serious?!"
But ten seconds later, of course, you realize that with Obamacare naturally nobody is going to get a hip replacement. Why waste resources on the old and infirm?
So, this friend will do the PT which has zero potential for success (because the doc says he has no cartilage, remember) and will likely exacerbate the pain, but hey!, maybe in ten years, he can get a hip replacement if he sits around on a list long enough.
This is reflective of why I've seemingly stopped political blogging. I'm screaming into a void. I tried to warn people that this was coming. Your doctor doesn't get to make decisions about your care - the ipab does. Your doctor can't look at your x-rays and prescribe treatment! He has to look at a formula, your age, and the cost in order to determine if treatment is feasible.
Faced with the inevitable reality of Obamacare, in the same breath this friend also expressed profound hope that "we can get everyone covered on healthcare.". Free healthcare for all.
Free? What's free? Somebody has got to pay. It's not going to be "free.". Ever. Never ever.
Here comes the tide of illegals now about to drain your healthcare system, baby. You think finding the care you need NOW is hard? Just wait.
Why are liberals shocked when what they voted for shows up on their daily plane and bites them? We TOLD you this was coming. It's basic economics, people! Nothing is "free!"
My friend is a wonderful, kind, big-hearted person and like I said, we agree on many (non-political) things. I'm sorry my friend can't get the treatment he needs when he needs it.
He should have read my blog back when I was screaming "Don't do it!! Don't vote for Obamacare!"
The sad thing is...I don't see it getting better. Ever. The Republicans are too divided. The Tea Party conservatives vs. the Democrat-Lites. I don't see a reconciliation there which means a perpetual Democratic stronghold on the horizon shored up by imminent amnesty.
We are screwed.
I once thought that we're going to have to just let it all destruct, implode and rebuild from the ashes but I'm no longer that optimistic.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
The Coolest Jewelry Box in the World
The think I love about "antiquing," or just going to see Milly Rose, is that you never know what you will find. I almost always find something cool at Milly Rose's shop and it's always something I really "need"!
The other cool thing, to me, about this hobby is the rush you get when you find that thing, that thing that you didn't know you needed, you don't know what in the hell you're going to do with it, but you just have to have it. It doesn't happen every trip, but when it does...well, it's really fun!
We went yesterday to Minden to visit Milly and do the Mardi Gras parade over there. (I'll post more on that later today). One of the first things I saw was this:
What in the world...? I was drawn to the wood and the unusual shape of the thing. I opened the lid on the top piece and the drawer:
Love!
It's an old cash register drawer! That spindle you see in the top picture? It worked in sync with an old adding machine. When I got it home, I pulled the drawer out - there's a mechanism in there that makes the drawer pop open when prompted by the adding machine. (There was also a dirt dauber nest in the top compartment! Lagniappe!)
Here's one I found on ebay:
A little research led me to this history of the Dalton Adding Machine Company.
I brought the thing home, thinking I'd set it on this antique desk that I have, but really, what to do with it?
I'm thinking right now it's going to make a perfect jewelry box! Line it with some velvet maybe. Necklaces in the top and earrings and pins in the drawer, maybe. Rings on the spindle?!
But just look at these worm holes:
Such character!
But I don't really need a cash register...I'm open to suggestions. Anybody have a good idea to re-purpose this besides my jewelry box idea? Otherwise, I think I just bought the coolest jewelry box ever.
The other cool thing, to me, about this hobby is the rush you get when you find that thing, that thing that you didn't know you needed, you don't know what in the hell you're going to do with it, but you just have to have it. It doesn't happen every trip, but when it does...well, it's really fun!
We went yesterday to Minden to visit Milly and do the Mardi Gras parade over there. (I'll post more on that later today). One of the first things I saw was this:
What in the world...? I was drawn to the wood and the unusual shape of the thing. I opened the lid on the top piece and the drawer:
Love!
It's an old cash register drawer! That spindle you see in the top picture? It worked in sync with an old adding machine. When I got it home, I pulled the drawer out - there's a mechanism in there that makes the drawer pop open when prompted by the adding machine. (There was also a dirt dauber nest in the top compartment! Lagniappe!)
Here's one I found on ebay:
A little research led me to this history of the Dalton Adding Machine Company.
I brought the thing home, thinking I'd set it on this antique desk that I have, but really, what to do with it?
