Elsie Goodcookie

My friend died.  She was 86. One of the nicest people I’ve ever known.  We weren’t really very close at all.  Twenty-five years ago, for several years, I worked in my parents’ store.  She was the one who worked there even before it was my parents’ store.  Everyone knew her.  Everyone adored her.  I hadn’t seen her in many years after the store closed.  When my mother died, she came to the funeral.  She cried. We promised each other we would get together for lunch… the two of us and Christine, another close friend of hers and my mother.  I talked to Christine about it maybe once or twice in the next few months, but we never found a Saturday that worked for all of us and then it was like, Yes, we’ll have to do that sometime soon.  That never happened and now it’s too late.  I’m so sad. I’m sorry, Elsie.

Elsie Goodcookie, my mother used to call her when she’d bring freshly baked chocolate chip cookies into work sometimes.  She also called her Eagle-Eye Elsie because she could find any imperfections in the merchandise.  She had high standards for the merchandise she sold and took a lot of pride in working.  I have many nice memories of working with Elsie.  I hope she had a wonderful life and a peaceful death.  I miss her.

Luv and Peace.

WTF, Oscar!

WTF? Brad Renfro died a week before Heath Ledger.  No disrespect to Heath or any of the other people remembered in the Oscar Memorium, but Brad Renfro deserved to be remembered just as much as any of them.  Some people are saying that they never heard of him or he’s just not as well known.  Well, I am one of I’m sure tons of thousands of fans of his.  Within the last year of his life, I “Googled” him to see what, if anything, he was doing.  I loved two of his movies and liked the other two or three of his that I saw.  I was waiting for more and when I learned of his untimely passing, I was very sad and even posted on my blog a tribute to his memory.

As much as I love the Oscars, I am completely disappointed in the disrespect to Brad Renfro’s memory and his family and loved ones.

Oscar Weekend

Yay! It’s that time again!  I love the Oscars!  I especially love them when I’ve seen all of the nominated pictures.  That doesn’t happen very often.  In fact, I think it’s only happened once that I can recall.  That was 1998 (movies released in ‘97).  I loved all five movies. Titanic won, of course, and I knew it would, but I was really kind of rooting for Good Will Hunting.  The other three were L.A. Confidential, The Full Monty, and As Good as it Gets. I have also seen all of the movies nominated in 2005 and 2000, but I’m sure I only saw four of them before the Oscars those years.  They were Million Dollar Baby, The Aviator, Finding Neverland, Ray, and Sideways (from 2005) and American Beauty, Cider House Rules, The Insider, The Green Mile, and The Sixth Sense (from 2000.) I hadn’t seen Finding Neverland or Cider House Rules until they came out on video.

Ever since then I’ve tried to see as many Best Picture nominees before the Oscars as possible so as to make the viewing experience more enjoyable.  Last year I saw only three of the five nominees: Babel, The Departed, and Little Miss Sunshine.  I had seen Babel just days before the Oscars and hoped it wouldn’t win over The Departed. It was a surprise that it happened as I had hoped.  Everyone had predicted a win for Babel, but I didn’t really like it that much.

This year, as of right now, I’ve seen Michael Clayton and Juno (twice).  I’m going to see No Country for Old Men tonight and Atonement tomorrow at 5:15 PM… right before the Oscars.  That’s four out of five, leaving There Will Be Blood, which I could go see at 12:15, if I decide to…. I’m not sure, yet.  Everyone says Atonement should win, but I loved Juno so much, I hope there’s a big surprise.

Well, off to see the movie… If I get a chance to post before the Oscars, I will. Otherwise, I’ll write my opinions afterwards.

Peace.

**Update: We just got back from seeing No Country for Old Men. I liked it for the most part, but it was quite strange.  I didn’t love it. I don’t really have much more to say about it.  If it wins, I’ll probably watch it again someday.  If not, maybe I will, but probably not.

Does it matter that he’s black?

A couple of months ago, I walked into the grocery store and as I was passing the newspaper display, I noticed a headline on our local paper, “Is America Ready for a Black President?”  I’ve been thinking about that question ever since.

At first, I was disturbed by the question. Why does everyone see him as a black man?  No one should be asking that question.  What they should be asking is, “Would Barack Obama be a good president?”  or “Does he have enough experience and knowledge to be our nation’s leader?” or a couple dozen questions that have to do with issues one faces as president.  The question seemed racist to me.*

Does it matter that he’s black?  Well, actually, yeah.  After mulling it over for a while, I’ve come to the conclusion that it probably matters to quite a few people.  The most important being Obama himself.  The fact that he’s black has probably created a few (maybe more than a few) obstacles for him during his lifetime.  He must feel an immense sense of pride already, knowing that he’s right up there in popularity and it’s definitely not just because he’s black.  Plenty of people are voting for him in primaries across the country… some because he’s black, I’m sure… but, it’s obvious that his race is not an issue with most voters. 

On the Grammy’s last night, George Lopez made a joke about how a black man and a white woman running for president can ensure that nothing happens to them by picking a Mexican running mate.  He jokes, but this is the one thing that worries me, and has worried me, about the possibility of a black president… or vice-president.  To me, it doesn’t matter what the race of the president is, as long as he (or she) does his job well and doesn’t piss me off.  But, I’ve been thinking about this for years.  Is a black president safe in this country? And, is a white president with a black vice-president safe in this country? 

