Soccer

I do not know much about what we call, in the United States, soccer, but the rest of the world knows as football. I do know that currently, the World Cup is being played in Brazil. And I know FIFA (the Fédération Internationale de Football Association http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisation/index.html) is the world governing body. 

If you listen or watch any news, you will know that the previous World Cup champions, the team from Spain, has been eliminated from the match!  This is big news in football circles.

I watched a football game the other day, with my niece and her friend, and they explained a little about the rules to me.  I also have looked through some of the rules.

I am trying to develop a broader view of the world.  I am not working hard at it, but I am trying to pay attention.  International sports is included in that, so I am paying attention to the FIFA World Cup results.

Memorial Day, and Honoring Our National Heroes

This was on PBS on Memorial Day:  http://video.pbs.org/video/2318014363/  If you did not see it, it is well worth watching.  It talks about how there was not a way to bury and acknowledge the war dead during the The War Between the North and the South (I purposefully chose not to call it the Civil War or the War of Northern Aggression), and how, out of that grew the national recognition we now have for our veterans, deceased and serving.

Amazingly, but understandably, the recording, remembrances, and honoring of the dead was most attributed to the slaves and freed slaves. Honoring the dead, black or white,  was more important to them than to the Anglos at the time.  Also, it was due to the hard physical labor of the blacks that the bodies of the deceased were dug up and re-interned or otherwise recognized.  We had much to learn from the culture of the Afro-Americans, even then, that we ignored.

But this time resulted in the establishment of National Cemeteries.  And the acknowledgement of the war dead as national heroes.  President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address: http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/gettysburg.htm contributed so much to this recognition.

I agree with my niece it would be nice if we did not have to recruit and send our citizens in harm's way for the protection of our country.  Sometimes, as with the Native Americans, our efforts have been less than honorable.  Yet, also look at how many Native Americans have served the greater good of this nation.  Sometimes, with our more recent wars and conflicts, we have been the aggressors, often in an attempt to keep the aggression off our continent, or so we think. Do you want more attacks like the ones on the World Trade Center? Or the Pentagon? Or the airplane over Pennsylvania?

Although I would like to not have a military force and see us send our citizens in harm's way, I am a realist, and I am not sure that is possible.  And, harm's way can be recovery and rescue missions in the face of other types of tragedy as well as war: natural disaster, internal disruptive incidents of horrific result.  And, I am glad those forces are there to help when these incidents occur.

I am not ashamed to thank people for their military service on behalf of our country.  I also thank policemen, firemen, EMTs, and corrections officers.  We do not appreciate how important that is. I called the fire department a couple of years ago: At about 10 PM, my furnace motor burned up, and I was concerned that it might have started a smoldering fire in the heater closet. 911 dispatch  told me to vacate the house, and sent 3 fire trucks.  The firemen swarmed through my house, checked the heater closet, the pump outside, the electric line connections, the roof, the back yard, the fuse box (I had to go back inside to show them where it was) and the attic.  I apologized for the false alarm when nothing was found.  They told me they would much rather I call before I had a problem than wait till I woke up in the middle of the night with a problem. I took that sincerely.  I did not get a bill.  

Local police, county, state and national police (FBI) are the equivalent of the military forces in our country. What would happen if we had none of that in place, last year, on April 15, 2013, at the end of the Boston Marathon.  How do you prevent further destruction?  That broke my heart.   

We do not want to put lives on the line. But the reality is, lives are constantly being put on the line. Sometimes it is military, sometimes it police, fire, EMT.  Sometimes it is people who work on ambulance services, helicopter ambulances, and even teachers and social workers.

What I came away within from watching this show is that we are a nation that has learned a very difficult lesson, and have had to learn it more than once, that it is very important to acknowledge, recognize, honor and revere our public servants, no matter what role they have. We have learned to acknowledge them by monuments, cemeteries, ceremonies, rituals, medals.  Most recently, our communities have reached out and are starting to acknowledge them by special programs, services, and commerical and business options. 

Also, most recently I am aware of the scandal of the problems in the Veteran's Administration regarding of the veteran's health care system: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2014/05/15/a-guide-to-the-va-health-care-controversy/.  I do not know the truths of the Veteran's Administration Health Care System.  I want to believe it is well intentioned. But this is not the first time the VA has had a black eye regarding veteran's health care. Note this story about Veteran's Health care in 2003 http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2003/05/25/loc_VAhealthcare.html.  The point is we constantly need to strive to be sure that our Veterans receive the benefits and assistance they truly deserve.

