Catching Up

[shipperx]

I don't know what's sucking up all of my time. Somehow there never seems to be any of it. I'm always behind, so if I'm slow answering people comments, I'm not ignoring you. I'm just slow.:)

One thing I have done is clean the whole house in an effort to forestall a flea explosion (too late for the guest room. That I had to bug bomb). And I washed the cat the other night. Ever wash a cat? Not fun. Listening to the creature you would think I was torturing her to death. Poor baby. But I do want to get all of the fleas off of her.

We've completed the move to the new office. Physically it's only a mile closer to my home than the old office, but I reach it via a far less traveled road, so though the distance is pretty much unchanged, the commute is easier. So, yay on that score. I also like that in the new office they've installed an ice machine and have water filtered tap. That's been convenient as I resolved several months ago to give up carbonated diet sodas and thus have restricted myself to water, tea, and coffee.

Thought Sarah Connor Chronicles was pretty good last night.

Thought this weeks' Mad Men was also pretty excellent -- yay, Peggy and poor Joan.

Watched the final episodes of The Tudors Season 2 and... I'm hooked. Okay, yes, I know that like some other shows (*cough*Rome*cough* and *cough*Deadwood*cough*) they employ some fictionalized history, but I still enjoyed it. Now I need to rent Season 1 (nothing like watching a show backwards, is there?)

Have received the latest AtS comic, but haven't had a chance to read it yet.

Have been listening to the non-fiction book Hot, Flat, and Crowded, and listening to Neil Gaimen's latest The Graveyard Book. Hot, Flat, and Crowded is quite informative (though veers into propagandizing. Still, there are several things of interest in it). And The Graveyard Book (Orphan is adopted by ghosts and raised in a graveyard) has been quite amusing and enjoyable thus far... and quite seasonal as well. :)

And I'm ready for this election season to be over (with the caveat that I seriously, seriously want my candidate of choice to win). But, on a personal level, it's bad enough that things are growing exceedingly ugly with the election in the world at large, but it's also growing ugly within my family. I've mentioned before that my sister and I had a three day argument over the election, ending with a "we won't speak of this again or there may be hard feelings" impasse. But, this weekend, my Mom suggested that my sis watch "Meet the Press" only for my sis to go off on my mother. And my mother, who is volatile in her own right... well, things are not happy between them at the moment. (Actually, it's probably just my mom that continues to be angry. Sis has a way of concluding that she is categorically right and dismissing any opinions that differ from her own as irrelevant). I sympathize with my Mom. Mom was being rational and just requesting that my sister expose herself to a view different from her own (specically, just listen to Colin Powell's reasoning). My sister on the other hand has reached the point of believing that any political view that differs from hers is 'liberal brainwashing.' *sigh* You would think that I had joined a militant communist party bent on taking over the world or something from the reaction my sister has had. Quite honestly, I find it to be ridiculous. It's not even that we're trying to change my sister's vote, just trying to expose her to other views. I find it disillusioning that my sister's reaction is pretty much the metaphorical equivalent of shoving her fingers in her ears and going "lalalala, I can't hear you!" That and "if you vote differently than I do, you're trying to destroy my family's livelihood!."

My response to my mother is that though my sister may believe that my mother's and my beliefs about the election are an attempt to 'destroy everything,' but my sister is wrong -- wrong about what she thinks we believe, wrong in not researching more to understand what she's protesting against in realistic terms rather than simplistic, biased talking points, and wrong in only listening to herself and voices exactly like her own. Listen first and then make an informed decision, don't simply keep oneself to a small corner where you are never challenged by more than what you already know.

I'm voting for what I believe... and that's all I need in order to be satisfied. I'm only saddened that my sister has become so resistant to hearing ideas that differ from her own.

Finally, happy news, congratulations to rahirah and wildrider on their wedding. Much happiness to you both!

Comments

[jerrymcl89.livejournal.com]

The political strife is unfortunate. I'm used to disagreeing with most of my family politically (although less so this year), so I've grown accustomed to accepting that. I guess it's not that way for everyone.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

As I said to my mom, I think that part of the vehemence of my sister's reaction is that she's more threatened by my mom and myself changing affiliations. She's completely used to her in-laws thinking and voting differently than she does and thus is unperturbed that her mother-in-law and brothers-in-law are voting for Obama. But for my mother and myself to do so is a step too far for her. That she feels is encrouching a bit too close to home.

[kitmarlowescot2.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah been their on the cat bathing. They will try to kill you, know their are cats out there that do like water. But I have yet to meet one. So they do still make flea bombs.
Did you stick her on Advantage or Frontline ?

As for poltics, I mostly fussed about Palin. My mother doesn't want to hear anything about poltics so I get the shut up. My grandfather well...he just goes ah huh. I thought maybe I had changed his mind about Obama, that he is progressive, and isn't Muslim, etc etc. Kinda like the movement that has been going on in Florida with the elderly Jewish population, that their grandchildren have convinced them Obama. That they should look behind race, and such and such. No, my grandfather informed me I didn't convince him at all to vote for Obama. He can very much make his own decisions, thank you. Know all of us do think is suffering from McCain has Alzheimer's, and we do mean that seriously. My grandmother had it, and boy do we see the signs in McCain.
My mother isn't as wary about Obama know, though she still thinks their is a good chance he could be assassinated. What really got them to on McCain was that he wanted to tax healthcare. Personally when Palin came in that's when I really started to get into anti-McCain. That woman just rubs me the wrong way.
But they will be voting for Obama, though not because of anything I have said.

