Oh Michele! Not Sarah!

Michele Bachmann announced that she will be teaming up with -- wait for it....Sarah Palin!  Sarah and she will become a united front in Bachmann's re-election campaign.  Apparently Sarah will be the star attraction at a fund raiser, date to be announced.  So now we can have two, creepy, religious nutjobs together on Minnesota soil. Because after all, two is better than one, right?  And we need Bachmann back for another term.  Right? Maybe then, we can have more prayer-casts like the one last month.  Let's reflect on Bachmann's prayer regarding Healthcare Reform:

BACHMANN: Lord, as leaders of our country, Lord, I pray as a stand-in for myself, I pray as a stand-in  for others, Lord, who may not have looked to you and all your ways, Father, as leaders. Father, we want to represent you in the way that we should and so, Lord, I ask for forgiveness for that and our own country ... Lord, we know that we have failed and we haven't done as we should. And so that's why now, Lord, we ask for your forgiveness and we repent and we turn from that. And we say, oh Lord, we deserve your wrath but would you yet get our nation mercy. We ask for your mercy, we cry out to you, oh God. This is our moment and this is our time. Lord, we are at the end of ourselves and now we need you.

Can you hear the crickets?

Really?  People of the Sixth District, this is who you want representing you in Washington?  She's unhinged! And don't get me started on the separation of church and state! But to join ranks with Sarah Palin! Really, the woman who couldn't name a magazine or newspaper that she recently read...the woman who is on record as saying she didn't know what the Vice President did, but sure wanted to be one because it's, "God's will." (And apparently it wasn't!) This is the person you want to support you?  Could it be she likes the fame of it all? Is she star struck? Remember how she behaved with then-President Bush when he spoke to the Nation.  She kissed him on the lips, stroked him, fondled him, got her picture taken with him. She was star struck! She was an embarrassment. Really Sixth District?

Wake up! It is time for her to go and it is time to get someone in there who is going to help your district with jobs, and preventing foreclosures -- after all, you top the charts in the state on both.  Are you any better than you were two terms ago?

Remember to fill out your census, vote, and tell Bachmann to do the same! 

Time to Act.

Last night I listened to a representative from the World Food Program.  The conversation surrounded the desperation in Haiti. However, WFP has been in Haiti well before the earthquake of a week ago.  (Click on the title of this post for the link to WFP)

The representative mentioned that with this catastrophe, 1.5 million people are displaced and need feeding.  This is a daily figure -- not a one time event. 

She mentioned that it costs 25 cents to feed a child.  25 cents! I'm unemployed, and frankly, money is an issue.  I'm always anxious when I spend -- usually grocery shopping -- I worry that I spend too much.  Yesterday I did grocery shop and went to Target who generally has the better prices.  I spent about $50. This wasn't even my 'big' shop; this was a 'filler' shop.  You know: eggs, milk, cream, a little of this and that, some fresh food....$50. 

The cell phone companies have partnered with various nonprofits like Red Cross and WFP; you can text 90999 and a message based on the organization, and $5 or 10.00 will be donated to the particular charity.  The charge will then show up on your next bill.  In the case of WFP you would text, "friend" and $5.00 would be charged to you.  $5.00 would pay for twenty meals.  My grocery bill would have paid 200 meals. Now, I needed (most of) that food, however it occurs to me that I am not nearly as destitute as I would want to believe.  So at midnight I did text "friend".  How about you?

"Detail-orientated"

May I say that this is at the top of my list of pet peeves. The word you're trying to get at is,  "detail-oriented"  There is not such word as "orientated". Merriam-Webster dictionary's web site responded this way when I entered both these 'words':  "The word you've entered isn't in the dictionary." That's because IT ISN'T A WORD! The word you are trying to use is "oriented": intellectually, emotionally or functionally directed (adjective).

OK, people, let's take what we've learned and move forward using the word correctly, and by doing so, prove to me that you are 'detail-oriented'!

I'm OK!

I'm spending the day with my friend, Gigi.  Gigi is four, thankyouverymuch.

I'm finding that I look forwarding to seeing this four-year-old friend.  There are so many disappointing moments in my life these days of unemployment that time with a four-year old is, well, JOY! 

First of all, I am the funnest person in the world (according to Gigi) and when I arrive in the morning she greets me with glee!  She loves playing with me and if I had more of a child-like imagination and would be better at "little people" (remember Webbles? Or is it Webbelos?), well I think I would be just perfect!

Gigi has a guttural, straight-from-the-gut, laugh.  And I can make her laugh.  It's worth a million bucks! When we play puzzles and games and practice her ABCs, and we are successful, I sing:'"Ta daaaaa, done ta da ta daaaa!"  And now she does too.  I use "splendid" and "splendiforus", and now, so does she.  I get such a kick!

G, much like other small children, tumbles and rolls around on the furniture.  She Inevitably will end up with her feet in the air, and yell out, "I'm OK!" You OK, Gig? "Yup."