And, I am so proud that this is a part of our national heritage.  I am not familiar with other countries. I wonder how this is handled in other countries.  It may be better, and we may have more to learn from other countries.  It is my dearest hope we are doing everything we can to help and acknowledge our service providers.

Memorial Day Commemoration

I went to the Memorial Day Service at the City of Lubbock Cemetery http://www.kcbd.com/story/25611710/memorial-day-service-to-be-held-at-city-of-lubbock-cemetery. There were 3 ceremonies at 10 AM today, and a Catholic Mass at 11 AM.  It is unfortunate they plan the ceremonies to conflict with each other, but it is good that there are plenty of options for people to attend.

The crowd was small today.  That may be a function of the other available options.  I think it may also have been a function of the overnight rain, and the continued rain clouds in the sky.  People in West Texas do not do rain well. 

The ceremony was brief.  A prayer, the posting of the colors, "The Star Spangled Banner", the Pledge of Allegiance, the featured speaker, who was on an Honor Flight, closing remarks, including recognitions, and the singing of "God Bless America."  The group was invited to join in, and we did.

The rains was noted as a blessing.  Veterans and their families were recognized.

I am watching the Red Sox vs. Braves on TV.  At 3 PM, Eastern Time, the game was halted for a moment of silence, and a commemorative video, per order of President Obama.  I thought it was a nice touch.

I will watch the Yankee vs. Cardinals game next.  

It is pretty out: grey, cool, but nice.

Phishing

I have three email accounts with Suddenlink. I no longer use one, but the other two are very active accounts for me.  

Tonight, I was in my secondary account, and I opened an email ostensibly from Suddenlink. It basically said that they wanted to verify that the account was still active, and to "click here" to verify the account. Well, I was going back and forth between both of my accounts tonight, and I did not get a similar email for my primary account.

This was suspicious. My secondary account is very active, so there was no reason to need to re-validate it (as if it had been inactive for a while, which I would understand.)

I called Suddenlink. The IT technician I spoke to was Lance.  He verified that Suddenlink had not sent anything to either of my emails, and it was most likely "phishing." He said that since I did not click on the link or give them my information, I probably was okay, but I it would not hurt to change my password. (I think I will do that, if I can figure out how.)

He took my information, said they would check into it and thanked me for reporting this, acknowledging that they probably have other customers who are being "phished" and they want to investigate it.

I Love Sticky Notes

I know you know what sticky notes are: The brand name is Post It Notes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-it_note.  I use them for so many things   Tonight, I am using a Post It Note to help me to remember to turn the air conditioner back on in the morning.

I have opened the windows, as the outside temperature is about 4 degrees less than the inside temperature.  On a typical West Texas night, four or five degrees is the temperature difference that means that the inside will start to cool off.  Tonight, the 4 degree difference did not work, probably because of the extreme humidity in the evening air, and the fact that the wind is not very strong..

So, I turned off the air conditioner. The outside is making the house feel okay, but not to the extent the air conditioner can recognize it. 

As the night progresses, if the evening air does not cool the house off, I will close the windows and turn the air conditioner on again. For now, I want to see what natural cooling might occur.

The reason for the sticky note or Post It Note, is that in the morning, before  I go to work, I will close the windows that are opened in a locked position.  And, I need to remember to turn the air conditioner on again.

Premium TV - We Did it To Ourselves

When the "premium channels" for TV came out however many years ago that was, people bought into the idea.  They could get new movies and special programming for an additional fee. So, they paid.  Maybe the mentality was that it was like paying for going to a movie.  I remember that mentality. We did it a few times when there was a special sporting event in the late 70's or early 80's.  We would generally have a party, and everyone chipped in to cover the fee.  We did HBO for a while, but found the selections too limited for the price.

So, more and more, many of the sporting and special events on TV are on premium channels.  You have to subscribe to the "sports level package" or the higher than basic satellite package. Or some other subscription service. The NFL channel. The Yankee channel. The NBA channel. The MBL channel. And, stupid, we do it. 

What would  happen if people stopped paying for these extra premium channels, and said, "No thanks, I'll stick with the basic, and when you do not offer quality programming, I will turn to alternative entertainment: board games (not online premium games), card games, dominoes,  books, music, conversation, or hobbies that do not involve media.  Or, I will go to a movie at a movie theater. Or a local concert. Or play. Or, whatever.

