John Steinbeck

I went down to the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas today. It is an interesting place even if you aren't a fan of John Steinbeck's work. It is the only museum in the US dedicated to a single author. There is a permanent museum that has stuff about his books & life and there are also rotating exhibits on other topics that tie in some way to Steinbeck.

The museum is interactive, which makes it a great place to take kids. There is a lot of stuff for them to touch, videos showing movie excerpts and some pretty cool exhibits.

Steinbeck won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1940 for The Grapes of Wrath. In 1962 he won the Nobel Prize for Literature "for his realistic and imaginative writings, combining as they do sympathetic humour and keen social perception." Many of his books, including The Grapes of Wrath, were made into movies.

At Steinbeck's funeral in 1968, Henry Fonda read the following from a Robert Louis Stevenson poem:
Bright is the ring of words
When the right man rings them,
Fair the fall of songs
When the singer sings them.
Still they are carolled and said --
On wings they are carried --
After the singer is dead
And the maker buried.

This was up at the museum and I have to agree it is a fitting epitaph for Steinbeck.

I'm sure that some of you would like to share which of his works is your favorite! To start off, I'll tell you that (I think, mostly I like everything) Cannery Row is my favorite. Share your thoughts!!!

Robin

Jill & the IRS: An Update

Well you'll all have to wait a bit longer than 30 days for your revenge. Her appointment isn't until April 8th. I'm not sure that I'm going to last until then, she keeps looking sad and mopey about this. The worst thing is she is trying to blame me. I think her plan is to sacrifice me to the IRS. Admittedly I'm the one who prepared her taxes but still you'd think daughterly devotion would go a little further. Anyway here is a picture of Jill looking sad about her IRS predicament.

Revenge is Sweet

I'm sure you would all have to agree that I am a kindly, easy-going person who never lets things bother her. I'm hearing a lot of laughing right now and am just going to ignore it. Anyway, even though I am such an easy-going person, every once in a while I do get annoyed at a person or an organization. Generally I do nothing about this and console myself with the thought that if I wanted I could get even. Quite easily. You see I have a secret weapon named Jill. It has always been my theory that sending Jill to talk to someone would be an extremely severe punishment, one from which they would probably not recover. Bear in mind this is not because Jill is an evil, mean-tempered person. She really is a kind, easy-going person. However, as any of you who have spoken with her for any length of time know, she can talk endlessly on most any subject. One simple question can lead to a 3-hour monologue. I have refrained thus far from using her as a means of revenge (I believe I mentioned what a kind soul I am), but the time has come.

Through no fault of my own, I and everyone else in the United States is going to have their revenge against one of the most despised organizations around: The IRS. Yep, I did say the IRS. In their infinite wisdom (did I also mention I'm a bit sarcastic?), the IRS has selected Jill for a random examination. She received a packet of papers today requesting that she call and make an appointment to come in with her tax records for the last three years. Not to embarrass Jill, but I think when I wasn't working I made more than she has in the last three years. I'm assuming she really was picked at random but I have to wonder why, once they looked at her returns, they bothered sending this request. They want to schedule a preliminary 3-hour interview to review her records. Three hours! This is going to take three minutes which means that for the next two hours and 57 minutes, the IRS will be forced to listen to Jill talk.

We don't know yet when her appointment will be but I think it is safe to say that at some point within the next 30 days the IRS as we know it will cease to exist. Personally I'm quite happy about this as I'm pretty sure it means I won't have to pay taxes. The entire IRS infrastructure is going to collapse. Just imagine what a difference this will make to the country and your pocketbook!

Seriously though, this is really incredible. Jill is very upset and worried, she seems to think she's going to end up in IRS prison. I started laughing when I read the letter. I couldn't help it, I really find it quite hilarious. You'll notice that I'm not signing this post. That would be because I don't want the IRS to know who wrote those mean things about them.

Words of Wisdom

Those of you who know me well, or even just a little, probably know that I’m a big Johnny Cash fan. Since I’m pretty brain dead (I think it’s my job doing it), I thought I’d share some words of wisdom from Johnny Cash songs with you. Take them to heart or think I'm nuts, I'm ok with it either way.

