Chronicles of Nana

Well…the fires of the 2008 political hell are heating up…we have the Obama/ Clinton love fest, the McCain want- to -be scandals and Nader and Huckabee- the political spoilers!!…Ain’t free American politics great..? Anything but free through…think of the dollars already spent and then look at your latest tax bill. When all the hoop-la is over and the dust is settled and this great country is being run by “who knows”..what will be the total costs..? Are we ready for the final figure..will it be worth the clouded journey!

NO REST FOR THE WEARY…

Regardless of who sits in the oval office, the great American people will still struggle on attempting to make ends meet and getting plenty tired of spagetti three times a week… We’ll have the same bills, walk the same lines of lost customer service and will get “fee’d” to death with added surcharges. The demands of employment will get bigger, the expectations of the good life with family will get stronger, the bills will mount up higher and heaven help us if we land in the hospital!! The implication is ” the faster we go, the more behind we get” applies nowadays big time….

GONE WITH THE WIND….

The American dream is fading and the American spirit is getting mad and frustrated. To hell with politics…that is where it belongs……

Like Scarlett O’Hara we will just think about it tomorrow…in the meantime I have a son nursing a knee replacement that is in no hurry of healing, another son who just got a new couch after nearly 18 years of marriage, a daughter who is a single parent looking at the expenses of a college education for her 18 year old son, another son still having babies, and my caboose child who has become a widow tied up in the paper work of a death no one will allow to fade away….

Then there is Grandad and I, two old folks just making it from day to day hopefully with as little frustrations and pain as we can pray for. We anticipate medicare and all the forms that come with it and keep holding our breathe with the hopes we do not have to use it any time soon. And there is no retirement and absolutely no rest for the weary…..

GO WHERE THE WIND BLOWS….

So…we look forward to escapism. We are going to see Garrison Keller next month and heading to Disneyland, the greatest escape place, to watch six of our grandchildren see the Magic Kingdom for the first time. Camera in hand we will document their every adventure and occasionally steal away on our scooters for a moment alone. We better plan for some fishing this year as well. We have put it off too long… good grief, we are just a few miles from the greatest fishing in the world!

THE ISLANDS ARE CALLING…

Our grandson’s graduation will take us to the big Island of Hawaii. It has taken us many years to return. Luckily, our daughter has her best friend from childhood living there so we can plan for some fun experiences with family already there. This is a greatly anticipated event. We are going to rent scooters and tour the island with the mild warm wind blowing our hair. This time we are going to enjoy and not work!!

I guess we are beginning to “smell the roses” and it is about time…… I even have an annual pass for the Magic Kingdom now. This ole Nana intends to rock out with Mickey and the gang several times this year!!

 Geez…it’s never too late to play and have fun!

From what I hear the Obama- Clinton debate was a mutual admiration society that left most undecided viewers  still /more undecided. I hold onto the idea that it will become an Obama- Clinton ticket…I know Obama wishes to stay away from old time politics but the fact remains he wants to become president and some things in politics do not change even though that has become his campaign’s benchmark. Hillary, on the other hand, seems to see the writing on the mirror..her chances to grab the gold ring have dimmed and deminished…

IT AIN’T HAPPENIN’ IN A DAY….

Since there is a basic two party system strongly entrenched into Washington DC…who ever is elected is NOT going to sweep the cobwebs of the past out in the first week, year or even term. That being said….party politics are alive and well even in the new change dreams of the democrats.

My hat goes off to Obama for not grinding Clinton’s face into her losses…he appears to be a gentleman in some respects. Thing is being different as male and female is just about as different as they become. Through the current debate there was alot of afirmative head bobbing between the two. The audience was left with more questions than answers.

MEDIA SLIME…

In the meantime, the NY times chose to publish a rather undocumented news story concerning the front runner republican John McCain. Timed for whatever reason, this story apparently is old news concerning a lobbyist and a relationship of nine years ago. Reporting the facts ain’t what it used to be… and what can I say, journalism has become a slime industry that give hot shot commentators a bad name…The media today tend to make the news rather than report it. There are hard, fast rules for reporting and it makes me wonder what is being taught in schools nowadays. It gets desparate when a nine year old event become a current new story… isn’t that called history..?

INTERESTING ASPECTS…

What will be interesting with the republicans will be McCain’s choice of vice president. What will be note worthy will be how cunning the democrats become in selecting a sure-win ticket for their side. What will be interesting will be what Huckabee’s motivations have been and where he plans to go with them.

What will be interesting will be the voting public and how willing they will be in placing their future into the hands of the politicans…old and new!

Oh…to have the knowledge and wisdom of our ancestors…!

