Dave

We've all been watching coverage of the Republican National Convention. Waiting to hear what broadcasters, pundits, and the average Joe delegates think of us. It is important to us that people like us. We enjoy being known as "Minnesota Nice" people. We are more than a little embarrassed by the idiotic "anarchists" in the streets. Who invited them?

Whoever dubbed us Minnesota Nice has never been to a Lake Elmo, Mn city council meeting. Citizens there take their local government seriously. It is contentious and not unusual to hear some insulting words spoken loudly. This is a town of 7500. One of our best friends was mayor. The job consumed his life. Lots of interaction. Lots of battles. It was a difficult job that required all his skills. I still read local newspaper accounts of Lake Elmo politics occasionally and things haven't changed much since he way mayor in the 90's.

Experience as mayor has not always been properly appreciated. Rudy Guilliani reminded us about that last night at the convention. Sarah Palin reminded us being a small town mayor is "sort of like a community organizer, except you have responsibilities". Several speakers last night reminded detractors that she has executive experience as a small town mayor and governor. Executive experience neither Joe Biden or Barack Obama have. They have none. I scratched my head here, isn't John McCain in that group? 25 - 30 years in the senate for Biden and McCain, but no executive experience. Zero for Obama. Doesn't it logically flow that only Sarah Palin is qualified to be president? Well, that is too harsh. Maybe Sarah Palin and Dave. He is also a lifetime staunch Republican so he may have to wait four to eight years.

If He Strays, Can You Blame It On His Jeans?

Another medical report I am not buying. News reports now say "research" shows if a man is not faithful, it may be due to his genes. His DNA dictates brain chemicals which influence response and bonding with a woman to keep him faithful. Come on. Not many wives are saying, "Oh, you poor dear. You couldn't help it, could you."

Think of the outcome if we believe this report:

Men better prepare for medical screening before girls will seriously date them or marry them. Pharmaceutical companies will want to research how to chemically treat this deficit. (Note to self. Buy stock in that company.) When I was growing up we believed they put "salt peter" in the food at Catholic boys' schools. I asked my son if those rumors are still around and he gave me a funny look. I don't think he had heard of it but I knew of some boys in the 60's who wouldn't eat the mashed potatoes.

There would be new business opportunities for screening kits women can buy to surreptitiously check out the guy. Maybe you could use a strand of hair like mothers' do to screen for drug use?

Picking at daisy petals and saying, "He loves me, he loves me not" would have less significance.

Meeting the parents would have new meaning. Take a look at their behaviour. If the prospective dad is charming, watch out.

We'd need support and counseling groups for young men who want to marry but have philandering fathers. Can Dr. Phil handle the onslaught?

How come we are only screening the men? Aren't there unfaithful women out there too?

I'll answer Matt Lauer's question, "If he strays, can he blame it on his genes?" Matt, he may try to blame it on some thing but it's still called sin. It is not what is in his genes, it is what isn't in his jeans. In the meantime, I bet not many moms are going to name newborn sons Levi.

Land of Pooh

Pictures from my daughter's blog yesterday--the twins nursery. Dad Mike is an artist and did a great job. That is my mom's rocker and will be put to good use.

Blowhard?

Do you think it is easy coming up with a subject for a daily blog? I would like to tell you it isn't, but it is. To quote Nora Ephron's mom, "Everything is copy". My husband just shakes his head when he hears me say, "That's my blog today". I don't need weighty news or a significant subject. I got mileage out of the overuse of the word vetting didn't I? Are you more aware now how overused that word is on the newscasts?

My husband Jon probably feels like he lives in a fishbowl. His wife may tattle on him at any minute. No secrets anymore. Did I tell you he was up on the roof powerwashing the skylights and cleaning up the acorns yesterday? He doesn't need my permission to do these things but they make me nervous. This is a guy who suffered a fractured pelvis and three broken ribs a few years ago from a tree trimming accident. I didn't even mention he was knocked unconscious in that fall.

The networks were geared up to cover Hurricane Gustav. It must be mandatory to have the reporter stand out in the elements so the audience can see the effects of the wind. This works better if your reporter is Al Roker. They showed footage of a small female reporter sliding laterally across the screen while telling us about the gusts. Love that drama. Where do you suppose the broadcasting term "anchor" came from?

Hurricane Gustav did not pack the anticipated punch and we thank God for sparing life and property. Before anyone can relax, we are reminded that Hurricanes Hanna and Ike are lining up out in the ocean. This is hurricane season. Expect more. "J" is next. Do you suppose their might be a Hurricane Jane? Jon just looked at me and knew where I was going with that thinking. Time to blog. I don't need much. A lot of hot air will do. I know that is what he thinks.