There is so much racism STILL.  It doesn’t seem to be getting worse, but it isn’t getting better very quickly, in my opinion.  I don’t want to see this country get torn apart.  What if he’s elected and he makes some huge mistake… or does something the majority of the country disagrees with (not even as bad as starting an unwinnable war)?  Being the first black president is waaaaay more pressure than any white president in history has ever had.  This could take this country back fifty years.

If he ends up to be our president– whether in this election or one of the next (he is pretty young)– he will have to be one hell of a president.  Every president’s actions are always scrutinized to the tiniest detail, but in this country, the first black president will have to be so close to perfect.  It really isn’t fair. 

I have no idea if Obama is the right person for the job.  A lot of people think he is. I do think that enough people think he’s good enough that they believe he’ll at least beat HRC to the nomination.  I know that the color of his skin will not influence whether I vote for him or not. If and when I have that decision to make, I’ll do my best to be educated about my choices. 

I think the question should be: Is this black American ready to be president?  He must believe he is.  And if he does win, I guess that answers the headline’s question… YES.

*(I should note that I did not read the article and have no idea where the writer was actually going with the question.)

Not a question of faith

On the subject of God, I have always believed in Him.  I was brought up to believe in God.  Our family went to church sometimes when I was little.  I went to Sunday school and religion classes. Then, for a while, we didn’t go anymore.  We moved around to a few different places over the course of a year when I was 10.  When my parents bought a house and a business in a small village, we started going to church again.  It is an Episcopal church and very, very beautiful.  I was in the children’s choir for a while.  My dad was in the adult choir for a while (I think).  Then he became a lay reader.  Then he and Mom got divorced and he moved to a different town four hours away.

In the meantime, when I was a teenager, I became an acolyte, as did my brother and sister.  That was a lot of fun!  It really made it enjoyable to go to church.  Not that I didn’t like church anyway, but let’s face it, an Episcopal service isn’t a barrel of monkeys.  Not that it should be.  As an acolyte, I was right up there at the altar with Father Bob.  I felt so important.  I was his helper and had a very important job.  I was pretty good at it, not that it was difficult by any means, but when the entire congregation is watching, it’s better not to mess up too often.  I made a lot of friends as an acolyte.  I loved it, it was an important time in my life, and I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything.

After I graduated from highschool, I went away to college.  There wasn’t an Episcopal church within walking distance.  I didn’t have a car so the times I went to church during that time, I decided to go to the church on campus.  It was Roman Catholic.  I liked a couple of things about that church.  The service (or as they say “Mass”) itself was very similar to the one I was used to.  So that made it nice.  But there were a few differences and that made me a little uncomfortable.  I didn’t go very often during college, unless I was home at my own church.

After college was over, I lived in my hometown for a short time and worked on the Altar Guild.  Then, we moved about 45 minutes away.  I would go to church if I could go to my hometown church, but it was never the same anywhere else.  I think most people would say that it shouldn’t matter which church you go to, as long as you go.  I disagree with that, for the most part.  I believe in God.  I also believe that you don’t have to be in church to be near Him or to talk to Him or for Him to hear you.  Church is a place to be with other people and God at the same time.  I think they call that fellowship.  You all celebrate God together and at the same time, you pray together, ask for forgiveness together, take communion together.  It’s a wonderful thing.  I just don’t think it’s a requirement for someone to attend church just because they believe in God (and Jesus, for that matter).  For me, it’s about the experience and that changed as people changed over the years.

I think I can have that kind of experience again.  I have to give it a try, but I’m pretty lazy about it now.  As long as I keep my beliefs and raise my boys with the same values, I think God will understand. 

The whole reason I started writing this post has to do with something someone wrote in to Rosie.com.  A woman had had a biopsy and the results were benign.  She was so relieved and said, “There is a God”.  Then, Rosie’s question back to her was, “And if it was positive, would there be no God?”  I thought that was a very cold thing to say.  And I understand what she’s asking… don’t get me wrong, but I found it quite upsetting.  Rosie is asking if the woman is saying God wouldn’t exist if He would allow her to have cancer.  All the woman was saying was that He answered her prayers and she was so happy.  People who do have cancer still believe in God, mostly, I think.  But, I think also that when you pray and pray for something and don’t get it, there’s no confirmation.  When He answers your prayers, you get that secure feeling that He is there watching over you.  It’s a tremendous feeling!

There IS a God AND people get cancer. It doesn’t happen only to people who don’t believe in God.  This woman knows that and so does Rosie.  Why did she have to stomp on her happiness that way?  I think she made her feel bad and I don’t think Rosie would have said something like that to her they were sitting in Rosie’s living room having a conversation.  She should have said something like, “You’re very blessed. I’m happy for you.  Remember to pray for those who do have cancer.”  Everyone has to die. And not everyone is going to die when they’re old.  If everyone did, the world would be total and complete Chaos.  What I don’t know is why many deaths have to be painful.  We have enough pain throughout life: loved ones die, hearts are broken, natural disasters occur.  Some day we all die. When that day comes for each of us, I’m sure we will get the answers.  Until then, keep praying and thanking God for every day… especially those without pain.