I'm thinking right now it's going to make a perfect jewelry box! Line it with some velvet maybe. Necklaces in the top and earrings and pins in the drawer, maybe. Rings on the spindle?!
But just look at these worm holes:
Such character!
But I don't really need a cash register...I'm open to suggestions. Anybody have a good idea to re-purpose this besides my jewelry box idea? Otherwise, I think I just bought the coolest jewelry box ever.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Is Your DVD Library Missing This?
I went to the theater five times last summer and watched it. I loved it. My review is here.
The title refers to Harriet Tubman's Underground Railroad in the 19th century; Rev. Bryant contends that we need a "new Underground Railroad" to help lead blacks from the tyranny of enslavement by the United States government which is bent on keeping so many dependent on the government dole.
The documentary is a masterpiece of photography and symbolism as well as strong in its powerful message. Yet even with the seriousness of the subject, in the end I was left optimistic and hopeful.
The trailer:
I've ordered my copy already because even though I almost know it by heart by now, I still want to watch it over and over again.
What's All the Fuss?
I think there's something going on in D.C. today...an inauguration of some sort. I'm not turning on the t.v. today. I've got my XM radio tuned to the forties station and am tending to household matters today.
Meh.
Meh.
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Keeping a Level Head on Gun Control
The Washington Post reported yesterday:
A working group led by Vice President Biden is seriously considering measures backed by key law enforcement leaders that would require universal background checks for firearm buyers, track the movement and sale of weapons through a national database, strengthen mental health checks, and stiffen penalties for carrying guns near schools or giving them to minors, the sources said.
Over at Red State, Moe Lane responds:
…None of which would have stopped the Newtown atrocity. The shooter stole the guns from his mother, who passed a background check (Connecticut has that); the guns, being stolen and used rather than resold, would have been effectively invisible to a hypothetical database; the guns were not in fact owned by a mentally unstable, violent person who used them to murder children (they were stolen by somebody who used them for that); and penalties for possession of firearms around schools or by minors obviously had no effect on the shooter (who was, by the way, a legal adult).
He makes a legitimate point.
As this debate moves forward, and it will, it's important to keep our heads, and wits, about us. The administration who vows to "never let a crisis go to waste" will certainly move to enact something here, although I suspect and terribly restrictive legislation will have a difficult time moving through Congress.
What we need to me more concerned about is Obama's already demonstrated penchant for running around Congress.
Tom Gresham has a rational, thoughtful op-ed today in which he says:
We have a clear track record of what works to increase our safety. We know what doesn't. Arming good people does, in fact, reduce crime. Banning certain types of firearms, or the loading devices, does nothing to stop mentally ill people and criminals.
Focusing on the failed siren song of gun control diverts us from doing things that actually work, such as programs to secure firearms. Congress eliminated the funding for “Project Childsafe,” a program created by the firearms industry to educate gun owners about safe storage and to distribute millions of gun locks.
As a sort of grounding plug to this whole debate one only need consider the story in the news today of the woman hiding in her attic who had to shoot an intruder to protect her two children. She had absolutely no choice in the matter.
I was reading some discussion about this case on Michael Yon's Facebook feed; Yon wrote:
There are numerous lessons here:
1) Do not break into someone's castle
2) .38 is too weak. Always has been. Always will be
3) 6 shots are not enough. What if there had been three intruders? She hit this guy five times and he was still alive and talking, which means he could still pull a trigger.
4) Do not mess with momma bear when she has cubs.
In the comments there was discussion about what a good shot this lady was. She hit him five times with her .38 revolver. He's got a punctured lung, punctured stomach, and a punctured liver yet he was still able to get in his car and try to drive away. I suspect she might upgrade to a weapon with a little more firepower. Or upgrade ammo.
If the gun-control advocates have their way, she wouldn't be able to upgrade to a semi-automatic style weapon with a clip or magazine.
Michael Yon raises a good point, though. What if you're attacked by more than one intruder and you only have six shots?
We need to keep level heads as this discussion moves forward. There are bad people out there, crazy people to be sure, and it's a plain fact that no amount of gun control will keep weapons from them. None of the proposals mentioned so far would have stopped the Sandy Hook massacre.
As for me, I'm going to learn how to shoot. I'm signed up for my first class already and I'm looking forward to learning.
(More at Memeorandum)
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Is This Thing Still On?
I've done exactly two political posts since the November election which recently prompted a friend of mine to ask if I've given up political blogging.