I didn't find that there had been a "Hurricane Jane" but did discover that is the name of a band from the UK. A little later I heard the NBC weatherguy say Josephine would be after Ike if another storm develops. Guess I missed the notoriety.

Church Greeters 2008 Style

I Got the Horse Right Here, His Name is....

I keep hearing the word "vetted" used by the media. Vice-presidential candidates have been vetted by John McCain and Barack Obama and their advisers. The media has done some vetting. Even sports figures have been in the news while being vetted. Everyone is either vetting or being vetted. You would think there was a synonym for that word, but I only hear vetted and vetting. Hasn't anyone come up with an Ole and Lena joke yet about the vetting? (ie: The vetting was postponed due to rain. Truly some of the vetting has been postponed in St. Paul due to the hurricane.)

I checked the definition to be sure I knew what it meant. I thought it meant to take a good hard look and appraise and that is correct. The word vetting is next to "vet" and "veterinarian" in Websters. Is there a connection? By now you know how I do research. I Google it. I Googled vetting + images just for fun wondering if I would find John McCain and Sarah Palin or Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Instead I found this wonderful webpage full of advice from a veterinarian , Dr. Nancy Loving, on how to do a pre-purchase exam on a horse. I quote her, "Every horse has faults; the exam is a process by which they are uncovered for the prospective buyer to evaluate". Most of her advice could be applied to making a choice in politics.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.equerry.com/pics/ftho-vetting-1c.jpg&imgrefurl=http://equerry.com/html/ftho/eq_ftho-vetting.htm&h=573&w=325&sz=34&hl=en&start=3&usg=__rqKwDRykuxkBaBdCr8RszCS8Ag4=&tbnid=sxUcb-EeCgdFYM:&tbnh=134&tbnw=76&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dvetting%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den

I guess you don't have to be a past member of the military(a vet) , a horse Dr., or politician to do some vetting. Put the animals to the test yourself before you buy and see how they hold up.
We are making a pretty big wager when we select a president and it isn't enough to just look at their teeth. Follow the link to the article about our famous Minnesota horse Dan Patch. He was a member of a Methodist church. Read for your self.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://thewesleychurch.org/images/dan_patch_picture.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.thewesleychurch.org/history/dan_patch.html&h=339&w=332&sz=48&hl=en&start=2&usg=__R8XRvjc-BWPQueJBbqyVff7DsAE=&tbnid=Wi61PzsU6Zo8nM:&tbnh=119&tbnw=117&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddan%2Bpatch%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den

Up eBay Without a Paddle

I saw a movie, a comedy, when I was young that left an indelible impression on me. There was a scene where someone attending an auction accidentally bid on expensive artwork by a random gesture like rubbing his nose. Later I learned they assign paddles with numbers at those auctions. I don't think many people accidentally purchase $10,000. items.

I went to an estate auction with my parents when I was in my 20's. Mom advised deciding what you are willing to pay and sticking with that number. A good auctioneer can get the price up when he sees two or more interested parties. Bidding fever. You may pay more than something is worth. Only once have I bid at a live auction, when my son and his wife were newlyweds I went to an estate auction with her. They had little furniture and she spotted a china cabinet she liked which I bought for her birthday at a good price. That was before eBay.

My mom loved violets. She had African violet houseplants, wore (artificial) violets pinned to her dress, and bought a Lefton china coffee/tea service with chintz pattern violets which she treasured. When mom died my sister and I split the set between us. Last year she gave her half to me. I love it. It had the serving pieces but no tea cups. I found a similar Lefton pattern on eBay. I bid and "won" a set of three tea cup-cake plates. You need at least four, right? I have continued to try for the forth set but stopped when the bidding got too high. Last week my husband ventured into selling on eBay. He has his professional video camera up right now and I have been following the bidding. I also found four more tea cups in the identical chintz violets like the tea pot and put in a bid that held. I "won" these too. They don't match the first set of three I "won" on eBay. You could use them together, but.... there is another set on eBay now of 8 cups/plates. Maybe I will watch that too. Then I would have twelve that are identical and an additional three that blend.

Maybe I should have listened to my mother. How much stuff can I take with me "to the home"? If I "win" that set of an additional eight, I will have to make some new friends. I hope they all like tea. I hope those cups I just bought have handles. They do look like they might have handles, don't they? This is not a Lefton Saki set?

Next adventure; learning how to sell on eBay.