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I first became involved in a political campaign in high school. One of my friends wanted to work to help get John Gilligan elected as governor of Ohio in 1970, but she wanted another friend and I to work with her. So we went to the campaign headquarters, where we were given straw hats, sashes to wear and lots of pamphlets and bumper stickers to hand out, and we hit the streets. We talked to many people and had a lot of fun, and I don’t know how many voters we may have influenced, but we gave it our best; anyway, John Gilligan did indeed win that year. My friends and I all received invitations to the inaugural ball; my mother said I was too young to go!
Living in South Carolina several years later, I became interested in the campaign of Charles “Pug” Ravenel, who was running for governor at that time. I was especially interested in the death penalty being abolished there and very much wanted a Democrat in the governor’s mansion, so I got behind Mr. Ravenel’s campaign. I typed letters, did filing, made phone calls, went door to door, passed out literature, and gave it my all. Mr. Ravenel WOULD have won, had he been able to meet the residency requirement for candidacy; he was a South Carolina native, but had gone north to Harvard and had done business there for some time, and he hadn’t been back in the state long enough. How disappointed we all were! (The death penalty WAS abolished for a time in S.C., though it has since been reinstated.)
After that campaign other interests crowded in; I became a registered independent, not wanting to align myself with either major party, though I voted most often for Democrats. I did not work in any campaigns. However, I recently decided to get involved again, to volunteer for Senator Barack Obama.
Grassroots campaigns capture the imagination. This is where the rubber meets the road, where families, friends, neighbors and co-workers influence each other one-on-one. Small contributions from many, many people lead to big campaign coffers. A bit of campaign work on the part of many, many individuals yields big results.
For my small contribution to the campaign, I’ve been making calls on Senator Obama’s behalf to my home state of Ohio. I don’t know how many people I’ve helped make a decision or how many will actually vote next Tuesday, but I’m giving it my best. For me there is again the thrill of being a part of the political process. It’s a great feeling!
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My husband and I go out to a favorite cafe for coffee nearly every Sunday evening. It's a friendly place where strangers quickly become engaged in conversation with each other, and when the cafe is busy there's the constant buzz of over-coffee talk. So when the couple at the table next to ours struck up a conversation with us, we cheerfully responded, and we were off.
We learned a lot about each other in just a few minutes, and soon they asked us, "And what do YOU do?" We talked briefly about our work and politely asked about theirs. They said they owned their own business, and that they helped more people do more things in less time. Intrigued, we wanted to know more. They said they had purchased a franchise that was internet-based and their work involved driving traffic to their website and the website of the parent company. They said their business was providing a solution to every problem (!) and they loved the freedom it was giving them (hmm...). They answered our questions somewhat evasively and they presented us with a business card that contained very little information; just the name they'd created for their franchise and a phone number; no address, no cell phone, no e-mail, no website. We asked about that, and they said they purposely didn't give out their website on the card because they wanted to talk to people first and find out more about them, to find out if investing in a business was something they truly wanted.
It occurred to me that they might be talking about network marketing (think MLM), so I asked pointedly if that was what they meant, and they again answered vaguely. Finally a light went on and I asked, "Is this Quixtar?" (think AMWAY). The woman suddenly beamed and said, "Yes, that's exactly what it is!" Network marketing. I thought so.
Had I been alone, I would have thanked them for the conversation and left immediately, but my husband wasn't getting their drift, so I made little suggestions to him so we could eventually get away gracefully. Finally we were able to leave and I explained why I was eager to end the discussion. He understood then, and was glad we'd gotten away.
I have nothing against network marketing per se. I have always admired the business model and have engaged in doing network marketing myself at times in the past (buying into "the dream"), but the problem is the model seldom works the way it's supposed to in reality. The "dream" is that everyone has an equal chance at riches, vacations and a life of working about 5 hours a week. The reality is that lots of people do a lot of hard work, spending money they don't have on things they don't need and encouraging (think "arm-twisting") others to do the same. The efforts of these people are supporting a few people at the top, the few who are enjoying the fruits of the labors of the many.
My problem with network marketing is the way it makes me feel towards others. Every person is a "mark", a "prospect", someone I can't have a conversation with without trying to turn it around to getting them interested in my business, my product, my company. I stop seeing people as people and find I really can never relax and enjoy them. I don't like the way I become, but it's necessary to become such to be a success in network marketing. One becomes a "product evangelist." Is any wonder that so many network marketers are also evangelical Christians? Same mindset, different product.
The couple we met last evening were nice enough and pleasant to talk with, but what I resented is what so many resent when approached by those in network marketing. We thought we were getting to know people interested in getting to know us. The truth is, they were only interested in finding out whether we were the latest candidates for the title of "easy mark."