I've asked that question myself lots of times.
I haven't. I think, though, that after the election I felt much as I did after the passage of Obamacare. I felt like I'm just screaming into a void and nobody is listening. On one level, I just figured, "Ok - the American people want a socialist, big government system; it's what they voted for, so let 'em have it." When the Obamacare vote happened, I was deflated. I had researched, written thorough, well documented posts, and nobody was listening. In November, I felt there was no way that America would vote Barack Obama back into office given his record spending, Fast and Furious, Obamacare, Benghazi, etc. But the low information voter doesn't care about those things.
And he won. Again.
And then I hunkered down. I've been paying off credit cards and restructuring things in preparation for the coming financial apocalypse. And it IS coming.
And so political blogging went by the wayside here as I just shook my head in frustration and decided nothing I say could change things.
Meanwhile, Governor Bobby Jindal enacted his education reform agenda and I've been putting in ungodly hours at work just trying to stay ahead of that barrage. There is much to be said about that, but I don't really feel like I can do that right now.
And then this past August my mom fell and fractured her neck and that meant lots of hospital sitting as one complication after another arose. She is finally settled now, the neck brace is off, and she is living at The Glen. She likes it there and she is safe and well cared for.
I've noticed a malaise among some of my other blogging friends, but not all of them. And it's true that if anything is going to ever change then we can't all fall silent as I have. One voice won't change things, but a chorus of us stands a better chance to bring about change.
A big part of me just doesn't want to cave into the tyranny. It's what they want.
I'm not finished with the political blogging. I've just been frustrated and distracted. Trying to survive, if you will. I heard today that surviving is the new normal.
As far as this fiscal cliff crap sandwich goes? I think the Republicans are their own worst enemy and I'm just as sick of most of them as I am of the Democrats. John Boehner needs to resign. It's all just disgusting.
Political blogging? Yeah, I'm still here. 2016 is coming before you know it and we better have our collective shit together.
Is this thing still on?
Friday, December 28, 2012
New Years Eve 2013 Events in Shreveport-Bossier
Here's our annual roundup of local events in the Shreveport-Bossier area. Email me with info if I've missed something good!
Horseshoe Casino in Bossier City will have a rooftop party featuring Windstorm while inside, at CMT, Cody Cooke and the Bayou Outlaws will be performing
Lake Street Dancehall in downtown Shreveport will have Black Oak Arkansas performing. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Lake Street is a non-smoking bar - you've got to step outside if you want to smoke.
Fatty Arbuckles downtown, in the Red River District, has Gashcat and Ghost Foot kicking off at 10:00. There's a small cover charge.
Harrah's Casino in Bossier City will host their annual free celebration and fireworks show starting at 8:00. The Spazmatics and DJ Love will keep the music going.
If you are looking for somewhere to usher in 2013, join us at Harrah’s Louisiana Downs for a FREE New Year’s Eve celebration. The fun starts at 8 p.m. with the Party in the Pavilion. Dance the night away to all your favorites from the 80’s with the Spazmatics. DJ Love will also make waves with all of your dance favorites from today and yesterday! We will count down to 2013 and when the clock strikes midnight we will celebrate with showers of confetti and party favors. Then at 12:15 a.m., Fireworks will light up the sky above Harrah’s Louisiana Downs. Come join us for a night of FREE Fun and Fireworks!
Eldorado Casino in Shreveport is going Moroccan for New Years sponsored by Ultimate and Gray Goose Vodka. There will be hookahs on every table. You can reserve a table with bottle service or buy a $20 wrist band for entry.
Paris… New York… London… all great places to ring in the new year. Save yourself the trip, because this December 31, Eldorado brings the global vibe to you with a red carpet event like no other. Celebrity and Allure Ultra Lounge are raising the bar on Shreveport-Bossier nightlife again this New Year’s Eve with two clubs for the price of one. Celebrate in classic New Year’s Eve style at Celebrity Lounge, Sponsored by Ultimat Vodka, and rock the exotic as Allure Ultra Lounge and Grey Goose Vodka go Morrocan, including hookahs for every table. Reserve your table with bottle service or get your $20 entry wrist band today – space WILL GO FAST. Wrist bands are $35 after December 25. Triggerproof performs live. Sophisticated nightlife attire required.
Rockin Dopsie and the Zydeco Twisters will be at Sam's Town in Shreveport.
