Those of you who really know me know that I lean more than just a little toward the Libertarian side of things.
While I believe the government needs to offer assistance (and tax breaks) to those who really need it, I don't believe that the government needs to be involved in all that we do.
This comes out most when I talk about abortion or gay rights, but there are many other instances that I believe it still holds true.
Should there be laws that dictate right and wrong on the most obvious level, such as murder? Yes. Should marijuana be treated as a more addictive drug than cigarettes or alcohol? Not so much.
Should we pay taxes? Yes. Should we bail out major corporations with our hard-earned money to ensure their CEOs go home with a profit? Again, not so much.
Should the government tell business owners that they can't allow smoking on and in their property? No. But then again, I'm a smoker and I sure would love to have a cigarette at a restaurant.
Those are just a few of the reasons I check out Reason's Hit and Run blog, which lead me to Terry Michael's "The Libertarian Case for Obama".
He lays out seven reasons a Libertarian shouldn't be entirely afraid of an Obama presidency.
Here's a taste with number 6 on the list:
6. R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Yes, we need to restore America's reputation around the world. Anybody who's traveled beyond the Atlantic and Pacific in the past eight years knows America needs a makeover. Whatever you think of Barack Obama—unless, like the mindless U!S!A! crowd, you don't care what the world thinks—he will restore much of the goodwill we have lost when he raises his hand on January 20, 2009. That's significant for libertarians who believe in the importance of the nation most committed to free markets and free minds—ours—leading by example. More-of-the-McSame in foreign policy is something we can't afford.
If you somewhat agree or, at the very least, are interested in ideas that don't always fit the status quo in American politics, check out the article and the blog. Both are exceptional and may cause you to think about things in a new way. It certainly happened to me.
L.
PS--If I ever get a chance to yell U!S!A! at an event, you'd better believe I'll be screaming my head off while punching my fist in the air. I'm not that far Libertarian...just yet.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Mirror, Mirror On The Wall
We finally hung some pictures around the joint today.
And, man, do I love this mirror!
I feel like such a grown up having an actual dining room.
Of course, we've only eaten in it once.
L.
And, man, do I love this mirror!
I feel like such a grown up having an actual dining room.
Of course, we've only eaten in it once.
L.
Friday, September 19, 2008
I Have A Frozen Burrito In My Purse
A dear, dear friend of mine recently changed jobs to something that could turn out to be life changing.
I'll leave her personal affairs personal since it's not my business to tell her name, or her job, or what she does on Friday nights. But I will say that this job keeps her extremely busy and hard to reach.
So, I just managed to catch her by phone and as she was hanging up I heard her say to someone else, "I have a frozen burrito in my purse."
Please call me back and tell me why. You can't expect me to sleep with all this worry that you might wake to find thawed beans next to your wallet.
L.
PS--To said dear, dear friend: It reminds me of the Fendi.
I'll leave her personal affairs personal since it's not my business to tell her name, or her job, or what she does on Friday nights. But I will say that this job keeps her extremely busy and hard to reach.
So, I just managed to catch her by phone and as she was hanging up I heard her say to someone else, "I have a frozen burrito in my purse."
Please call me back and tell me why. You can't expect me to sleep with all this worry that you might wake to find thawed beans next to your wallet.
L.
PS--To said dear, dear friend: It reminds me of the Fendi.
Overheard at Work
I'm considering making this a recurring theme here at A Better Time Than Most Can Dream. Mainly because I think it could have some serious awesomeness attached to it.
Our nonprofit work means we do quite a bit of traveling to strange places, which often brings with it interesting stories from the field.
Much of the time, you don't get the whole story, just a snippet here or there as you walk through the hall. It really makes for delightful fun.
Just a few:
Months ago. Woman on phone: "Hello. I believe you have a stuffed opossum of mine."
Early this week. Man talking to woman: "She won't slaughter her own goats because they mean too much to her. She has to get someone else to do it."
Today. Woman talking to woman: "She's in Kyrgyzstan. I don't know. Maybe a spider."