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...if I was a woman in Iraq, I thought to myself as I applied my minimal stay-at-home makeup this morning. Just so I don't look like a ghost, when at home I apply a little undereye cover, some lip gloss and a bit of powder blush, and that's it. If I were living in Iraq, that WOULD be it, for me. I'd lose a hand or two, a foot, have my face mutilated, if I was allowed to keep my head at all. I was thinking about this because of an article I read at CNN.com yesterday.
The war in Iraq was supposed to bring freedom to the people there, and women were to particularly benefit. But things are now worse for women than ever. How can we respond to this? What can we do for them? Can we improve things for them at all?
A few years ago I learned of an organization called Women for Women International, where women in countries such as ours provide financial support to women in conflicted and post-conflict areas. The "About Us" section at their website tells in more depth how these women, not only in Iraq, but in several particular world trouble spots, are helped by their program. They state on their website that 120,000 women have been helped through their program. The organization's vision and success record is laudable, of course, but so many women are being and will continue to be lost...
My heart hurts for these women today...if we'd been born in a different time or place, it could be any one of us...
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| 2008-02-08 14:15 |
| No more Mitt! |
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 hungry |
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I was so busy last evening that I didn’t notice until this morning the announcement that Mitt Romney had dropped out of the Republican race for the presidential nomination. I have mixed feelings about this because I’m not sure which scenario will be most helpful to the Democrats. If conservatives can unite behind McCain they could be formidable in the fall, but I’m hoping the social conservatives and evangelicals will either stay home or write in someone more to their liking. I also hope some moderate Democrats won’t be swayed to McCain. We’ll just have to see how it all plays out.
I have been a registered independent for a long time (meaning I was a no-party-affiliate), but I finally got tired of “free-floating” my way through the political process and decided to commit to the Democratic Party, which is the way I usually vote anyway. When I was in my teens and 20s I worked for various political campaigns and was very much involved in the election process. After a long hiatus, I decided to get involved again. My time is limited, but I can at least make phone calls and help get out the vote, as voter turnout is just so crucial.
News from the home front:
This weekend will be a “spring cleaning” weekend for us, at least the beginnings of spring cleaning. We have LOT of things to move, remove, and just plain get rid of so spring cleaning can take place. My favorite part of the process is getting rid of things, as I like to travel fairly light through life and I quickly lose control of a living situation that feels overwhelming because of clutter. I look forward to living in a streamlined environment soon!
I’ve heard from some other cat owners regarding feline hair pulling and feel somewhat reassured; it may very well be a phase that will end soon...
I have a terrible feeling they’re not making Tombstone thin crust frozen pizzas anymore...
I’m in the mood for cheesecake...
My daughter, who is 24, found her first gray hair the other day. She was quite dismayed, but it’s about the right time for her – her father began going gray at 18, and my dad began going gray at age 25. I noticed my first gray hair at age 30 but I was too busy to pay very much attention to it at the time. The discovery of this gray hair is making her feel old; hey, it makes ME feel old!
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| 2008-02-07 14:37 |
| Warm, windy and anxious cats... |
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Today and is warm and very windy here in west central Florida. It’s mostly cloudy, though the sun peeks through from time to time. I hadn’t checked the news reports yet, but I am interested in knowing whether the space shuttle Atlantis will lift off today. Because of the cloud cover we won’t be able to see anything if it does depart today, but on a clear day the blastoffs are very visible here, clear across the state from Cape Canaveral. We are expecting thunderstorms later, but are mercifully being spared the devastation endured by those north of here. Our thoughts are with those who were affected by those terrible storms.
Something is affecting our female cats. For the past few months they have both been pulling out chunks of hair and licking themselves excessively, causing bald patches and Squee, our older female cat (she will be seven this year), has pulled out all the hair on her underbelly area. Sammi Sue, our younger cat (she will be four this year) is not only pulling out the hair on her underbelly, she is pulling out chunks of hair on her legs and sides.
From what I’ve read online, in the absence of any kind of skin disease, which our cats do not seem to have, hair pulling tends to reflect a state of anxiety. It can also reflect a state of anxiety that has already passed but the habitual hair pulling and excessive licking habits have become ingrained. I have to admit that we do have a fairly stressful household, and unfortunately our two female cats have to cope with two male cats and three male dogs who frequently make their lives less than peaceful. I have not yet been able to find an answer as to why this only happens in female cats and not in male cats. The name for this disorder is “feline hyperesthesia.” There seem to be differing opinions on how to treat it, such as using steroids and antianxiety drugs. I have also read that it’s sometimes best to take a wait-and-see approach, which I think is the best thing for now. Other than the hair pulling both girls seem fit, with good appetites and attitudes, so perhaps this is just a phase, I hope.
I am looking forward to a clear, cool, sunny weekend; this is the best time of year in Florida....