[kitmarlowescot2.livejournal.com]

I am tired so if this post comes up as a bit screwy on the wording, sorry in advance.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

No problem. Been there and done that. :)

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

I hear what you're saying. My dad is kind of like that. he listens to everything, nods and agrees... but you can tell that he really wants to continue to believe in McCain... it's just that there are doubts (and he has my mother constantly refuting the constant e-mail barrage of misinformation that arrives in his e-mail box every. single. day.

[kitmarlowescot2.livejournal.com]

Yeah I have done that with my grandfather. He thinks Obama is Muslim because his father is. I rolls my eyes, and say just because your father is something, doens't make the child it too.
"Look at me, my father is Jewish. So does that make me Jewish ? You know I might have visited a temple when I was young with my paternal grandparents. But I haven't been in one since I was nine years old. And then only to go special events, never services. I also went to church regularly. So what am I then ? Christian or Jewish ? You know I am not into any religion now."
He replies "Your still part Jewish."
I just give up.
I have asked both if they ever though they would vote for a black president in their life times. And I get no for a answer, though I am just as bad. I never thought it would happen either.
That issue with his father's religion is what got me so badly. He's not Muslim, anymore than I am Jewish. Yes my father is, I am not. Acourse in the more reform synagogue's I would be considered Jewish. But my grandparent's didn't, they were conservative. You were only Jewish if your mother was.
It's changed though because about half of all marriages know are with gentiles. So they are losing their grandchildern, so that rule has changed.
My grandfather knows this, heck he studied this in Bible study. He discussed testament with my paternal grandfather.
My father's family are a$$holes, but not because they ar Jewish. They just are.
The only decent and good person I will remember from that part of the family is my Bubbie.
So you shouldn't judge Obama on what his family is.

[rahirah]

Thank you!

That's what gets me about the whole election thing - I see both sides raving about how the other side is Satan incarnate. Sigh.

[kitmarlowescot2.livejournal.com]

Well both sides are nuts, if you think about it.
I get that way myself about Palin.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

I suppose that's only to be expected. If people can reach "You are SATAN!" accusations over which fictional vampire one likes or whether one ships Harry/Hermione or Harry/Snape or Harry/Jenny... well, calling someone 'the devil' for real views that differ from our own preferences feels depressingly inevitable.

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

Good luck on the de-fleaing, I hope you're successful.

I'll be glad for this election to be over as well because although we've pretty much lost the national commercials we've got tons of local commercials which are every bit as vicious as the national ones. And they run with every single commercial break.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

I'm at my wits end about the fleas. I don't want to put any more chemicals on the dear because I've already done the bath and the "Frontline"... but the baby still has fleas on her. The poor thing must have been way more infested than I ever realized. Either that or they're zombie fleas because they will. not. die!


And the viciousness of the current campaigning is positively draining and discouraging. I just hope that it turns out the way that I hope it will.

[empresspatti.livejournal.com]

In spite of the Palin thing - I think this election has had a better choice in both parties than any in recent memory. Both candidates are good men. That being said - I don't want McCain to be prez. He's too old, to fixed in his views and the entire GOP has narrowed down to stoopid, rather than smart. My viewpoint - but I am willing to listen to what others believe.

It makes me crazy when people get so polarized that they can't discuss and find common ground. Fixed positions just mean you never learn anything...

All that being said - whoever wins, I want to support because times, they are bad right now and compromise is the only way to go. One America, yaknow?

My Daughter was with the CNN crew at NBC for the Meet the Press stakeout of Colin Powell! She got to meet him and be there when history was made. Sorry - just had to brag some more.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

I've developed a real problem with two of McCain's traits -- first, though I understand that he comes from a military family the fact that he seems to view nearly everything through an almost militaristic lens bothers me. I would wish that he placed diplomacy somewhat higher on his list of priorities. Second, he appears unable to deal with dissent or disagreement in an.. um... politic manner. He's very much of the "with us or against us" school of thought and I'm of the thought that the polarization of American and the polarization of international politics is a trend we should work against rather than reinforce.

And wow. I'm impressed! That's a great memory for your daughter to have.

[empresspatti.livejournal.com]

I'm of the thought that the polarization of American and the polarization of international politics is a trend we should work against rather than reinforce.


Very well said!

[cy-girl.livejournal.com]

Poor kitty. They do look at you as if to say "How COULD you?"

Count me in for being ready for the campaign to be over. It's sad to see John McCain stoop to Bush 2000 tactics.

Mad Men rocks! I can't wait for Sunday's episode.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

The way she howled, you would have thought I had placed the poor creature on the rack (see, I have been watching The Tudors! Heh.

And Mad Men has really been one of the best programs currently running.

[mlgm.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you're enjoying The Graveyard Book. I think Gaiman does a very good job reading his work, something not true of many writers.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

The Graveyard Book has been quite enjoyable. And Gaimen is really an excellent reader. Plus, with Halloween just around the bend, it hits the spot for seasonal reading. :)

[mlgm.livejournal.com]

Though I bet you figured out what Silas was far sooner than I. When it hit me, I felt like an idiot, all those years of watching BtVS and Angel...