Seeing as how our work focuses quite a bit on agriculture, it shouldn't be too surprising that animals are mentioned frequently.
But, still, you gotta wonder about that opossum.
L.
Our nonprofit work means we do quite a bit of traveling to strange places, which often brings with it interesting stories from the field.
Much of the time, you don't get the whole story, just a snippet here or there as you walk through the hall. It really makes for delightful fun.
Just a few:
Months ago. Woman on phone: "Hello. I believe you have a stuffed opossum of mine."
Early this week. Man talking to woman: "She won't slaughter her own goats because they mean too much to her. She has to get someone else to do it."
Today. Woman talking to woman: "She's in Kyrgyzstan. I don't know. Maybe a spider."
Seeing as how our work focuses quite a bit on agriculture, it shouldn't be too surprising that animals are mentioned frequently.
But, still, you gotta wonder about that opossum.
L.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
At My Door The Leaves Are Falling
A cold wild wind will come.
OK, so the rest of Johnny Cash's song "I Still Miss Someone" doesn't quite fit here. But let me tell you this: It's absolutely beautiful in Arkansas.
It's what some might call "Football Weather" although those people certainly aren't watching the Razorbacks. I mean, really, beating Louisiana Monroe by one point? One...Freaking...Point. Auburn beat them 34-0. Jeez, it's going to be a long season.
But, that's not the point. The point is that it's beautiful in Arkansas this time of year, and luckily this time of year lasts for about two months.
People love spring. I understand. It's been cold. We've had a couple of snow (better described as ice) storms, and people are excited to see the first sprigs of grass peak out from the bland brown world. Home Depot fills with folks buying bright reds, whites, pinks, purples, just trying to add a little color to their home.
I'll plant a few flowers, but because of one awful allergy to pollen, I absolutely hate spring. Really, I do. I'm not excited about outdoor eating because I have to dope up on Claritin. I don't like to open the sunroof because I can see the yellow cloud of dust cover my body and then I launch into a sneezing fit.
But most of all, I can only think that summer is just around the corner. And in Arkansas, summer lasts a lifetime.
I can't stand heat. I don't like to sweat, under any circumstance, and I sweat like a pig in the summer. For months. And months. And months. Summer just goes on for ages here. It starts in May and ends somewhere near when time stands still.
My fingers swell in the heat. I feel like a rhinoceros. And no matter how few clothes I wear, I'm still hot. It's just not for me.
But, Autumn. Well, that's a different story. While most people enjoy getting out of the cold, I'll bundle up and go for a walk. Most people avoid the snow, the ice, I thrive in it.
Maybe it's because my father was a farmer which meant he didn't come home it was too dark to work, and in the summer that was well after 10 p.m.
Maybe it's because I think the wheat harvest is so amazingly beautiful with combines in the field, money coming back home after a long, hard, planting season and summer, and dust settling on everything in sight.
Maybe it's the changing leaves and brisk night air.
I can't be sure of the reason, but I love autumn, and I hope that Mother Nature isn't just teasing us with these sunny blue skies and this cool night air.
If I could live in a place that never gets above 65 degrees, I'd be so happy I just might die in fear that spring would be just around the corner.
L.
OK, so the rest of Johnny Cash's song "I Still Miss Someone" doesn't quite fit here. But let me tell you this: It's absolutely beautiful in Arkansas.
It's what some might call "Football Weather" although those people certainly aren't watching the Razorbacks. I mean, really, beating Louisiana Monroe by one point? One...Freaking...Point. Auburn beat them 34-0. Jeez, it's going to be a long season.
But, that's not the point. The point is that it's beautiful in Arkansas this time of year, and luckily this time of year lasts for about two months.
People love spring. I understand. It's been cold. We've had a couple of snow (better described as ice) storms, and people are excited to see the first sprigs of grass peak out from the bland brown world. Home Depot fills with folks buying bright reds, whites, pinks, purples, just trying to add a little color to their home.
I'll plant a few flowers, but because of one awful allergy to pollen, I absolutely hate spring. Really, I do. I'm not excited about outdoor eating because I have to dope up on Claritin. I don't like to open the sunroof because I can see the yellow cloud of dust cover my body and then I launch into a sneezing fit.