Well, of course, this will never happen.

I often question if I really get my money's worth of the Cable service I use.  I like the access to NASCAR events, which, so far, do not require a special network access, and the Weather Channel, the programming of which has gone done hill, now that they do not offer continuous weather but they offer canned programs (yuck).

I blame the consumer.  The supply is out there, and we watch this schlocky stuff instead of tuning out and finding something better to watch.

I am as guilty as the next person.

Over the last 8 or 9 years, I have become more discriminatory about what I watch on TV. I do not have the TV on for background noise, as I used to do many, many years ago.  I use other media including books (they are media) CDs, DVDs, and because I have a good turntable, vinyl, for my entertainment.

Anglicized Names

It was a sharing moment at work today.  A couple of my co-workers, who happen to be Hispanic, were sharing how some parts of their families have "Anglicized" their names, and the conflict or at least discussion it causes at family reunions.

I mentioned that my Polish grandparents had Anglicized the spelling of their last name, as had my French Canadian grandparents, and that this was not uncommon.  My co-workers, who are very well educated, seemed surprised.

We get so boxed into our little corner of the Earth that we do not realize how many common or shared experiences we have, and how much more alike than different we are.

I grew up knowing the name of my Polish grandparents was Anglicized. It was not something that was shameful or hurtful. It was explained as making it easier for Anglos to pronounce and ultimately accept. It simplified assimilation, or at least, attempts to fit in.  It made sense. I was an adult when I learned my French Canadian grandparents' name had also been Anglicized. But it also made sense, for the same reasons.  It was not an insult to the old ways, but a way of making things easier for everyone.

Reading

I can become very absorbed when I am reading, especially when I am reading fiction.  It is the mark of a good author that I can become so absorbed: believable character development, authentic descriptions, good plot development. This weekend, I am reading two of my favorite mystery authors:  Peter Robinson http://www.inspectorbanks.com/ and Deborah Crombie http://www.deborahcrombie.com/.  It just so happened that both books were set near Christmas, and of course, are set in England.  I like mysteries set in England. 

So, as I am reading, I become so absorbed that "when I come up for air" I am surprised that it is a bright, sunny, hot summer day in West Texas.  That is a compliment to these authors!

Do You Subscribe to Mountain Wings?

I do subscribe to Mountain Wings http://www.mountainwings.com/past/13232.htm.  It is really too conservative for my taste, and it is too "Christian" for my beliefs, but it is also practical and down to earth in some ways.

So, this came in tonight (really the edition for 8-20-13):  


MountainWings       A MountainWings Moment
#13232          Wings Over The Mountains of Life
-------------------------------------------------

If You Cannot Solve It
======================

If You Cannot Solve It, It's Not A Problem,
It's Just The Reality
~Barbara Coloroso~

It is this kind of pithy commentary about life and reality that I like about Mountain Wings.

This really hits home.  I want to solve everything, but there is so much reality that we cannot solve: losses, incarcerations, disasters.  These things leave us bereft, but the only reality is that this is what has transpired, and now I have to step up and do what I can to deal with it.

I try not to bend reality.  I hope I do accept it.

The Butler

Once again, I will say that I do not watch Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show" a lot. But I was watching tonight.  Robin Williams was one of the guests, and he is in the movie "The Butler http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1327773/." As I understand it, this is a true story of a Black butler who served the Presidents in the White House. I am going to try to watch for this movie in Lubbock.  I want to see it.

Loose Ends

The last couple of nights, I left work a few minutes before 5 PM.  I usually do not leave work until 5 PM, or sometimes, much later.  But we have been on lockdown, and clinical efforts are severly restricted by that. 

I had done everything I could do within reason, and left close to the end of the day. Having said that, I put in well over 40 hours this week at work.

Last night, I had an errand to run on the way home. Even so, I arrived at the house much earlier than is normal.  As I did tonight.  However, because it was within feeding time for  the cats, and they are accustomed to me feeding  them when I get home, I fed the cats, did little household chores and then chilled out before fixing and eating dinner.

Last night, I could not get comfortable and found it very difficult to fall asleep.

Tonight, it is too early to think about falling asleep. I finished a book, and will start another soon, but am feeling at loose ends, and unable to settle down and really relax.

