Yes, definitely yes.

Bush Put the coal in the stocking. Put the stocking in the shoe. Throw!

No. She’s been sleeping with the enemy.

I wonder how Republican women in elected positions of power would respond to this question; Kay Bailey Hutchinson, Lisa Murkowski, Olympia Snow and Susan Collins come to mind. I think that even Condoleeza Rice and Karen Hughes must have been distressed by McCain’s selection of an attractive, aggressive woman for only those traits. When it came to really putting the “Country First” he put his political ambitions first and pandered to the people in his party determined to keep women in their “place”.

No. This year I want to go and stand in line with my friends and neighbors.

When I did the christmas shopping the year my son was born (1979), I nursed him in just about every store in town; sometimes in the changing rooms and sometimes in the middle of the mall. It was a lovely time-out for both of us. We need to get over this obsession with breasts; they are milk-producing glands. It has not helped that the porn industry (with an assist from plastic surgery industry) has turned them into sexual paraphernalia. We need to support and encourage our nursing sisters.

I have a hard time watching figure skating (anticipating a fall or a failure to catch an airborne partner) and when I think of watching this debate, that’s how it feels. It is hard to watch someone really make a fool of herself and when I listen to Palin I am reminded of George W. Bush: incoherent when unscripted. I am grateful that Gwen Ifill will be moderating this debate. At least it will be impossible to accuse her of sexism. I continue to believe that, at the last minute, there will be a family crisis in Alaska.

Here is the number for the commission that handles presidential debates: 202-872-1020. Call them and tell them what you think.

I think a lot of women have gotten into trouble by just saying “yes”.

The realization that this country might re-elect the wrecking crew to lead the country has led me to put my money where my mouth is. I’ve been contributing to the Obama campaign since I listened to the speech he gave on race last spring. And I work at the local Obama headquarters, recognizing that my time is as valuable as the monetary contributions I am able to make. There must be thousands like me (>60, retired), off our butts and in the fray, distressed about where the country has gone and convinced that only really smart people are going to be able to find a way out of this mess.

Language is the door to another culture. People who speak a second language also read that country’s literature, listen to its people, know its history, travel there. We need to be citizens of the world, not just Americans.

paying attention and voting

scuba diving

Some books are like people; they win us with “hello”. So here is the first line of Rules for Old Men Waiting by Peter Pouncey:”The house and the old man were well matched, both large framed and failing fast.” Beautiful and deeply moving.

Play nice with the other kids. Clean up after yourself. Look before you leap. Get up. Dress up. Show up.