H2O

The movie below is from 1929 and done by Ralph Steiner (an artist I am researching). This movie, H2O is amazing. He builds the whole thing thinking only of form and using only water. It is beautiful... how he makes parts of it so abstract, I do not know.

So... if you have 12 minutes, take a look and "ahh" yourself.

What Times We Live In

It is quite interesting to hear the blame game being played all around our country. Who is to blame for our current economic crisis? What can we do to fix it? Hmmm… Let’s take a step back, take a deep breath and think about it.

It could be the failing housing market, it could be the rotten banks and Wall Street, it could be President Bush… it could a lot of things. The two things I have not heard mentioned are number 1, Greed and number 2, the Industrial Revolution is over.

1. We must all own up to our part in greed. Need the bigger house, the bigger car, lots of toys, eating out… the excess. Maybe it wasn’t the bigger house or car for some… maybe it was the new clothes, new furniture, air conditioning, etc. Whatever we needed (or should I say wanted) we got, taking the debt for granted. With this new found freedom of excess, of course the creditors and banks would profit. No one is innocent in this mess, we all played our part. There is also a part we must all play to fix it… and there is NO quick fix. We took on the mortgages we couldn’t afford; the banks let us take them. We used credit to purchase outside our means; the creditors allowed it. Nobody tried to slow down or think… and then the bottom fell out. Hmmm… big surprise.
   
   It is very interesting that people are worried about their grandchildren’s grandchildren having to pay for this latest round of bailouts, but the type of environment they live in doesn’t cross their minds. Do you now see a little of what greed does to us?
   
   
2. We rode the high of the Industrial Revolution for nearly a century and we all know “all good things come to an end.” Industry is being overrun by technology, at a pace we never imagined. Technology isn’t going anywhere, it is growing everywhere. We cannot hide from it. As our savvy for technology grows, the need for people in the workplace will diminish. We must learn to integrate into our lives. People will no longer build our cars, robots will. We need to plan for this now!! We are now in the Technology Evolution and we just need to get used to it. Industry and money are changing and there is nothing that can be done to reverse it. I just hope movies like “I, Robot” stay as fiction and do not foretell our future.

It is my opinion that we as a nation should chose to “Go Green”. With the sun and wind technologies that we have available to ourselves, we can temporarily create jobs, lessen our dependence on foreign nations, and save the earth. The sun catchers and wind farms are quite artistic looking and could greatly decrease our need for coal power. Our automakers have the technology to build “green” cars, but don’t because it is not cost effective in America. Well… let’s make it cost effective. Supply and Demand is a concept that will never die.

I will end now… as I can go on and on and on. But I want to end with (and don’t be afraid of it) the Golden Rule:

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

If we all lived by this rule, don’t you think the world would be a better place?

Good Times

Pictures from my families' Thanksgivings...

Jules getting a snack at Thanksgiving.

Uncle Steve and Vern.
Boomer enjoying himself.
Cutting the Turkey.

Hanging out.

Guess who the scene stealer is?

The ladies cooking dinner.

The guys watching football.

Grandma and Grandpa at Thanksgiving.

Nick and Heidi.

Pictures from Christmas...

Drive to Aunt Val and Uncle Jim's House.

Nice face Lisa...

Aunt Val gets KO'd.

Gina catches the action.

The boys duking it out...

Whose winning?

Boxing sitting down?

Real life wrestling.

Smoke opening his gift.

New Snow.

Ice forms on the drive.

Angel's new toy.


Our new addition... Emma.

To Whom it May Concern:

So I haven’t said much since the election… I was quite pleased at the outcome and think America could be on the road to return. Enough about that though. This blog is going to me more venting for me than anything.

On November 12th, I started getting an “attack”. While that may sound bad, I have been suffering them for at least that past 6 years… NO big deal. However, since it was at work, one of my bosses made me go to the emergence room because she thought I was having a heart attack. Well learn the symptoms of a heart attack sweetie, ‘cause I wasn’t suffering from them. So the ER visit turns into a 4 days stay because no one can figure out what is wrong and the same alkaline phosphates that have been elevated for at least 3 years are elevated. SHOCKER. So… I end up having to experience a horrible IV, x-rays, ultra sound, countless blood work, MRCP, and an ERCP (too much detail for something you can research) and STILL have no answer. Oh yeah… did I mention that I missed the TSO concert???

So let’s see… since leaving the hospital, I have seen my GI doctor now 3 times, changed meds, had another ultrasound, more blood work, another endoscopy, even more “attacks” have occurred, am awaiting a liver biopsy and STILL have no answer. Well… I did get one possible answer, but if this doctor will not sign off on getting me a full hysterectomy, then I am not coming off of my Seasonale.

If you cannot tell yet, I am quite bitter about the whole experience… especially with being allowed the privilege of paying thousands of dollars for all this and of course not having any answers. Not knowing was a lot better… trust me.

Do people care? Probably not. I am sure my boss feels quite proud of herself, but I don’t feel that she truly cares. Not too many people do, but I know which ones do and I thank them. (You know who you are) Also, if I do not want to tell these people that do not care anything about what is going on, why should I? It is none of their business… and besides they only half hear anyway (many of them still think I had a heart attack).

Even as I write this, I am reminded of the irony as I am sitting through an attack. I have gotten quite used to them. Had one last night at my Aunt and Uncle’s house too... joy.

I am sure they will continue to happen… what does it matter anymore? I have gotten used to all the other pain.

P.S.
For all my “Celiac Disease” all-knowing co-workers – my GI doctor has said many times that what is happening with my liver has nothing to do with Celiac Disease, so get off your damn high horses.