• There's something in a Sunday that makes a body feel alone.
• But we'll all be equal under the grass, and God's got a heaven for country trash.
• I won’t back down. You can stand me up at the gates of hell but I won’t back down.
• Hey baby, there ain't no easy way out.
• Don't go mixin' politics with the folk songs of our land.
• Well, they're bound to get you, cause they got a curfew, and you go to the Starkville city jail.
• Learn to hoist a jack and learn to lay a track, learn to pick and shovel too.
• Well first you gotta want to get off, bad enough to want to get on in the first place.
• Then cowboy change your ways today or with us you will ride, trying to catch the Devil's herd, across these endless skies.
• Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry, and I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky.
• Don't take your guns to town.
• Man turns his back on his family well he ain't no good.
• You're a big mouthed woman, you're a long-legged guitar pickin' man.
• Lay off that whiskey and let that cocaine be.
• We got married in a fever, hotter than a pepper sprout, we've been talkin' 'bout Jackson, ever since the fire went out.
• Love is a burning thing, and it makes a fiery ring, bound by wild desire, I fell into a ring of fire.

And last, but certainly not least, the ultimate words of wisdom from Johnny Cash:
I keep a close watch on this heart of mine, I keep my eyes wide open all the time, I keep the ends out for the tie that binds, Because you're mine, I walk the line.

Note: Please look at the rate this blog icon on the right hand side. If you will all rate the blog (highly please) our number will increase!

Robin

Live to 100?

I found this article the other day that I thought was pretty interesting. A recent study has concluded that it is becoming easier for even people who develop chronic diseases late in life to live to be 100. I'm sure you're all asking yourself what the secret is & I'm going to tell you so that you don't have to click on the link (feel free to click if you'd prefer to read it yourself)!

"It's not just luck, it's not just genetics. ... It's lifestyle" that seems to make a big difference, said lead author Dr. Laurel Yates of Harvard's Brigham and Women's Hospital. A study of men in their 70s found that those who avoided smoking, obesity, inactivity, diabetes and high blood pressure greatly improved their chances of living into their 90s. In fact, they had a 54 percent chance of living that long.

So -- get out there and exercise!

Robin

Cute!

We let the cats onto the patio sometimes & I took this short video the other day when they were out. It is pretty cute!

New Blog!

I found a fascinating new blog that I wanted to share with everyone. It is called Folia Salviarum, click on the name & you'll be taken directly to this inspiring blog. You may think, based on this introduction, that it is my blog but that would be wrong. And actually if you know me you'd realize that I'd never come up with that kind of name. Most of you are probably catching on that the only person who would come up with it is Jill. Yes, Jill, the family Luddite, has actually created (with a little help) her own blog! The name is something to do with plants and she'll mostly be talking about gardening in her blog.

If you have gardening questions you can ask her. She'll probably say she has to see the plant and then go into a long explanation that only peripherally has anything to do with your question. But hey, it's your life, go ahead and ask!

Robin

eBay Boycott

Starting today an unknown number of eBay buyers and sellers will be boycotting eBay. The strike, scheduled to last through February 25th, is in response to changes, some of which will be taking effect on February 20th. Proposed changes include a fee increase and revoking the privilege of sellers to leave negative feedback for buyers.

I think that the idea of not allowing sellers to leave negative feedback is ridiculous. The success of the eBay system, in my opinion, is largely due to the feedback system. I used to sell on eBay and still buy occasionally. As a seller I think it is important that you have the ability to leave negative feedback where appropriate. I'm aware that unscrupulous sellers have used the feedback system in a retaliatory manner. However, buyers do the same thing and their privileges aren't being revoked. Any system has flaws but I don't think that eliminating the ability of one group to respond is going to fix the flaws.

If you buy or sell on eBay I'd consider supporting the strike. eBay is pretty much the only game in town for auctions. There are others, but none come close to the popularity of eBay. They seem to think this gives them the right to do anything they want.

Robin

Think Again?

Just when I've decided for sure that I'm against Hilary Clinton I read something like this posting. It is an essay by Robin Morgan, a feminist activist, journalist and author. Check it out. If nothing else it should make you think!