From knowing Gigi, I now know Dora and Diago, and know that Dora is Diago's cousin.  Uh huh, Who knew?  I know how to say, "hello!" in Chinese from watching Kylan.  Ne hao! I now know who Sponge Bob is, and I don't get the attraction.  Miss Gigi does not like PBS Kids (she says it's boring), but when Sponge Bob is on, I sneak it in; Sponge Bob is useless.  However we both do enjoy putting together the Sponge Bob puzzle. Oh and then there's 'Hip Hop Harry'.  I want to pull my hair out.  I try to get something else on the tube before he shows up, but like today, sometimes I'm too late.  I struggle with the way he and the children dance.  I'm a prude, what can I say?

Gigi has two older sisters and they have Barbies.  Gigi loves to play with Barbies and I seriously am uncomfortable with those dolls.  The clothes that are made for Barbie...well good grief! Have you no modesty, Barbie!?

Speaking of clothes, Gigi dresses herself.  It's a treat to see what she comes up with.  Today she is wearing a powder blue dress with lace puffy sleeves, a satin bow and fancy schmancy stuff on the front.  Over that she is wearing a red-bandana-print sweater, and under it all are black pants.  She is a fashion plate!

When I first arrive, I "work" on the computer.  Throughout, Gigi will ask, "Can you play, now?" I must say, I am eager to get my "work" done, so that I can say, "Why, yes, I can!"

She is a jewel and a treat in these difficult times.  I am fortunate to call her my friend.  And it's good to know, she "OK!".

The Doctor has spoken

After Chris' complaint on 1/3 about my use of "and" in the year, I wrote Dr. Math.

"I have a friend who takes issue when I say the year as: two thousand AND ten.  She believes that this implies a decimal, thus reading it numerically as '2000.10'. Instead I should be calling the year 'two thousand ten'. Is she correct, because I prefer to always be correct!"

The Doctor wrote:

Hi Jean,

Normally, 'and' comes between the whole and decimal parts of a number, e.g:  339.45 = three hundred thirty-nine and forty-five hundredths. Many people will put in a gratuitous 'and' after hundreds, e.g.:  339 = three hundred AND thirty-nine, but this is incorrect.  Although 'incorrect' may be too strong a word.

It's not the preferred way of expressing it.  But 'not preferred' isn't the same as 'wrong'.  In sort of the same way, people from New York will often say something like 'Me and Tom went to get pizza'.  I mean educated people, too - people with graduate degrees.  Published authors.  You can insist that

it's 'wrong', and they can insist that it's 'regional'.  There's no clear winner in this kind of argument.

On the other hand, I don't think it's reasonable at all to insist that the 'and' implies a decimal, because there's no way to know what decimal is implied unless a denominator is specified.  That is, would  two thousand and ten mean two thousand and ten hundredths (2000.10) or two thousand and ten thousandths (200.010) or two thousand and ten ten-thousandths (200.0010) or two thousand and ten hundred-thousandths (200.00010) or something else? That is, if you're including a decimal, you need to say 'and' to make it clear where that starts; but just because you put 'and' in there doesn't mean there's a decimal.  (When it rains, I roll up the windows in my car; but if I put the windows up, it doesn't mean it's raining.)

My advice is to just say what your friend wants to hear when she's around, and do what you like in other situations.  :) Does this help?

- Doctor Ian, The Math Forum

Why, yes, yes it does!  I believe I am correct and in  a twisted sort of way, so is Chris.

Signed,

Mama

January eleven, two thousand and ten.

Thank you; no no, thank you!

Where do you stand on "thank you"? Is it so abused that it no longer means anything?  Is it rote? Think about the check out counter:  I arrive, they say, "How are you?" I reply, "Fine thanks, and you?"; I pay, they say, "thank you"; they give me change, I say, "thank you"; they wish me a good day, I say, "thank you".  I think I say, "thank you" 3 or 4 times an encounter. Don't mention the restaurant experience: here's your seat, here's water, meal, mayonnaise for my fries, more soda, check, change, have a good night! How much is too much? Or, how much is not enough?  Has it become meaningless? And as such, are we to the point that we no longer say it when it's appropriate?

In my time at home, off work, I've been "doing things" for others in the neighborhood.  Now I want it to be clear, that initially this was out of the goodness of my heart with no strings attached -- as they say. After all, don't they say that if you do a good deed while looking for something in return -- it's not a good deed?  Well I'm not lookin'!  Unless you are referring to "thanks".  Then I admit, yes, I was looking for something in return.