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| 2008-01-30 16:28 |
| Give a listen... |
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 peaceful |
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Perhaps lots of other people know about this already, and there have certainly been other "internet radio" sites before, but I just came across Pandora Radio today. It's free to listen as much as you want (premium service is $36 a year and only matters if you're interested in listening on the cell phone or certain types of home digital music players) and the quality and selection of music is excellent, IMHO. I often want some background music while surfing the web and am currently enjoying soft new age piano music as I type this. I also like listening to such before starting my stressful work each day. Can't get a much better value than free!
BTWs:
Hillary won in Florida yesterday! Because of the delegate snafu it seems not to "count" but it will come July. Either the DNC will be persuaded to change its mind or Florida will hold a caucus in a couple of months, and those delegates WILL be seated at the convention, IMHO.
It's cloudy, warm and breezy in Florida today -- good weather for contemplation...
I hate getting old. My parts are all wearing out. :(
I made baking powder biscuits from scratch last night for the first time; not bad! And not hard, I'll do that again one of these days.
Half an hour before I start working; I have to psyche myself up and calm myself down at the same time to do it. Here goes...
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| 2008-01-23 12:32 |
| My new profile on MySpace... |
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 nostalgic |
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(This is a cross-post from a blog entry on another journal. The background I'm referring to in the post is HERE.)
My new profile page has a lot of meaning for me, especially the background images and choice of music, so I’d like to talk a little bit about it today.
The people in the pictures are my ancestors on my mother’s side of the family, as far back as I know. The small girl in many of the pictures, as well as the photo booth series of the preteen girl, is my mother. The man sitting with her on the beach is my grandfather, and the lady in the hat sitting on the beach with her is my grandmother. The man in the very proper starched collar and tie is my great grandfather, and the lady with her hair up in a knot (depending on your screen size you may or may not be able to see her) is my great grandmother.
I do not remember any of the people in the pictures except for my mother and grandmother. My great grandparents died before I was born, and my grandfather died when I was two, so I don’t remember him at all, unfortunately, but I do know a lot about him.
He was a piano tuner by trade, but he also played the piano very well. Though he was a shy man, his piano skills made him very popular, to the point where he stopped attending parties because he was always called upon to play most of the evening. People would ask him to play something, and he would always ask, “What’s your favorite song?” He could play many songs from memory, but he also had the uncanny knack of being able to hear a song and play just behind it, effectively playing a song he’d otherwise never heard before.
My mother said his favorite time to play for his own pleasure was Sunday mornings, and his favorite type of music to play for fun was ragtime, particularly a song called, ”Kitten on the Keys” by Zez Confrey.
Since my mother's admission to the nursing home in 2006, I've been entrusted with our family pictures, of which there are MANY. I can't think of a better background upon which to place my own profile. I only wish I could have known these family members in their day. I especially wish I could have heard my grandfather play the piano. If there is an afterlife, I hope he's enjoying himself now playing the piano EVERY day.
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I have always been a fan of Lucille Ball and have USUALLY enjoyed "I Love Lucy" reruns. I have the entire first season on DVD and often record the episodes on TVLand. However, I always have to cringe when Lucy grovels and cowers before Ricky when she fears his reaction to whatever she's been up to. She lapses into "Yes sir, yes sir" mode, and occasionally he will resort to taking her over his knee and spanking her, as in the icon pic, which is hard to watch. This was not only tolerated, but even supposedly funny. If it had not been acceptable back in the early 1950s, it would not have been funny, so most watching likely thought nothing of it, other than to laugh at Lucy "getting hers" for whatever trouble she had wrought. Ricky also frequently treated Lucy as a child, questioning her as one does a 5-year-old and doling out "punishment", such as taking things away, withholding money, etc.
Was real life really like this at that time? Although I grew up in an all-female household from age 7 on, in the mid-1950s I don't remember my mother ever being treated this way, nor would she have stood for it. Did Lucy and Ricky's relationship reflect the norm in America at that time? Let's hope not!
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| 2008-01-15 11:59 |
| Hot water! |
| Public |
 excited |
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A few months ago our hot water heater went on the blink; it would get hotter and hotter and not shut off properly according to the thermostat. The seals began to melt and the heater started leaking. Not wanting to put a new water heater and installation on a credit card, DH decided we would just turn it on at the breaker box when we needed some hot water, then turn it off in 15 minutes, which provided enough hot water for a shower and to rinse a few dishes. An inconvenience, to be sure, but we learned to live with it. However, last Thursday, when turned on for even a few minutes, the heater began to fill the garage with smoke, and that did it. DH hurried over to Lowe's over the weekend and purchased a new HWH, and they will be arriving to install it between noon and 4 p.m. today. Yay! Since Thursday DH has tried to be a "real man" and take cold showers in our very cold back bathroom (hey, it was in the 30s last night here in FL!), and I've heated large amounts of water to pour over myself while standing in the cold shower stall--no fun! So, having hot water again and not having to plan when to use it will seem a luxury indeed! So yes, I'm excited! :)
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cheerful
aggravated
distressed