Chicky's Boom Boom Room on Texas Street downtown will feature Windstorm.
The Robinson Film Center in Shreveport is screening Bridget Jones's Diary and will serve dinner at 8:00. Call for reservations.
Holiday Lanes in Bossier sold out their New Year's event last year. This year they're expanding options with an early family event and a later which includes a breakfast platter, unlimited intergalactic glow-in-the-dark bowling, and champagne at midnight.
The American Legion on Cross Lake has a party featuring The Rockin' Redeyes. Ticket are $40.00 per couple or $25.00 single. Fun starts at 8:00.
SciPort in Shreveport hosts their New Years at Noon event from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Wear your pajamas and watch the ball drop. There will be a party hat contest and other events.
Is your bedtime way before midnight? Do you wish there was a way to bring in the New Year a few hours earlier? Then, come celebrate New Years at Noon at Sci-Port! Dress in your party pajamas (family appropriate, please), and watch the ball drop right here at Sci-Port, along with a thousand balloons! There will also be an old-to-new party hat contest: you'll turn your old trash or recyclables into a new party hat! Paper yo-yos, noisemakers, a Space Dome dance party, sundials and face painting will all be part of the excitement. Be prepared to party like it's (almost) 2013 at Sci-Port!
If you want to venture out of the city a bit, drive over to Jefferson, Texas and catch the very hot Soulfish Blues Band at Auntie Skinners.
And if you plan to drink, please get a designated driver or call a cab. Put some of these numbers into your cell phone before you head out.
Ace Cabs: 318- 425-3325
Action Taxi: 318- 222-8294
Golden Stripe Cab Service 318- 675-0411
Yellow Checker Cab 318- 621-9823
If you're looking for some good places to eat before you head out, SIGIS recommends these fine local restaurants. We have plenty of chain restaurants, too.
The Anvil Bar and Grill on Line Avenue is fabulous. You can get a delicious bone-in ribeye or fresh fish of the day as well as your favorite Italian specialties. The daily specials are always fabulous. I recommend the shrimp and grits. Reservations recommended.
Marilynn's Place on Fern has great po-boys, red beans and rice, shrimp creole, and terrific daily specials.
The Blind Tiger in downtown Shreveport is a terrific, casual restaurant and bar with great burgers and crab cakes. They offer a variety of fried seafood, shrimp, and sandwiches.
For a fine dining experience, try L'Italiano in Bossier City on Barksdale Blvd. Try one of the daily specials or tradition Italian specialties. The fresh fish is always good and don't miss out on the stuffed mushrooms! Reservations recommended.
Monday, December 24, 2012
Having a Merry Christmas and Dodging Germs
Mr. SIGIS and I are all settled in for the evening and are awaiting the 24 hour marathon of A Christmas Story.
I've got a turkey breast soaking in brine for tomorrow's dinner and the breakfast casserole is sitting in the fridge ready to go in the oven.
We did our family Christmas this past Saturday; my daughter and her husband drove over from Dallas with the new baby and we had a small gathering at my house. Much smaller compared to last year's big shindig, but some of the family opted to stay in Dallas this year. I boxed up their gifts and got them in the mail in time to arrive for Christmas.
I can't see my mom because her wing at The Glen is on quarantine due to a stomach virus outbreak. It's hard not seeing her on Christmas but at least she got to see her great grandson before the outbreak! Hopefully that will all clear up soon and I can get in to see her.
My college student is sick, too. He came down with a flu-like virus that has him feeling like crud; we spent the morning at the doctor's office and he's now on bed rest.
I've invited my brother over for Christmas tomorrow; he couldn't attend our gathering Saturday because HE was sick!
Mr. SIGIS and I are washing our hands a lot, taking lots of vitamins. We are hoping none of this crud hits us.
Meanwhile, here's hoping you are all having a wonderful Christmas with family and friends!
Here's a cute video I found on Facebook - for the dog lovers:
Merry Christmas!
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Take a Trip to the 2012 Natchitoches Christmas Festival
Oh goodness the crowds. Now I know why I haven't done this before.
The Natchitoches Christmas festival is grand; it's wonderful for the city, for tourism, and for the state. It draws people from miles away through the entire month of December. The festival first began in 1926 and kicks off with a Christmas parade and the turning on of the lights. It draws over 100,000 people each year who leave the city flush with tourism dollars. Like I said, it's wonderful.
But I hate crowds.