I do respect Rosie.  I have fun going to her blog everyday.  I don’t consider her the most annoying celebrity, in fact I would have to say Donald Trump is waaaaaay more annoying than she is.  She has a huge heart. But, I think that sometimes in her haste to answer the many questions she gets daily, she might forget that feelings can get hurt; that there are human beings that look up to her; that although they are strangers to her, she is not a stranger to them.  It must be hard to do that, but it’s the position she’s put herself in. She may not be the kind of person who sugar coats what she has to say, and everyone makes mistakes, of course, but I think she could have been kinder in her response this time.

Peace & Luv

Super Week

Well, tomorrow is Super Bowl Sunday.  The Patriots against the Giants.  When I first started watching football back when I was in college, I was a Giants fan.  That lasted for a few years until I moved to Buffalo.  That was back in ‘89 when the Bills were doing so great.  I went to several games. My friends and I would go out to clubs and see some of the players once in a while… I don’t know if it was during football season.  It seems like they wouldn’t be out if they had a game the following day. No, I’m sure it was during the summer.  Anyway, I never saw Jim Kelly out, but we would go to some of the same places and he also owned a place that we went to from time to time.  We saw Andre Reed once and Thurmon Thomas and Bruce Smith from a distance.  No big deal, but it was exciting at the time. 

I loved watching football back then… it was the highlight of my week.  I very rarely missed a Bills game.  If the game wasn’t sold out, it wouldn’t be on TV, but they were always sold out in those days.  I do remember having to listen to a couple games on the radio, so they either didn’t sell out in time or I was working (noon to 5 on Sundays). 

So, then they finally went to the Super Bowl!  It was Super Bowl XXV, against the Giants.  My two favorite teams.  But I was a big Bills fan by then and it was probably the number one most exciting game I have ever seen…. even though they lost.  The next three years, as most everyone knows, they went back to the Super Bowl and lost three more times…. never to return again (so far).  Ever since then I’ve rooted for the AFC, except for Super Bowl XXXV, when the Giants were in it again.  I don’t hold a grudge against the Giants for beating the Bills back in XXV.  Anybody else, I would, but I kinda turned my back on them just because I moved to Buffalo.  So, I root for them when they aren’t playing the Bills.

But now I’m in kind of a dilemma.  The Bills have been in such a slump for so many years now that although they are still my favorite team and I still want them to win every game, when their season is over I have to find someone else to root for.  Lately that has been the Patriots.  And especially after the season they’ve had this year, I’m so excited for them. So, what do I do now?  I hate to root for the Patriots because I still consider myself a Giants fan, but how can I not root for the Patriots when they could accomplish this amazing thing by winning this Super Bowl tomorrow?  I don’t know… I think I’m going to have to be happy for whoever wins and sad for whoever loses.  Like if my own child was out of the running for a certain award, but two of my nephews were both up for it, who would I want to get it?  I just hope it’s an exciting game… it will never top XXV, though.

Another Super this week is Super Tuesday.  Time to vote!  I’m registered as a republican.  I’m not completely sure I AM a republican, though.  I have to say I have feelings for both sides…. kind of like the Super Bowl this year, huh?  Being a registered republican, I can’t vote for a democrat on Tuesday so at least I won’t have that choice to make until November.  My voting history is very middle-of-the-road.  I have voted for a few democrats… usually incumbents who I thought were doing fine and/or I was afraid to vote for some newbie. 

The reason I registered at all was so that I could vote in primaries for local elections.  I figure my vote doesn’t really make all that much difference in a national election, but locally it does (at least a tiny bit). 

At this point for this national election, I’m still undecided.  I will know more when November rolls around (I hope).  As for this Tuesday, I’m kind of torn.  I kinda wanted to vote for Guiliani at first, but now he’s out.  I like McCain… it’ll probably be him, but I don’t know.  My friend’s been really pushing Ron Paul.  When she first talked about him, I was pretty excited thinking he sounded really great.  I still think so to a point, but I have to do a little bit more comparison between him and McCain.  This friend of mine sent me an email with an article written by a young man who really likes Paul and gave reasons to vote for him over McCain.  It really did not win me over at all.  In fact, I think it might have had a negative effect.  I was all set to say, forget it, as far as Ron Paul was concerned, but then I thought about it.  Do I want to base my vote on one email written by someone I don’t even know? No.  I’m probably not going to get a chance until Monday night or Tuesday morning, but I’m going to do as much last-minute reading as I can before making the ninety second drive to my polling place. 

I have to say: Between the two decisions –which football team do I root for and which republican do I vote for– I’m looking forward to Super Sunday quite a bit more than Super Tuesday. 

Friends?

Just a quick note about one of my biggest pet peeves: chain letters; in particular, email chain letters.

 Why anyone would send these on to their friends is completely beyond my comprehension.  If you’re scared that you will indeed have bad luck if you don’t send them on to a certain number of people, send them to your enemies. 

That’s all I have to say.

Peace.