But most of all, I can only think that summer is just around the corner. And in Arkansas, summer lasts a lifetime.
I can't stand heat. I don't like to sweat, under any circumstance, and I sweat like a pig in the summer. For months. And months. And months. Summer just goes on for ages here. It starts in May and ends somewhere near when time stands still.
My fingers swell in the heat. I feel like a rhinoceros. And no matter how few clothes I wear, I'm still hot. It's just not for me.
But, Autumn. Well, that's a different story. While most people enjoy getting out of the cold, I'll bundle up and go for a walk. Most people avoid the snow, the ice, I thrive in it.
Maybe it's because my father was a farmer which meant he didn't come home it was too dark to work, and in the summer that was well after 10 p.m.
Maybe it's because I think the wheat harvest is so amazingly beautiful with combines in the field, money coming back home after a long, hard, planting season and summer, and dust settling on everything in sight.
Maybe it's the changing leaves and brisk night air.
I can't be sure of the reason, but I love autumn, and I hope that Mother Nature isn't just teasing us with these sunny blue skies and this cool night air.
If I could live in a place that never gets above 65 degrees, I'd be so happy I just might die in fear that spring would be just around the corner.
L.
Oh, Those Crazy Liars Always Telling Lies
If you have time to really delve deep, check out Andrew Sullivan. He has a nice round up of Sarah Palin's constant and, apparently, unending lies.
You'll have to scroll down; he posts a lot. The first one is titled The Odd Lies of Sarah Palin I: Firing Monegan and they run to, at last check, Part XI.
L.
You'll have to scroll down; he posts a lot. The first one is titled The Odd Lies of Sarah Palin I: Firing Monegan and they run to, at last check, Part XI.
L.
Quote of the Day
Once again I find myself so completely tied down at work that I have no motivation for anything other than the Hills and Project Runway.
So, no big, thoughtful
post tonight, but a Quote of the Day instead.
Enjoy.
L.
"Yesterday, John McCain actually said that if he's president that he'll take on, and I quote, 'the old boys network in Washington.'
Now I'm not making this up. This is somebody who's been in Congress for twenty-six years, who put seven of the most powerful Washington lobbyists in charge of his campaign.
And now he tells us that he's the one who's gonna' to take on the old boys network. The old boys network? In the McCain campaign that's called a staff meeting. Come, on!"
--Barack Obama, on the campaign trail.
So, no big, thoughtful
post tonight, but a Quote of the Day instead.
Enjoy.
L.
"Yesterday, John McCain actually said that if he's president that he'll take on, and I quote, 'the old boys network in Washington.'
Now I'm not making this up. This is somebody who's been in Congress for twenty-six years, who put seven of the most powerful Washington lobbyists in charge of his campaign.
And now he tells us that he's the one who's gonna' to take on the old boys network. The old boys network? In the McCain campaign that's called a staff meeting. Come, on!"
--Barack Obama, on the campaign trail.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
For Turner
Turner--Just for you.
My heavens are you missing some drama on The Hills!!
Audrina and Lauren are in a fight about not being friends anymore. To quote Audrina "it's like no one wants us to be friends." Really? No one wants you to be friends? How unintentionally funny!
Lauren is hanging out with Spencer's sister, who is so clearly about to burn her. And the previews indicate Lauren is going to have lunch with Heidi's sister. What! Get the hell away from anyone remotely close to Heidi or Spencer!
Spencer told Heidi's sister, who has been living with them for what seems like only days but could be months, that both he and Heidi wanted her to move out. Meanwhile, Heidi had specifically asked him not to say anything to her sister. The sister leaves for hours and upon her return Heidi berates her like it's the sister's fault that she left and Heidi was so terribly offended that she wouldn't call her back. Really? Your boyfriend just told your sister to move out, and you're offended?
Jesus, you're missing some gooooood shit.
We'll have to Netflix the DVD upon your return and have a marathon party. You won't believe this craziness.
L.