Robin

House

I'm sure that you've all checked out the blogs I have links to on the right-hand side. Just in case you missed it I thought I'd point you to one that I like. Called House is Right it is a blog about the tv show House.

Hopefully you are all watching House on a regular basis. It is actually the only thing on tv right now that I like! Anyway check out the blog if you're interested and if you haven't seen the show watch it & let us know what you think!

Robin

Hope you don't have Blue Cross!

This is really incredible to me. Blue Cross of California sent physicians a letter asking them to review the application their patients submitted for insurance & report if there were any pre-existing conditions discovered that were not noted on the application. If so, Blue Cross can cancel coverage for that individual. You can look at the article about this in the Los Angeles Times. There is a pdf of the actual letter on their site. You also might want to check out the blog post about it at Junk Food Science.

I'd say more but I'm just to annoyed. I'd really like to hear what other people think! I know that insurance companies aren't in business for our health, I know it's about profit, etc., etc., so don't tell me I'm being naive. I just find such blatant efforts at cost-cutting appalling. Anyway if you have a choice, I wouldn't go with Blue Cross. Then again, maybe none of the choices are that great. . .

Robin

Colored Pencils

I just read this post about colored pencils on Google Blogoscoped & thought I'd share it. It is very funny!

Robin

Why I Can't Walk

There is a trailhead about 6 houses down from me and when we moved here I thought I could walk there everyday. Unfortunately that isn't working well. What no one told me was that the trails are populated with mad cows.

The first time I went for a walk over there Jill was with me and we saw, I don't know, 4 or 5 cows. They kept looking at me and moving closer & I was getting pretty nervous. They didn't attack but I know they were thinking about it. My plan was to push Jill toward them and run. Of course I run even slower than I walk so they probably would have caught me.

Anyway now there are even more cows and they are getting closer. As you can see in the picture there are no people around. When I first looked out & saw the cows there was a small child running up there. He disappeared, I assume into one of the cows. Admittedly I'm bigger than a small child but I think if they worked together the cows could probably eat me. I don't consider this to be farfetched, after all I've been eating cows for a number of years, I'm assuming they want revenge.

You may be asking, why can't she walk on the street? Clearly if the cows can wander around the hills they can get onto the street and come after me. So when people ask me why I can't use the trailhead, I'll direct them to this post. I think just the picture will explain it.

Robin

Anonymous Thoughts

Here are a few anonymous quotes for you to ponder.

• Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Louis Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo DaVinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.
• Reality is good for you...in small doses.
• Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.
• Discretion is being able to raise your eyebrow instead of your voice.
• Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble, and children respected their elders.
• When science finally locates the center of the universe, some people will be surprised to learn they're not it.
• To love a person is to learn the song that is in their heart, and sing it to them when they have forgotten.
• Although I can accept talking scarecrows, lions and great wizards of emerald cities, I find it hard to believe there is no paperwork involved when your house lands on a witch.
• Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn't have said.
• After all is said and done, a hell of a lot more is said than done.

Robin

Maria Shriver

I found this link on a blog to Maria Shriver's endorsement speech for Obama & just finished watching it. I hadn't seen it earlier but if I had I wouldn't have needed to listen to Stephen to convince me to change my vote to Obama. Aside from who she is, I don't know much about Maria Shriver. I know some of you are probably gaping at me, but you have to understand that when I'm not diligently working away at my job, my mind is thinking about the 16th century or wishing myself back to London. Consequently I miss a lot.

I was impressed with the speech she gave. I don't know how preplanned it was but it came across as spur of the moment. I was trying to figure out what it was that fascinated me about her speech and could only come up with one word: charisma.

The wikipedia definition: Charisma is often used to describe an elusive, even undefinable personality trait that often includes the seemingly 'supernatural' or uncanny ability to lead, charm, persuade, inspire, and/or influence people.

I would include the ability to connect with people. That's what Maria Shriver was doing while she spoke. Look at the people in the audience. Yeah they were there for Obama but it is Shriver they are responding to. She didn't really say anything that hasn't been said before it's just the way she said it.

If you haven't already done so, watch the video. Tell us what you think. Am I becoming gullible in my old age or do you agree with me? I'm thinking California should have a female governor. Perhaps Governor Shriver for 2011? Check out her first lady website and click on the seal in the upper left. It is interesting to read about. Then post and tell us what you think!