Part of the problem is the heat. We had had a spell of very pleasant weather that enabled me to open the house and sit in the back yard, in the evening, reading. I know it is too hot to open up the house. I think it might be too hot tonight to sit out, but I need to check that out.

Sometimes, I just feel "out of my skin." I dislike that feeling. But I know it is temporary. I do not know what causes it. I do not know what cures it.  It just is.

The Web

In 1994, a spider had constructed a beautiful, complex, giant web anchored on the eyebrow or eave overlooking the back door of my house. It was gorgeous, and for the longest time, I did not disturb it.  That was the year I had siding put on my house.  I remember getting several estimates. One of the estimators made a derisive comment about the web.  Another estimator commented on it's beauty, and acknowledged what a shame that it would have to be knocked down.  That estimator represented a well established business.  Their price was a medium price, not the low bid of the web detractor.  And not the high bid. But, in part because of the estimator's comment about the web, I used that company.

Last night, when I went outside to sit and read in the beautiful night air, I saw one long strand of a spider's web, from the eave, to the eunonymous bushes, about 2.5 or 3 feet off the ground.  Today, there are multiple verticle strand, and multiple horizontal strands.  About 5 feet off the ground, there appears to be a central web developing.  The panes are uneven, and there is a lot of flotsam and jetsam accumulated on the web.  Most amazingly, only the outer part of the concentric circles of the web exists.

I do not know how spiders build webs. I am wondering if this spider has some flaw that makes the web less than symmetrical, as most webs are.  I wonder if in the next day or two, the center of the web will be filled in with more filaments.

I am delighted that I am offered the opportunity to observe this gem of nature!

Dealing with Time

Since the 14th of July, when I had the sense of somnabulence, I have been having difficulty dealing with time. I recall, when I was a child, some of my teachers, and my father saying that you could teach yourself to register time: when to get up, when to go to bed, approximately what time of day it is.  I can usually do that well, not necessarily needing a clock, unless I take a nap during the day.  Or, unless I am rapt in a project.

And, when I was in college and we had an interviewing course, the professor said you would get used to having 50 minute sessions.  And, I did develop that skill, and still have it, although where I work now, I seldom need it.

But since I have had that somnabulent experience, I am feeling out of sorts about time.

I can still gauge and estimate how long tasks should take, and plan accordingly.  But I am having difficulty staying focused on what day it is.  The last few evenings have had such mellow evening air, as I sit in  the back yard and read, I have to remind myself what day it is, that I have to go to work the next day, that it is not a weekend, and that I am not on vacation.

I do not have as much difficulty during the day, but I am still having to work at reminding myself what day of the week it is. I do not recall having this problem in the past.  It is as if I am floating in time and not grounded, and have to force myself to be grounded.

It is a peculiar feeling, a little disconcerting, but very relaxing.  As if, although it is a week day night, I am doing weekend time, with no stressors, worries or concerns.  It is in some ways a nice, almost comforting feeling. The only discomfort it affords me is that I will forget what day it is and forget an obligation, such as going to work!

Somnambulance

This was a lazy Sunday day.  I did not have much planned, some laundry, and, if the weather held, the Concert in the Park.   I slept in, fed the girls, made breakfast and did the various Sunday puzzles on the computer. Then, I started reading.  And read, and read.  At about 1 PM, I realized I had been reading for several hours.  But when I came up for air, I felt as if I been sleep waking.  Or sleep reading.  Any way, at 1 PM I felt very disconnected.  Sort of somnambulant http://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/somnambulism.  It was as if I had awoken from a nap.  And, when I do that, I am very often frightened and disoriented, because I do not know exactly what day it is. 

I checked the computer and made sure it was still Sunday. Isn't that weird. For me, it is frightening.  It took several hours to shake off the disreality of the feeling.

Driving

One of the most frustrating experiences for me when I am driving on a highway (loop, interstate, freeway, limited access highway, turnpike, etc.) is when I want to change lanes, and I slow down, or speed up and the vehicle around which I am trying to navigate, makes the same change. 

This happened to me yesterday on my way home from work. When I looked at the vehicle, I saw that the driver was not even paying attention to me.  I realized that she was doing, what we are often exhorted to do, and that is to drive with the traffic.  When I slowed down, she slowed down. When I sped up, she sped up.  She was oblivious to what I was trying to do.  She was lost in her driving.

I finally made a drastic change in my speed so that she had to go past me, and just barely in time for me to make the lane change so I could exit the loop.

This was an "ah ha" moment for me.