My heavens are you missing some drama on The Hills!!
Audrina and Lauren are in a fight about not being friends anymore. To quote Audrina "it's like no one wants us to be friends." Really? No one wants you to be friends? How unintentionally funny!
Lauren is hanging out with Spencer's sister, who is so clearly about to burn her. And the previews indicate Lauren is going to have lunch with Heidi's sister. What! Get the hell away from anyone remotely close to Heidi or Spencer!
Spencer told Heidi's sister, who has been living with them for what seems like only days but could be months, that both he and Heidi wanted her to move out. Meanwhile, Heidi had specifically asked him not to say anything to her sister. The sister leaves for hours and upon her return Heidi berates her like it's the sister's fault that she left and Heidi was so terribly offended that she wouldn't call her back. Really? Your boyfriend just told your sister to move out, and you're offended?
Jesus, you're missing some gooooood shit.
We'll have to Netflix the DVD upon your return and have a marathon party. You won't believe this craziness.
L.
What's In A Name?
It doesn't take much for me to get emotional about my family, or to talk about how much I adore each member of it. But let me tell you, a song by the Avett Brothers has got me all up in a crazy state.
It's easy to forget how lucky I am when I'm swamped at work, worn out at home, and feel like I've been sleeping on the interstate. But this little song always reminds me of my family.
I'm sure that many of you understand what it means to have a family name--a name that tells people who you are and what they can expect. For better or worse, my parents made it a priority to rear children who understood the importance of the family name.
I had the family name thing down pat. My first, middle and last names are all surnames, which meant that someone everywhere I went could place me with a family. But because my grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles had worked so hard to preserve a "good" name, it also meant I could be trusted, looked up to, and considered an all around decent person by anyone who'd ever known someone with one of those names.
Each time my brother and I went out in high school, and well into college, my mother always, and I mean, always, followed us to the door saying, "Remember who you are and what you represent."
At the time, I thought it meant that the family name was the most important thing we had. Growing up in a small town, I knew that everything I did reflected back on my entire family, and the town would talk if I did something unseemly.
But growing older and having young nephews, has made me realize it was about much, much more than that. It was about what we shared as a family, and what that name said to us.
It said more than trustworthiness to other people. It said love for each other, constant and unabashed loyalty, and that if nothing else was left, at least we'd all be standing together.
It said that there were people who remember that a 15-year-old problem can rear its ugly head and turn your life upside down. It said that someone calls simply because they haven't heard from you in a while. It said that someone supports you through difficult decisions, and loves you when you don't love yourself.
When I look at my family, I see many things. A mother who loved me. A father who doted on me. A brother who stands beside me. Cousins who are like siblings. But mostly, I see people who laugh. With me...at me...for me. Just thinking about it makes me smile.
The love a family can share simply from sharing a name makes up for all the times I feel overrun.
For those of you who are my family and actually read this blog, thank you. For everything. My life is all the more enjoyable simply because you're a part of it.
Just know that every time I hear this song, I think of you, and "always remember there was nothing worth sharing like the love that let us share our name."
Oh, and one more thing: For God's sake, remember who you are and what you represent.
L.
It's easy to forget how lucky I am when I'm swamped at work, worn out at home, and feel like I've been sleeping on the interstate. But this little song always reminds me of my family.
I'm sure that many of you understand what it means to have a family name--a name that tells people who you are and what they can expect. For better or worse, my parents made it a priority to rear children who understood the importance of the family name.
I had the family name thing down pat. My first, middle and last names are all surnames, which meant that someone everywhere I went could place me with a family. But because my grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles had worked so hard to preserve a "good" name, it also meant I could be trusted, looked up to, and considered an all around decent person by anyone who'd ever known someone with one of those names.
Each time my brother and I went out in high school, and well into college, my mother always, and I mean, always, followed us to the door saying, "Remember who you are and what you represent."
At the time, I thought it meant that the family name was the most important thing we had. Growing up in a small town, I knew that everything I did reflected back on my entire family, and the town would talk if I did something unseemly.