Robin

This is Scary

I really don't know what to say about this but thought I'd share it.

Winston Churchill didn't really exist, say teens
Source: Telegraph (UK) (2-2-08)
A fifth of British teenagers believe Sir Winston Churchill was a fictional character, while many think Sherlock Holmes, King Arthur and Eleanor Rigby were real, a survey shows. The canvass of 3,000 under-twenties uncovered an extraordinary paucity of basic historical knowledge that older generations take for granted.

Despite his celebrated military reputation, 47 per cent of respondents dismissed the 12th-century crusading English king Richard the Lionheart as fictional. More than a quarter (27 per cent) thought Florence Nightingale, the pioneering nurse who coaxed injured soldiers back to health in the Crimean War, was a mythical figure.

Robin

New Addition to our Family!

Well I hope that idea has gotten your attention. Now on to the details.

We have adopted a new member of the family. His name is Albert Einstein (or Burrito or Chewie, but that's a whole other story). He is 3 months old and about the size of a large burrito (hence the above mentioned name). We adopted him last week and almost everyone is very happy with him. Peaches is jealous, Tiger is indifferent and Miss Kitty is afraid of him. These are the main components on the con side. He is supposed to be a poodle, we'll see.

You are of course welcome to come out and see him in person. He enjoys traveling, so next time we get out to the Bay Area we'll have to bring him. We don't leave him at home alone still, he cries otherwise.

For Mom

This is Jill, family and friends. Lest it has escaped your notice someone (Mom) has been complaining vociferously that no one posts on this blog. Let me point out that I live with her and have been hearing these complaints in person. So I would like to request - Please! - that if you read this blog and have yet to post to do so, even if it is just "I'm (Your name) and I live in (Your location) and my connection to this wacky family is (Your connection, i.e. friend, family member, associate)" Now I've even given you a template so this should be easy! Stay tuned for more garden info, and Happy Imbolc!

Clinton or Obama?

So this is what it has come down to if you're a Democrat. I was watching some election stuff tonight & looking at information on line and trying to decide. Honestly, I'm not seeing a lot of differences. Admittedly, I'm not very political, I don't pay a lot of attention & I'm sure there is quite a bit I've missed. It just seems like they are both saying pretty much the same thing. Sure there are minor differences but they don't seem substantive.

What do you base a decision on? Personality? I don't know either one of them. They are both politicians, both probably willing to say and do whatever it takes to be elected. Obama presents as more idealistic. We have the JFK comparison. Sounds good to me. I'm a bleeding heart, liberal, idealistic dreamer at heart. Obama appeals in that respect. This is a interesting editorial in the New York Times about Obama. Clinton certainly doesn't strike me as idealistic. I think she is a pretty tough woman with a major commitment to becoming President. Those, in my opinion, are positives.

Before I give you my decision, which I know you're all anxious to read, let me digress a little. The thing that bothers me about both of them is they are trying to be "firsts." Clinton, the first woman President, Obama, the first black President. While I'm in favor of both scenarios, I wonder if the rest of the country is. If not, that means the Republican candidate has a huge advantage. And that bothers me. Sorry if I offended any Republicans out there, but despite my fascination with Richard Nixon, I'm a Democrat (given a choice between the two major parties). Anyway the point of my digression is to ask you the first of a couple of questions: Do you think this country is ready to elect a woman or a black man as President? Kindly explain your reasoning.

Ok on to my decision. I've thought long & hard about this (well as long as I'm willing to think about politics). Clinton annoys me. I have no idea why, she just does. And I've said I wouldn't vote for her. But without seeing a clear difference that matters to me I have to recant my statement and say instead that I'll vote for Hillary Clinton. Know why? Because she is a woman. There you have it, my well thought out reasoning has come down to a, dare I say it, feminist response. She's a woman & I'd like to see a woman become President. Which leads me to my second & third questions: What do you think? Who would you choose? Feel free to say I'm crazy, ill-informed, etc.

Let's hear from some of you. I know there are people out there with strong opinions, far stronger than mine I'm sure. Many of you are much better informed about the issues than I am. Comment or ideally, do your own post!

Robin