Category: Commentary

Prime the Pump

Our president plays fast and loose with the truth. It’s his calling card, and Americans have almost become accustomed to discounting the lies that spew from his ridiculously thin lips. 

One of the most amusing (for we have to be amused lest we slit our throats) lies he’s told is that he coined the term “prime the pump,” to be used in an economics context, telling a journalist from The Economist that he came up with the phrase. 

A quick google search of the term reveals that it’s been around at least since the early 1930’s, meaning one has to spend money to make money. 

In the 30’s, government money was lent to banks and industry in hopes that it would spur growth, and yes, trickle down to the little people. Whether it works or not is a moot point. Trump didn’t coin the freaking term.

So, did he lie or is he, the president, that damned ignorant? 

I’m thinking of coining a few phrases of my own. How’s this one: “holy crap we are being led by a freaking idiot!” I know, it’s a bit long and probably won’t catch on. But you never know.

My Babies

Several years ago my daughter, Ashley, put together this collage of pictures of her and her brother, Jason, and presented it to me on Mother’s Day. It remains one of the best gifts I’ve ever received and makes me feel more than a little nostalgic for the days when they were little. 


I’m so fortunate to be their mom, and they make me incredibly proud every day. I just hope I’m forgiven for sharing their bathtub photo! 

Love you, my babies. 

Birthday Boys

Two of the four people in this photograph celebrated birthdays today. Happy birthday to our son, Jason, and his son, Jackson. We love you!

No Passport Required

Thanks to my Fitbit I’m just four pounds shy of my pre-Ireland trip weight loss goal. I’m not sure if the Irish will fully appreciate the lengths to which I’ve gone for my visit to their fair shores, but Fitbit seems proud of my efforts.

Just a couple of days ago the fine folks at Fitbit awarded me this prestigious badge. I’ve walked 1,600 miles since slapping the precocious pedometer on my wrist, a total equal to the length of Australia’s The Great Barrier Reef. Perhaps Studly and I should visit down under instead of Ireland.

Peace, people.

The Writing on the Wall

King Belshazzar summoned Daniel when these words first appeared:

Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upsharin, their meaning wasn’t clear.

Daniel knew when first he read the writing on the wall 

Trouble was a’coming and a kingdom sure to fall

He predicted a Babylon at war, their people overcome

Death and destruction raining down; the end of days for some. 

Where, oh where is Daniel now to interpret what’s been writ,

By greedy politicians, lacking compassion and/or grit?

A document that few have read, still fewer comprehend,

Has power over life and death; what suffering it portends!

No, we have no need for Daniel to show us what seems plain:

Rich white men aren’t worried about your suffering or your pain.

 
The phrase “the writing on the wall” refers to Chapter 5 of the Book of Daniel in the Bible when King Belshazzar sees a hand appear to write the words Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upsharin on a wall. Belshazzar summons Daniel to interpret the writing, which Daniel translates as “Numbered, numbered, weighed, divided.” Daniel tells Belshazzar that the writing means that Babylonian kingdom will be invaded and divided among the Medes and the Persians. The term “writing on the wall” has since been used to refer to any omen that predicts a bad outcome.

The Vagina of the Future

I had my second of three Mona Lisa treatments on Wednesday afternoon. If you need to know what that entails read this post: https://nananoyz5forme.com/2017/02/21/vagina-wars-a-new-hope/

The first treatment went really well, and the discomfort was minimal. And while the second treatment was more intense it wasn’t any worse than having my eyebrows waxed. Of course, I have only two eyebrows, and the Mona Lisa laser makes multiple forays into my vaginal area. I might’ve said, “ouch!” but didn’t curse even once. 

My gynecologist is the bomb. Before he started the treatment he noticed my Kindle and asked what I was reading, so I gave him a brief synopsis of Kim Stanley Robinson’s novel, 2312. Turns out my doctor is a sci-fi fan, as well; although, he’s old school: Heinlein, Bradbury, etc. 

While he switched equipment around I told him about John Scalzi’s, Old Man’s War series. In it, septuagenarians can sign up to go into space where they fight for a confederation of planets. The old warriors are given brand new, highly efficient bodies, while maintaining the wisdom they’ve accumulated in their seven decades of life.

Before the doctor left me he said, “You know, we’re doing science fiction type work in this room.”

I agreed, “Yep! Thanks for giving this old broad a vagina for the future!”

“To infinity and beyond!” 

Did I mention that he’s the bomb?

Peace, people!

Note: We are very pleased with the results of the Mona Lisa treatment! 

An Unfinished Game

Politics connected us, provided conversation.
We’d never met, and still, I wept the day
That Richard died.

I became friends with a fascinating man on Facebook through a Liberal group we’d gravitated to before this past election. Richard was smart, funny, and upbeat. I learned that he’d lost his wife a few months before we “friended” each other, and he was fighting through his grief while dealing with a grave illness of his own.

As he prepared for a round of chemo Richard asked for volunteers to play against him in Words With Friends, figuring it would be a great way to distract him from the rigors of chemotherapy.

I volunteered and we played one game after another. He was a novice player, and I beat him soundly every time. We didn’t chat much on the app; although, he promised he’d come out the winner eventually. 

A couple of days ago Richard posted on FB that he was going to take some time away from the computer to concentrate all his energy on feeling better. We all wished him well and figured he’d be back in no time, not knowing how very sick he was. The man never complained.

This morning, though, a post from Richard’s brother let us know that our friend had succumbed to complications from pneumonia. All of those who’d befriended him in our political group are devastated, and I cried all morning for the loss of this friend.

We never met in person. Chances are our real world paths never would have crossed, but I valued his friendship. And I mourn his death. Rest easy friend. 


Peace, people.

Kim Stanley Robinson

Love science fiction? Then I highly recommend the writing of Kim Stanley Robinson. His novel, New York 2140 caught my eye a few weeks ago and after devouring it, I was hooked. The title tells us where and when, but the story is amazing. 

Mr. Robinson keeps his readers engrossed in the adventures of two water rats living in a Venice-like New York City in the year 2140, while simultaneously juggling stories about the angst of a young stock broker who trades in an index based on changes in sea level, a police officer seeking to solve a major crime, a couple of technology geeks, a union activist, and a video celebrity turned champion of human and animal rights, among others. 

I’m currently reading his book, 2312, and am so thoroughly immersed in Robinson’s world that I’m dreaming of life within a mobile city on Mercury. Not only have all the planets in our solar system been terraformed to accommodate human life, but so have their moons and a good number of asteroids. 

Robinson has an amazing technical imagination, and I’m left wondering if his writing might prompt scientists to explore the viability of some of his ideas. I certainly hope someone is taking notes.

Concert Shaming

A Facebook friend started a little guessing game on the social media app and it’s now gone viral. The idea is to list ten concerts and have your friends guess which one you haven’t attended.

I tried to play. I did. But when I realized that all of my groups seemed rather lame compared to those of my friends and acquaintances I deleted the post in progress. I didn’t have the Stones or Paul McCartney or Elton John on my list. No, I had Merle Haggard and Tanya Tucker, Charlie Pride and Brooks and Dunn. Big acts in their day, but I definitely have concert envy after reading some of my friends’ lists.

But just for grins, here are ten concert acts. See if you can guess the one I didn’t see in person. And try not to make fun of my taste in music. 

1. Dixie Chicks

2. Three Dog Night

3. The Fifth Dimension

4. The Cowsills

5. Hootie and the Blowfish

6. Huey Lewis and the News

7. The Captain and Tennille

8. Garth Brooks

9. Boyz 2 Men

10. Foghat