I grew a garden this year and had my own bumper crop of lettuce and pumpkins.  On Autumnal Equinox I shared my pumpkins with the neighbors along with a card wishing them a happy autumn.  I even ran one short so I  ran out and bought one at a store for a neighbor as I didn't want her to feel left out.  She did not thank me until my elder neighbor next door called her on it.  (Who I might add thanked me promptly). One took three weeks.  Another to this day has never thanked me...never acknowledged it. I would have chocked it up to age but the even younger, early-20s couple next door thanked me on the same day that I delivered the pumpkins.  During the summer a friend and I weeded his neglected garden and this winter after a heavy snow fall, that friend (the only person with a snow blower) snow blowed his drive.  There was no mistaking who cleared his drive.  Not a word.

I don't think "thanks" is too much to ask.  Isn't it really the first interaction we were taught as children, after "Hi!" and "Good-bye!"? It is a common courtesy.  Say it! Who raised this guy!?  Actually, I know and I find it difficult to believe that she missed this installment of 'Child-rearing 101'. I think if we said it when it's appropriate the word would begin to carry the meaning it was intended, at all other times.  "Thanks, I really appreciate you clearing my empty plate so, I don't have to stare at it. Really!" "Thanks! I can't tell you how I appreciate you helping me unload my groceries, really!" "Thanks! I love that you included me in the joy you experienced by growing your garden! Really!"

All we need is "thanks"; wouldn't the world -- or in this case the neighborhood -- be a nicer place?

I Don't Feel So Good

Well the baby is feeling a little punk.  It could be any number things: Maybe that greeting card in its envelope with the warm and touching note to my neighbor.  I found it torn to bits; strewn about the room with many bits all soggy and gummed up.   In collecting the pieces I have come to the opinion that there are pieces missing...never to be seen again.  OR...it could be that magazine she destroyed.  It was an appropriate choice: Modern Dog, She paid particular attention to the article about our newest senator, Al Franken, and his quest for service dogs for our service members.   Again, I can't swear that I found it all.  Or wait a minute...what about all those unwelcome gifts left behind by the rabbits or the frozen surprises from nasty cats that run feral in my neighborhood?!  And what's the deal with that anyway?  I can't let my dog roam free doing her business in your yard whenever she pleases, why then can your cat do that in my yard?  But I digress...so, for now, she's only eating rice and we'll see what comes out on the other end.  Maybe I'll find that $5.00 bill that I swear I had in my purse!

Time for Michele to GO!

Michele Bachmann has added to her arsenal of idiotic theories. Her latest soap box is the Constitutionally required, once a decade, census. Bachmann believes that the census is an invasion into her and other Minnesotan's privacy, and as such she will not be completing hers. "Why does the government need our phone numbers?" Really? This is an issue for you? You're a congressperson. I can Google you and find your phone number. The census is in the Constitution, Congressperson, IT'S THE LAW!

This decade's census is all the more urgent as Minnesota's state demographer estimated that Minnesota could be within 1,000 people of losing one of its eight congressional seats. The great twist to all of this is that the district set up to be dissolved, is Bachmann's! Hm. Let me see...lose a seat in Congress currently held by a freak like Bachmann...not so terrible. It's one way of getting rid of her. But in the long run, we do lose our 8th seat. Better: Everyone completes their census as required, maintain our seat and have Bachmann's district FINALLY realize what a nutjob she is and stop voting her into Congress! What more do you need? Even Glenn Beck -- far right, weird-o, hate mongering commentator -- found Bachmann to be a little off. See the clip where he has to shut down the crazy rantings of Bachmann. (click on this post's title to go to that link.)

Ok, everyone. Complete your census and don't forget to vote. And those of you in Bachmann's district might consider writing the congressperson and give her a little push telling her our expectation that she follow Constitutional law, and complete her own census.

Chris is a big dork

So I thought I was obsessive. Friend Chris just called to point out that "and" in a numeric structure implies decimal point -- so previously I wrote: two thousand AND ten. She believes this then would suggest: 2000.10. I don't know that she is necessarily correct but she rants on this very issue quite frequently. So, the good friend that I am; I changed it JUST FOR HER. Happy?

Happy New Year....s?

It's New Year's day. Hence it is the first day of the new year, possessive. It is not: Happy New Years -- plural. I'm watching channel 4 news, and Don Shelby said, "Happy New YEARS" How does a journalist, presumably schooled in grammar and vocabulary, screw that up? The word, "sloppy" comes to mind. Oh, another: Lazy...lazy language skills. Such a disappointment.

It is 2010 and the debate is: How will you say that? Twenty-ten? Or two thousand and ten? I will say two thousand ten since I'm not a short-cut kind of girl. However I do believe when it's 2162, I'll say: twenty-one sixty-two.

I'm not much for New Year's (see this is possessive!) resolutions. Last year's was to get my passport. I got the paperwork filled out, but that's where I left it. Does that count? I could say the obvious: find a job, go back to school, exercise and lose weight. But frankly, those go without saying. Friends and previously, neighbors, moved into their new home this year; their first. And we have yet to go see their accomplishment. I am resolved to go visit this great feat. How's that?