Get engaged America!

Politics at best is a fool’s game…it is played by people who scream their virtues(?????) and vast experiences. Somehow the media and game players are going to have to keep the public interest going for the next several months… oh, hummmm…..

I am getting bored already…!

TO THE CONVENTIONS…..

The surge and excitement over Obama will continue. Hillary will run amuck all the way to the convention.Edward’s is holding onto his delegates. McCain will undoubtedly have picked his cabinet and cohorts in government and Huckabee will have stayed the course possibly vainly hoping and holding out for the veep position. Then again, Romney has his delegates still in his pocket….Convention time should be quite a show from all sides!!!

INSIDE THE POWER CIRCLE…

The real stories will never be made public…as usual. The behind the scene groupings of politic power that wheel and deal to make the decisions for the general electorate. What was said to make so-in-so the vice presidential candidates. The slick manuvers and strange ritual dances to position the chosen ones into electable candidates. The collaborative dream teams for the democrats and republicans….

More times than not, I feel like a citizen puppet whose strings are being pulled to and fro…

WHAT IS THE CHANGE…? 

Change seems to be the watch cry of all parties this year but 2008 still has a long traditional past that is not likely going to be put through that process of change. It is called power and the ability to manipulate decisions and public opinion. Changing the appearance of government every 4 to 8 years just creates the same-ole…behind the scenes.

Look beyond the celebrity- candidates and see the powers that operate the govenmental steamroller..now that would be a story worth telling…

Anyone have the guts to try…?

Another republican candidate has bowed out leaving the chosen one as John McCain. Now is the time for this man to attempt to unite a fractured party. Judging by his iffy track record unification may take a long time convincing conservative Reaganites to join and heal the splintered party. Seems to me that that accomplishment only may take alot of needed time away from the fight against the opposition…like the democrats.

WHO’S THE VEEP..?

Would it be possible that McCain bites the bullet and asks Romney to become his veep…thereby making a united front in the easiest and fastest “moment of truth” possible…? There appears to be some real principle differences among the republicans. Can a Romney joining the republican ticket as veep mend the great divide…? Or has the bitter swiping and stabs created too many seeping wounds..?

GOING INDEPENDENT..?

Then again, Romney could possibly go independent and take his conservative message to the general public. Doubtful of this choice, I think Romney will not abandon the conservative republican cause. He is a strong, principled man..whose stance appears to be cast in stone..but we shall see.

DEFINING MOMENTS…

With all his money invested he has at least made his name well known and his position clear. Perhaps, his goal is to become a major voice within the party and in 2012 come forward with a wider base and a more defined personality that can capture the heart of John Q. Voter. After all there is another day…

CLINTON AND OBAMA…?

As for the democrats, it is my belief they will unite the tickets with the junior senators of Clinton and Obama. After all, who can resist the first woman, first man of color approach. History in the making..and as long as the liberal democratic values are intact, then why not…?

Well..it is all an interesting scenario….but tomorrow is another day…

Who can foresee the future..? Let that person come forward and make him/herself rich!!

Well…Super Tuesday has come and gone. What did it prove..?  What did it cost…? Once again, I tout the need for election reform! Could we not have put  all the monies spent to better use..?…..

SAME-OLE…

Basically things are not much different than they were Monday, Feb 3rd. It’s still Clinton- Obama give or take a few delegates. Unless these 2 unite as a combined ticket for the democrats…the road to the nomination will be long and dirty.

The republicans are no better either…just a shift in running positions. McCain leading and sounding more like a shew-in, done deal. Huckabee and Romney unwilling to give up their cause. Perhaps the news here will be who  becomes the chosen veep…perhaps that has already been decided.

WHAT DOES IT PROVE..?

Seems to me that the general public is seeking something more than is being offered. Nothing wrong in that… these are hard times globally, nationally and hard times are happening to everyone right in their own wallets.

REFORM…

I repeat there is need for election reforms..too much is being spent with too little results. I can think of so many ways these monies could be spent for the positive good. Too bad just a minor percentage raised by the candidates could have been filtered to a better cause like children of hunger, cancer or care for the elderly.

We are talking about mega money amounts here…sports figures are being paid too much, corporate CEO’s are paid too much, movie celebraties are over compensated and the list does goes on. Money flows and it goes….

Aren’t you interested in what the cost of Stupid Tuesday was?

 If not, pull you head out of the sand and smell your taxes!!

How many are wondering why Mike Huckabee is still in the race for president..? He had his 15 minutes of fame and is now a recognized face beyond the evangelical crowds…but why the staying in the race when he is obviously in third place among the republicans..?

A DIVIDED PARTY….

