LEST WE FORGET.

Remembrance Day - November 10, 2010

May We Always Remember Those

Who Fell In Battle

To Preserve Our Freedom!

Although I live in the United States of America I am still a Canadian in my heart.

Days of Dylan and Bare Feet Gone?

I remember a time in my life when I believed in total freedom, and people helping one another in all areas of life. I lived on a commune farm, wore bell-bottoms and madras tops. We created protest signs some of which I carried. All of us took part in growing our organic vegetables on the farm and milking our cow. I could consume large amounts of food and not gain weight. I spent long afternoons on city beaches, viewed Fritz the Cat at a movie festival, went to Mariposa Folk Festival, Woodstock and New Port Jazz Fest. I lived in the Village in the 60's and Spanish Harlem for more than year in the early 70's. I was a extraordinarily accomplished baker, a champion of substitution, and made the best brownies anywhere.

I still believe in freedom but on a more personal level. I don't try to change the world anymore; just a little corner of it. I do my best to buy good produce. I don't eat a lot of red meat but am not a vegetarian any longer. I wear jeans, a lot of leopard print, and bright cat t-shirts. I still love Dylan, Melanie, the Beatles, folk music, psychedelic rock, music festivals, and warm city beaches. I don't bake brownies anymore nor do I go to Harlem or the Village.

Every decade in my life has taught me a little about myself and the world around me. For instance; I can't smoke anymore, I don't like large crowds at all, anything I eat goes right on my hips, my tolerance for pungent smells is low, I can't stand on these old pins for a very long time nor can I walk a long way. But I still walk bare foot whenever possible, enjoy chick peas in all kinds of salads and soups, and love bright prints and colors.

So the Days of Dylan and bare feet are not gone just revised. Oh by the way I still love Fritz. He is one of my guilty pleasures.

Voting's done.

The Republicans have the House of Representatives, the Democrats have the Senate and the Presidency and the country has a great many problems. Other than that everything is right with the world. That said, I want to talk not about politics but relationships.

Relationships definitely present a slippery slope quite often these days. Trying to get the day to day routine to somehow turn into a great romantic evening is sometimes near impossible. When I was 30 I didn't believe that romance would be part of my life after 50. I sure did not know anything about seniors and relationships. It is just as real and as intense as it has always been; just a little more work in some ways. In fact I am beginning to realize that I will be 6 ft under, so to speak, before my sexuality doesn't mean anything.

Interpersonal relationships with my children, girl friends, and male friends have become more and more interesting every day. I should really be happy to see all my friends in person every day. The tech age helps us sustain friendships over miles and chat as though they are in the same room. Guess that will have to do.

I even have something called memory that enables me to have an ability to keeps those I have loved; that have passed on, to still be part of the present to an extent.

My animals provide a sounding board that never talks back and is always there with a sympathetic ear and a small shoulder to cry on. They seem to hang on my every word and seem to want to help me find a solution to all problems.

The tech age is wonderful to keep in touch with those that are sick or infirmed. A good medium to find out solutions for health problems. A place to answer a question or two wrought by

curiosity. A place to order those special items we need to order for others and ourselves. Which brings me to the real 'relationship' that I have with my computer. Ain't life in the 21st century incredible?

Just one thing....wonder if the journal industry knows if they know why they aren't selling so well? :)

Note: I hope that Melissa's and Mike's wedding turns out as beautiful as it promises to be on Sunday.

Big Brother Sneaking a Peek?

I think that Big Brother is watching us with all of his many eyes. He also seems to have many hands; rather like an Asian deity. Big has been telling us what to think politically, socially, economically, and has even monitored our sexuality to an extent. Been doing it for over the last century. My parents and their people saw it happen during their lives. According to my Mom; Big Brother watched us very furtively in the 40's and 50's. However if she were still with us, I believe she would agree with me that the past 20 years have been even worse. The difference between today and then is this; people are afraid of getting involved personally where as at least from the 40's to the 60's a great many people tried to involve themselves in different causes and other peoples lives. I sight such things as Greenpeace, Antiwar Marches, Veterans Day, Draft- Card Burning, Harbor Day, Peace Marches, and Civil Rights Marches.

Honesty and integrity are at a premium in this tired old world. People are so much more suspicious of each other than they were when I was little. We don't know our neighbors or work together as well as we did in the 50's. I am not saying that criminals were not around, that there were not robbers or murderers. or that children were not bullied. It just seemed that there were more pockets of safety in society when I was younger. I noticed a great change around my 13th year. Perhaps my parents were doing their job better than some. Until I got a taste of the world beyond my family circle I didn't realize just how scary the world was even back then. And at the risk of sounding paranoid it certainly is frightening now.

Okay what does all this got to do with Big Brother? Well our anonymity with the government and in society in general works against us. Crime is committed on several levels these days. We not only need to be wary of criminals but the "law keepers and makers". We have complicated our legal world so much that it often works against us. The use of computers and all the other technology we have invented has us far more open to scrutiny with too many strangers.

