Mud Season: Pull Up A Chair

crossposted at firedoglake 29 March 2008

Hey firepups! Hope you're shaking off the tail end of winter and getting some sunshine at last. When I lived in Boston we used to say we had six seasons: spring, summer, autumn, winter, more winter, and mud.

It's a different kind of mud-filled season--as progressives we've been going through a rough period of political bickering. I like to think that firedoglake has held together as a community better than some other places during this time.

This might be because we are intentionally kind to each other, embrace new people, give a lot of thought to how the community can evolve, and spend a lot of time getting to know each other.

Wouldn't it be great if we could all take a vacation together? An Alaskan cruise maybe, or rent out a small island in Hawai'i for a week. Ready to go?

I thought it would be fun to share summer vacation ideas with each other, whether real plans or big dreams for the future. Where are you going, what are you planning to do to relax and renew your spirit?

Let's hear especially from new folks and people who read but don't comment much--this is your chance to jump into the lake with us!

So if you're tired of the Mud Season, join me in dreaming up some great plans. Here, let me pour you a cup of coffee or tea, have some of these homemade cookies, and pull up a chair.... 

Lovely photo from nunavut

Good Fences Make Good Neighbors

Have you ever fantasized about that problem neighbor? The one who makes so much noise, parks his car right in front of your house, has the wild kids or pets?

And in this fantasy, the offending neighbor shows up on your doorstep and says he is sorry about causing the problem. Yeah, right like that's ever going to happen.

So while I was ruminating on how loud the downstairs neighbor lets her entire family slam the door, enough to be really frightening, I hear a knock on my door. Sure enough, it is the mom. She is sorry.

We have a lovely chat, I ask if there is anything I am doing that annoys them, and she offers that they can hear me in the kitchen. This makes sense as there isn't any carpet in the kitchen, and when I wear shoes in there it probably is loud for them. A truce was declared, and I think we can see the possibility of a friendship.

Good fences make good neighbors [h/t Robert Frost, a favorite of mine]

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photo by crowolf

Happy Birthday

One of my kids' birthdays today.

Wishing you much happiness, joy, love, and exuberance!

Do you like the cake?

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photo by pinkcakebox

Grateful for Friends

Rough weekend. Thank you to my friends who once again are there for me. Shoutout to my FDL buds and George Saylor especially.

A belief in the power of love and reconciliation among people who love each other but fight, that will carry the day.

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photo by pippyxox

The Doctor Is In

Moving down the checklist, found a regular doctor, a dentist, and an allergist. All were able to see me right away, like within 48 hours. Some kind of miracle happening here.

I remember last fall being concerned about if I could find new doctors, then realized Hey I'm going to be living within walking distance of Stanford Medical School. This should be the very least of my problems! Find something else to worry about!

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photo by A.M. Kuchling

Artistic License

Ok I didn't get THIS one but I did get California license plates today for my car Ooopsie, so named for her tendency to slide up the speedometer when I'm not watching.

The end of an era of having BRIARS be on my plates, both in Virginia and Massachusetts. Maybe I can get EGREG.

Realized a little late that practice tests for drivers' licenses did not cover all the questions. Might I actually have to come back in and take the test a second time? When the guy said I got a perfect score I thot he was teasing.

Guess I'm really a California girl now!

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photo by alexanderljung

Laundry Blues

Ok it's been a few generations since my family washed clothes like this, but it's beginning to seem the attractive alternative.

The tiny combination washer-dryer in my new apartment takes 5 hours to mangle the clothes, leaving them a choice of (1) still wet or (2) dry, but wrinkled.

The highly recommended laundry service returned my clothes with so much icky scent on them that I had to quarantine them in a spare closet for 3 days, and stay out of the room entirely.

On the plus side, the laundry service was sufficiently open to my report that they decided to abandon their use of scented detergents and scented dryer sheets entirely. Fewer chemicals for a lot of people, I trust that's a good thing.

I suppose if this is one of my biggest problems I should simply count my blessings. But the current situation feels undignified, and being a person with depression I have to be careful about stuff like this. Is it too much to want clean clothes?

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photo by cindianajones

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

"Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true"

Hope so. Some days I feel like I'm chasing rainbows.

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photo by Lithfin

My Furniture Arrives!

Fri: Cherry danish was my special treat while awaiting the moving van. Waiting especially for my *desk*. Couches delivered at the same time from a local store. Now all I need to do is unpack. Hahahahaha!

Sat: Found the most essential items amidst a sea of boxes. Some books onto shelf, much better now.

Sun: Church, a comfort. Unpacked lamps and put framed photos and paintings up.

Mon: Had car inspected for any damage during the move, slow leak of coolant. Will fix.

Tues: Working. Wisconsin and Hawaii primaries. Need more groceries.

I can scarcely believe I've only been here 2 weeks. Am missing people and familiar scenes from Virginia. Camp has been fun, can I go home now?

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photo by pQbon

Getting Connected

Waiting for the cable guy to come and connect my new television. Having severe C-Span withdrawal [or C-Spam as twolf calls it].

It's been interesting to watch how my new connections are evolving on both a technical and a human level. One of my greatest fears moving here was that I would be so isolated and alone.

But I am doing my best to be patient, to be friendly, to take each day and make the most of it. Keep telling myself that "things will become less unfamiliar." I've planned for the entire month of February to seem weird.

At some point, I imagine I'll feel like camp is over and it's time to go home. But for now, so far so good.

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photo by kenyee

"Too Dumb to Live" = Evil Concept

Representative Tom Lantos has died. He and his wife were very generous with their time and their introductions in helping my Russian medical work.

We did not see eye-to-eye on the war but I had the greatest respect for his life experience and his strong positions on human rights issues.

He was the only member of Congress who was a survivor of the Holocaust.

I got into some trouble today for challenging another person's use of the phrase "too dumb to live."

Mentally retarded people were deliberately singled out and killed during the Holocaust.

Moreover my sensitivity to this has grown from the Russian children's hospital where I have observed children left to die because of mental and physical handicaps. These children weigh on my conscience. I will not be silent.

For the record, that phrase will never be considered lighthearted, funny, or just words here at my blog.

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photo by yewenyi

Where Am I Going

FIrst time at Menlo Park Presbyterian, people were so welcoming and loving.

I was brought to the senior pastor who prayed for me about my divorce and brokenness and move to California. Apparently he is famous for his writing and his books [John Ortberg]. I said I was probably the only one in the sanctuary who had never heard of him. I was there because I asked God what city to live in and what church to find.

It worked for Vienna VA Pres and will work again here. The rest of my life may be in a shambles, but I do trust God to direct me to the right congregation.

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Photo by Arkansas Wanderer