Hate them.
Yet I had some shopping to do, and silly me, I thought I could just cruise through the Front Street shops like always and knock out my shopping in an afternoon. I have no idea why I thought this could happen.
Our first clue that we were screwed was when we had to park some four blocks from downtown and even then had to "urban offroad" onto a grassy hill to park the Jeep. And we were damn lucky to get that.
One of the better decisions of the day was to go ahead and eat. We went to our favorite, The Pioneer Pub, for burgers, pub fries, and beer. Business was brisk and steady. We are long time fans of "the Pub."
All of the food at the Pub is made fresh and the extra effort pays off. Everything we've tried there is excellent. It was, of course all decorated for Christmas complete with stockings hung by the fireplace:
Our first shopping stop was Kaffie-Frederick Hardware Store.
It was way too crowded. I could not move. Every aisle was filled with streams of people. Again, this is a good thing for Natchitoches, but not a good thing for me. I found the Michael Henry books, though, and replaced my copy of Atmosphere of Violence which I have loaned out to someone.
Steve found a pillow he liked:
and we looked at some unusual Christmas trees.
I liked this vase a lot. It is quite tall and very heavy. It looks sort of like a candy cane:
I didn't buy it, but I liked it.
I picked up a couple of gifts and we paid up and got out. I love that they use the old cash register - no computerized model for them!
The buggy tours were working overtime; it was over an hour wait in a very, very long line for a ride:
We walked right on past that.
We found a new antique store (open since April) on St. Denis street: Tres Bien Antiques. I loved this store partly because it wasn't filled with tourists. I bought several gifts in there and Steve found a bar for sale:
It was an impressive set up, but who in the world has the room for that? It was huge.
The best part of the day was finding our old friend J. Michael Kenny right next door with his own new antique shop! We were crushed when he closed his shop, The Book Merchant, this year. But he's back, and has a nice antique shop. He even kept his old sign:
That sign is iconic to anyone who loves Natchitoches and Front Street.
The next thing we had to do was stand in a restroom line (all the portable facilities were down by the river and you had to pay $5.00 to get down there). The shops all have signs that say "No Public Restrooms" so you're forced to stand in a very long line (if you're female) at the end of Front Street. By the time I got out of that line it was dark already (30 minutes) and we had to hurry and finish our shopping.
We did finally pony up our $10.00 and go down by the river to see the lights.
There were so many people down there you could not walk. Wall to wall. People were line up 30 deep in front of the food vendors while others were laying on blankets and sitting in lawn chairs by the river waiting on fireworks.
But the lights are wonderful.
Grand for Natchitoches. We threaded our way through the masses, went back to the Pub for a beer and some fried alligator bites, then hit the road for home.
Next year, I'm going between Christmas and New Years. No crowds. You can still see the lights and you can walk along the river without masses of humanity in your way.
But, everybody ought to do it at least once! It's a great family event and great fun.
Natchitoches, I love you, but I'll see you next year.
Take a Trip to the 2012 Defenders of Liberty Air Show at BAFB
Take a Springtime Trip to Second Hand Rose Antiques in Minden, LA
Take a Trip to Logansport, Louisiana
Take a Trip to the Lock and Dam on Red River
Take a Trip to the 2012 Barkus and Meoux Parade
Take a Christmas Shopping Trip to Second Hand Rose in Minden
Take a Trip to the Fourth Annual Barksdale AFB Oktoberfest
Take a Trip to Grand Cane's Fifth Annual Pioneer Trade Day
Take a Trip to the 2011 Highland Jazz & Blues Festival
Take an Autumn Trip to Jefferson, Texas
Take a Fall Trip to Second Hand Rose Antiques in Minden
Take a Trip to the 8th Air Force Museum at Barksdale Air Force Base
Take a Summertime Trip to Grand Cane
Take a Trip to Desoto Parish
Take a Summer Trip to Second Hand Rose Antiques in Minden
Take a Trip to Natchitoches and Melrose Plantation
Take a Trip to Ed Lester Farms and a Random Antique Stop
Take a Trip to the Norton Art Gallery and the Masters of Cuban Art Exhibit
Take a Trip to Natchitoches to See the Christmas Lights
Take a Trip to the Third Annual BAFB Oktoberfest
Take a Trip to Natchitoches and Oakland Plantation
Take a Trip to Jefferson, Texas
Oktoberfest at BAFB
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