Dare say I suggest that the McCain machine wishes him to be up front and visible so he split the evangelical vote between himself and Romney? Wouldn’t it be ironic that the back room wheeling and dealings involved promises to Huckabee for some future position..? Not too far fetched here…I don’t like the way this game is being played.

A REAL CONSERVATIVE..?

McCain, surely a war hero, knows Washington well. He also knows how to position and advertise himself as a conservative. That might take considerable thought…it might behoove many to check his record. I am not buying all he claims in his TV ads. His mother sure has had some things to say. More power to her, as a senior citizen she should let it all hang out but not necessarily on national TV. He laughs her remarks off as a dutiful son but as a president I would expect that he show some decorum and saddle the wagging tongues.

SUPER TUESDAY…

Super Tuesday promises to be a horse race between Clinton and Obama. Backed by the Kennedy machine and endorsed by many puts acceptibility in front of the general voters. There is no doubt that he presents himself in a charismatic way…he seems to light the fire under John Q. Voter. And the voting public is seeking something different and hopeful. On the other hand, these candidates know well how to pander to the wants of the general public…

NEEDED REFORMS…

I, for one, would like to see some election reforms that regulate the flow of monies and makes the playing fields more accessible to candidates from all walks of life..occupations..experiences….and motivations. The label “Politican” should be better defined with a more positive moniker.

A CONTINUOUS CHANGE…

The American political process has always been open to the change that has been so publically touted during this election. The one thing constant in life is change…. it just it’s not been coming fast enough in some areas of American life…

The old ways are not necessarily the best ways…..

Grandad played basketball when in high school and that was about as close to sports I’ve ever come…spectator sports just isn’t my thing, unless of course, you can be there in person. I suppose I can say I have seem a handful of sporting events but I can always think of something better to do…Unless it be an Olympic event I just don’t go there.

SUPERBOWL SUNDAY….

So..for the first time in my ole life I sat in front of the big screen TV and watched in total this year’s superbowl game with the New York Giants and New England Patriots. Having a big screen to watch makes all the difference…to be actually able to see the ball in motion makes sense of the game.!

COMMERICALS ANYONE…?

Now, I have heard over the years that some people watch the superbowl just for the commericals…there were sure alot of them!! But, I really enjoyed the game more…I had no preconceived notions concerning the teams nor their players. I didn’t know Eli Manning from Mike Huckabee! And understanding football, to become an expert, to know why those little flags are thrown and what the color means must take years….

THROUGH NOVICE EYES…

But even as a newbee…I readily saw the strength, game tactics and skill that made the NY Giants the winners!! I sat there in amazement listening to myself hoop and holler with the best of them…and to sit there for four hours spellbound watching the boob tube was a major feat for me. I amazed myself! I can’t believe I watch the whole thing…

So have I become a football junkie..? I don’t think so… I am a multi-tasker…got to be doing a bunch of things at one time. And football requires eyeballs glued to the big screen. Besides football is still a man’s thing….and for now I just won’t go there!!

But Eli Manning’s brother had to be mighty proud!!

Snow, snow..go away…Okay Cousin in Pennsylvania I am sending a blast from our past your way! Be prepared.  Superbowl Sunday became a snow day, even church was canceled. I look out from my computer perch and I would say there is easily 4 feet of the white stuff cluttering our front yard and cars.

TWICE THE FUN…

We have two driveways…a circular one in front of the house that seems a mile long once snow has hit. Currently there are three cars buried there. Our home sits on the corner, therefore it has the most driveway areas and sidewalks. The garage driveway has currently four feet of snow and two buried cars that one can see only the antennas peeking through.

MAKING A WAY…

Gradad’s van is in the garage, therefore a path has to be cleared so he can get out for work. Murphy’s law would have it, that during our last snow blast the snow blower chewed up an old newspaper and now sits in the garage graveyard until repairs can be arranged.

SEASON’S END…?

Of course, we went searching for a new snow blower….there is not one to be had in the whole valley! What with season close-outs and the last few freak storms we are left with the old fashion method of snow removal…snow shovels and brute strength! One car has been pryed loose so far…

People are going to be ready for the superbowl chili and sandwiches but I am not sure once they sit down they will remain awake enough to view the big game!

The snow removal guy swepted the road once leaving a trail of 5 feet high snowboulders in front of all the driveways. The snow is so high that one cannot throw the snow anyway…

To our dear friends in Hawaii…enjoy the game under the tropical sun and aloha!!

Oh….Brother…gag me with a spoon!!! Hillary and Obama…..McCain and Guiliani and the Terminator!! Strange bedfellows…how would you like to wake with that each morning…..?