But growing older and having young nephews, has made me realize it was about much, much more than that. It was about what we shared as a family, and what that name said to us.
It said more than trustworthiness to other people. It said love for each other, constant and unabashed loyalty, and that if nothing else was left, at least we'd all be standing together.
It said that there were people who remember that a 15-year-old problem can rear its ugly head and turn your life upside down. It said that someone calls simply because they haven't heard from you in a while. It said that someone supports you through difficult decisions, and loves you when you don't love yourself.
When I look at my family, I see many things. A mother who loved me. A father who doted on me. A brother who stands beside me. Cousins who are like siblings. But mostly, I see people who laugh. With me...at me...for me. Just thinking about it makes me smile.
The love a family can share simply from sharing a name makes up for all the times I feel overrun.
For those of you who are my family and actually read this blog, thank you. For everything. My life is all the more enjoyable simply because you're a part of it.
Just know that every time I hear this song, I think of you, and "always remember there was nothing worth sharing like the love that let us share our name."
Oh, and one more thing: For God's sake, remember who you are and what you represent.
L.
Let Bygones Be Bygones
It's taken me a solid week, but I'm finally over my anger with Entergy.
You know, you just can't hold a grudge forever. Well, that's not entirely true. I have many a grudge I've been holding onto for dear life for decades now, but I'm going to let this one go to allow space to hold onto a different one.
L.
You know, you just can't hold a grudge forever. Well, that's not entirely true. I have many a grudge I've been holding onto for dear life for decades now, but I'm going to let this one go to allow space to hold onto a different one.
L.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Stupid Entergy
So, our power was out for 39 hours. Yes, 39 hours.
In case you were wondering, we live in the city. In fact, not just the city, but the middle of the freaking city. And we can't get power for 39 hours? Give me a freaking break.
I suppose I don't have to say that things have been a little odd around here. I love Dave to pieces, but two days of talking to one another in the dark can wear a girl out, and it really changes what a person does on a daily basis.
Dave works from home, so he was unable to do just about anything for two days. We missed Sarah Palin's speech, which I hear was really quite good. We caught a bit of McCain's speech, which I can assure you wasn't so great--it wasn't well written and it certainly wasn't delivered well.
Maybe everything is clouded by my hatred for Entergy, so I'll touch base again in a few days and we'll see if things have improved. Until then, I need a little time to get my bearings about me.
L.
In case you were wondering, we live in the city. In fact, not just the city, but the middle of the freaking city. And we can't get power for 39 hours? Give me a freaking break.
I suppose I don't have to say that things have been a little odd around here. I love Dave to pieces, but two days of talking to one another in the dark can wear a girl out, and it really changes what a person does on a daily basis.
Dave works from home, so he was unable to do just about anything for two days. We missed Sarah Palin's speech, which I hear was really quite good. We caught a bit of McCain's speech, which I can assure you wasn't so great--it wasn't well written and it certainly wasn't delivered well.
Maybe everything is clouded by my hatred for Entergy, so I'll touch base again in a few days and we'll see if things have improved. Until then, I need a little time to get my bearings about me.
L.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
The Woods
I can only take a minute here, since I shouldn't post at work, but I wanted to explain my absence for the past few days.
Our power has been out. Yep. Out. For more than 30 hours. Really? We live in the city and we can't get power back? Unfreakingbelievable.
L.
Our power has been out. Yep. Out. For more than 30 hours. Really? We live in the city and we can't get power back? Unfreakingbelievable.
L.
Monday, September 1, 2008
City Living
You don't have to live in the country to see some crazy shit that will freak you the hell out.
Last night I'm standing on my back porch, talking to my mother on the phone only to look up and see a raccoon on my roof about to jump down onto the porch and staring straight back at me. I'm not kidding.
Jesus. What am I doing living in the freaking woods. I'm not cut out for this shit.
L.
Last night I'm standing on my back porch, talking to my mother on the phone only to look up and see a raccoon on my roof about to jump down onto the porch and staring straight back at me. I'm not kidding.
Jesus. What am I doing living in the freaking woods. I'm not cut out for this shit.
L.
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