No one in this world should be seen as more valuable or better than another person. However it seems that the disabled, the poor and the meek are often condemned in the legal systems of the western world more often than not. Their voices are simply not heard above the din. We can not guard our personal statistics, have a bit of privacy, or socially mind and have others mind their own business. Thank the powers that be or perhaps not for such things as Life-Loc, ADT, Protection One and Lifeline. But when you really think about it, these are but band-aids on the privacy and security problems many of us are having.

Our governments and the banking world have reduced our identities to a bunch of numbers. Not many people call us by name; when we are going about on our errands in the community. Big Brother is deftly watching and conducting our lives. A time machine would be a ludicrous panacea for our problems. What we need to do is be more open to helping each other. We need to help the people who have nothing and tax the ones that have more than they need. Our countries need to help the people in their own back yards; as well as helping those in the rest of the Global Village. The time for band-aids is over. Lets do an 'operation' now before the emergency is full of potential appendectomies!

Sagamore Hill Day Trip

My Honey and I went to Sagamore Hill National Historic Site on Oyster Bay this past week. It was amazing! Teddy Roosevelt built a wonderful home for his family in 1885 on Cove Neck Road. He enjoyed time with his family right up until his death in 1919. The estate had lots of land for horseback riding. There are 23 rooms and it provided ample room for all six of the Roosevelt children. Books are every where just as they were when the family lived in the home. You can find out more about this wonderful place here.

I just want to make a few personal observations about my experience. The gentleman at the tourist center was very helpful. Our guide for the tour was a very sprightly woman, who must have been over 50; but I believe she may have been in her 70's. At any rate she was very athletic for someone her age. She showed us all three floors of the home with tremendous ability. She delivered her facts and anecdotes with aplomb. While we were at the park we also visited "The Teddy Roosevelt Museum in the Old Orchard House. The thing that interested me the most was the exhibit case housing Teddy's Rough Rider Uniform with the famous original hat with it's pinned up brim. The other things that I found fascinating were his service revolver, his sword, Teddy's published works and 1900 McKinley-Roosevelt Campaign buttons.

We went went into the town of Oyster Bay and enjoyed a late lunch at Tabby's Burger House. Just a little warning for those who go there...unless you are absolutely starving get the quarter pounder. My Greek salad, half pounder with cheese, mushrooms, and fried onions, and french fries was delicious. I had the first chocolate egg creme I have had in over 40 years. It was absolutely scrumptious. Needless to say I got a "doggie bag"

To say that we both enjoyed the day is an understatement.

Note: Where did the Teddy Bear get it's name? The beloved toy we've come to know today as the "Teddy Bear" was named after the 26th President of the United States, Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt.

According to one legend, Roosevelt was settling a border dispute between Louisiana and Mississippi in 1902. During this trip, he attended a bear hunt in Mississippi where a fellow hunter captured an injured bear, tied it to a tree and asked Roosevelt to shoot it. But Roosevelt didn't have the heart to kill the defenseless bear. The Washington Post ran an editorial cartoon created by the cartoonist Clifford K. Berryman that illustrated the event called "Drawing the Line." The cartoon and the story became popular and was published in newspapers all over the country.

Store owners Morris and Rose Michtom in New York saw the cartoon. Rose made some small stuffed bears to sell in their store. Morris wrote to Roosevelt requesting his permission to call the bears "Teddy Bears". President Roosevelt granted them the usage of his nickname, but added that he did not think using his name would help sell the bears. The bears proved to be a hit and the rest is history.

Yesterday ...

Yesterday was a lovely day here in Long Island, NY. We woke up around 10am and leisurely got ready for an outing together. We planned to dine out around 2 pm down the street at our neighborhood pizza place. Ours is called Franks and this gentleman makes the best New York style pizza in the state. The pastas and salads are equally awesome. (yay Frank!) My gentleman friend and I enjoyed a slow and enjoyable dinner then strolled home. Later that day after working on our respective computers we watched the last Big Brother of the season. He calls it one of our ''guilty pleasures"; although strangely enough I don't feel the first part of the phrase at all.

All of this brings me to the point of my post...that each day brings such a variety of events that I have begun to wonder how people can possibly be bored with life no matter what their age. I mean if someone like me with limited physical ability can find things to enjoy how on earth can people with all their abilities at hand be bored. Despite all the things the media can find "wrong" with the world, there are a bounty of wonderful things that are right, good and amazing with our world and in our lives!

I honestly feel grateful for my two wonderful daughters, my son, three lovely granddaughters, my nieces and nephews, my sisters, and all their respective spouses. The only regret I have is that I am not as emotionally close to some of them as I wish. I love, enjoy, and am blessed with an abundance of friends online and in person. On another level I am also very grateful for my 2 lovely cats, and my dog. Their day to day follies are a constant delight to both of us. I

enjoy my music, reading, writing, walking, crafts, cooking, and collecting as well.

My greatest wish is that everyone that I know and love are happy and have as few moments of boredom as possible!

Notice: This Blog is going to adapt the larger font as it is hard for author to see otherwise. Perhaps more people will read it now. :)