Leaves...

This morning I had an interesting and almost inspiring observation of my world. I noticed this morning that the leaves are changing colors in the Southeast. It sounds so very ordinary…happens every year around the same time…right? Well, for me that isn’t really true. I lived in Texas, in the San Antonio mostly, for almost 10 years before moving back to the Southeast almost 2 years ago. San Antonio is notoriously hot…and low on the rain gauge. The leaves, when they change at all, go from green to brown in late spring…very few change through a series of colors…you just wake up one morning and everything is brown from the lack of rain. This is not a dig on Texas at all; I love that state…and what it lacks in leaf colors it makes up in wildflowers…mostly in March and April. The colors come out in an array that puts a rainbow to shame…but I digress.

I noticed the leaves changing this morning…golden yellows to bright reds and pumpkin oranges…appropriate given the approaching holiday. I thought to myself, “Funny, I don’t remember seeing this last year…” Then I remembered…around this time last year I was in the Middle East, in an area that has very few trees, let alone leaves to change colors…but then it was still 110 degrees if I recall correctly…I love my country…and not just because the leaves change colors…but it is a nice reminder that not all have it as good as I do…

God Bless America

Don't fix me

I'm having one of those days when you just don't even want to get out of bed because you know it will just be one of those days. I want to talk to hubby about stuff, but I don't because I know he will try to fix it. His most recent catch phrase is "What can I do to help you?" How about just listen...you can't do this for me...the best thing you can do is nothing. Even my teen son has gotten in on the act now...he's afraid I'm going to Hell because I don't have the same religious beliefs as him. He's paranoid that his mother will burn because she doesn't go to church. He's becoming the Sunday Bible-thumper, who cusses like a sailor and gets into fights through the rest of the week. What's worse is he doesn't seem to believe that there is anything wrong with that...as long as his fights are all about 'protecting people from the bullies.' The language is irrelevant, and what's wrong with calling your sister stupid anyway...

Don't get me wrong, his motives are important...and if he really can't get away from fighting, I'd rather he stood up for himself...but he doesn't seem to see that there are sometimes (usually) alternatives to throwing punches...and he doesn't see the hypocrisy of his bullying his sister...I suppose it's all age-appropriate, but it is frustrating...particularly when he turns his I'm-out-to-save-the-universe attitude on me...don't fix me...don't try to parent me...I have parents, and no one wants to be 'fixed'

I could say the same thing to the hubby...it makes me feel like you see me as a wounded puppy when you try to solve all my problems...sometimes I just want to vent...unless I ask you to help, don't...that doesn't mean don't help with household chores...that means don't try to fix me...I'm not a child...

Politics

As a resident of a southern state I am accustomed to ugly elections focused on religion and slung with mud...this year is no different. I've heard that they've started making guides that are one-page summaries of the condidates views on specific issues. I wish I knew where to get my hands on one of these for my state. Voting by absentee makes the process of trying to find out what the hopefuls stand for...well, it makes it twice as difficult. I've found campaign sites and blogs and news reports, and I still haven't figured out what Lucy Baxley wants to do to improve the education system in Alabama (from what I understand, it's even worse than when I was growing up there, having dropped from 48th to 50th place nationwide). I hear lower taxes and better education, but no plan to implement it. Then I hear the other guy say, increase taxes on upper income and corporations and continue growth at about 4% annually...I'm not sure you can do those two things at the same time...

Then of course, one of the candidates was convicted of a couple of felonies shortly after the primaries...thankfully, he was not selected for his party's nomination (this guy wanted to be governor, all the while being tried for bribery and corruption)...

Then there is the guy who refused to remove the Ten Commandments from the courthouse even after the Supreme Court had ruled...ok, I can respect that he held to his beliefs...but I don't think that religion should play a role in our courts...at least not in the sense that only 'God-fearing' folks can be treated fairly...it reminds me of Gov. Wallace standing on the schoolhouse steps swearing that Alabama schools would never be desegregated...try to remember folks that line in our pledge 'liberty and justice for all'...not just for those who agree with us...not just for one race...not just for one religion...for all...

Voting is important...it is a right, a privelege, an obligation, and a duty to our country...please, someone...grant me something to vote for...tell me where you stand, and convince me that you will stick to that when someone challenges you...show me that you have the nation's best interests at heart...always...show me that you care about civil liberty and security...prove that you care more about our kids' education than lining your pocket or staying in power...

I'm still here...

We've been busier than a one-armed paper hanger for the last couple of weeks. All very dull, but essential (ha) administrivia.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the hubby got sick...very sick...in the ER sick. We were very worried for several hours, but they sent him home at the end of the day, so I think he's going to be ok. Then the car broke down...$400 and 10 hours later I have my car back, but I'm starting to think that it will nickle and dime me until it isn't worth it anymore...then I will have to bite the bullet and buy a new car. Then we went out of town to get hubby a renewed driver's license...so busy at work, busy at home...

Then of course we fought...doesn't it seem that when you have a fight it's always over the dumbest things...this one was over whether or not hubby should use the word 'potty' with the kids (they're 14, 11, and 6)...I think he treats them like infants...he says they act like infants...grrr....

I've been down all day because we fought all night...add to that, we just got back from my mother's house...where I always eat too much and rarely exercise...though this time I did manage a 3-mile run. Some days I really hate myself...