Saturday Six - Episode 250
Tag: Saturday Six — Patrick @ 9:33 am

1. If you could recycle only one of the following, would you be most likely to choose paper, aluminum cans or plastic containers?

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Aluminum cans. We use more of those.

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2. Check out your bathroom: what color are the metal fixtures: silver, gold, bronze, or pewter? (If you know the actual material rather than just the color, name it too.)

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Plain old silver chrome.

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3. When cooking, do you prefer non-stick surfaces or traditional surfaces? Do you have more copper-bottomed pots or stainless steel?

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I have waterless cookware. They're made of some kind of alloy that I'm not familar with.

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4. Take the quiz: What’s Metal Are You?
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What Metal Are You?
What Metal Are You?-->
You Are Copper
You are provocative and challenging. You help people realize who they really are.You live a very balanced life. You always take time for love and art.You are both a powerful and generous person. You always have time to give back. People find you to be incredibly ethical and loyal.

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5. Consider the jewelry you wear most often: is it gold, silver, platinum or something else?

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I wear mostly silver. I have the frames of my glasses are silver. Gold looks pretty bad next to them.

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6. Have you ever had a piece of jewelry turn your skin a different color? Did anyone else notice before you did?

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I've had rings that turned my finger green.

National Service Day

I have a friend, Nancy, who found an ugly, empty stretch of dirt in back of the train station down the street from her home. This is the entrance to our town from the north and was rather bleek. She wasn't happy because she wanted people coming into our town from Chicago to know just what a beautiful place we live in. Nancy committed herself to a long term service project. She would make those few feet into something pleasing to look at. Each year she purchases plants, and lovingly works the soil, digs the holes and buries the roots. When she's done, she waters each and every plant. During the spring and summer months, she returns to the plot and weeds. During those hot summer months in the Chicagoland area, when the summer rains dries up and we are looking more and more to our garden hoses to keep our lawns and gardens green and vibrant, Nancy totes water in the trunk of her car to the train station so she can water her 'babies.'
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It seems like such a little act. I mean who cares about a tiny plot of ground and whether someone planted it or not? Well apparently her neighbors do. Last year Nancy's husband took ill and she sprained a knee. She had neither the time nor the ability to shop for the plants and then plant and tend to them. Her neighbors, knowing of her situation, took over for her. One neighbor bought, one planted, and one neighbor left behind gallon jugs of water for anyone who passed could sprinkle water on a dry day. Last year that little garden sprouted with big, beautiful flowers. I think more so because of the love that began with Nancy and was passed onto her neighbors.
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My neighbor, Carl, comes from a large family. I don't know how many siblings there are, only that each and every brother and a few of the sisters are involved in every level of Boy Scouts. This is unusual because Carl has daughters, and his sister, Teresa, doesn't have any children at all. Teresa and Carl work together to plan activities that involve all neighborhood troops and packs. That means hundreds of children and a large number of adults as well.
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I have another friend who runs a newspaper. My paper, actually. We report the meetings in this town as accurately and as unbiased as possible. We don't miss a thing, whether it is City Council, Park Board or school board meetings. It is our duty to provide our readers with enough information so that they can make good, well informed decisions about their City.
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My friend, my boss, is hard working, driven, and under paid. She is involved in all corners of the community. Each summer my paper sponsors two events that everyone looks forward to. First is a garden walk where some of the most beautiful, large gardens can be seen. The second is a competition. Residents nominate their neighbors when they think that those people take the time to plant and paint and create living conditions that make each block look better than ever before. There are places in my town where the neighbors compete against each other for the honor. Once indivisual homes are chosen, three in each ward, then one block from the City at large is chosen as best block. And each year there is one home awarded as the most improved.
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Before she became involved, our community seemed happy, and complacent. It seemed that all manner of dirty tricks took place and that politics was a matter of who could line their pockets with what. Today our residents are active in civic matters and that all levels of government now tiptoe softly. We are no longer complacent.
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There is a Habitat for Humanities group in the town next to us. We all know what they do. They build homes for deserving people who are willing to work for those homes.
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Today, of course, is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. King was a great man with a great idea, one that looks to have finally produced fruit from the seeds he planted 40 years ago. Tomorrow an African American will be sworn in as President.
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Frankly I'm tired of hearing about it. What King did was incredible. He knowingly put his life on the line and lost it for what he believed in. That took more courage than most of us will ever know. He did the right thing. What I'm tired of, and what I'd like to see, is that we Americans take the next step. Tomorrow we are not just inaugerating an African American into the highest office in the land, we are inaugerating an American. I want to leave it as that.
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Now as for my preamble, I wrote this because today was also a National Service Day. In honor of MLK, each citizen was suppose to commit to community service. My only comment is that this is not enough. Community service should never be one day a year or one season a year. If one lady can plant a garden and one man run a Boy Scout troop, then our community is much better off because of it. Add to that the coaches and umpires in children's sports, those who donate their time to build a home or shovel a walk for their neighbor. Think about the people who run shelters or food pantries. Or those who read to children at the libraries, teach Sunday school, or even those who play their music for others to hear. So little can mean so much. Sometimes these little contributions are enough to change lives for the better.
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It's not even just the community who is affected. I've bragged about my little part in helping out, basically because I'm proud of what I do. I started first, because when I was helped I was too ashamed to admit I needed that help. I figured if I donate my time I could show all those who helped me that I didn't need their help. What came out of my participation is not what I expected. I learned instead that I am strong, I am wise, and I am capable of much more than I ever imagined. I turned my self loathing into self respect. That amazed the hell out of me. I hope by involving my children they learned the same lesson. I have more respect for them as individuals than I ever imagined I would when I first had children.
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I think that if everyone contributed just a little, we could change the world for the better.

Saturday Six - Episode 249
Tag: Saturday Six — Patrick @ 9:26 am

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1. What commonly-used word in speech annoys you the most? When did you hear it last used?

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After taking Speech in high School, I can't stand to hear people say, 'You know.' I haven't heard it in a while. I also hate catch phrases. It's like people forget how to express themselves without using the new, coolest label.

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2. Which commonly-used word annoys you the most when you hear it mispronounced? What’s the most common mispronunciation you hear for this word?

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This sounds strange, but it's the word wash and the word Washington. My husband is from Pennsylvania and I'm from Illinois where we live. His regional dialect throws an 'r' after the 'a' in either word. I once asked Bill's niece to spell the first word. She said, "W.A.R.S.H."

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3. Which word(s) do you wish people would use more often?

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I don't find it irritating when someone uses a broader vocabulary.
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4. Take the quiz: What’s Your Word?

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What's Your Word?-->
Your Word is "Think"
You see life as an amazing mix of possibilities, ideas, and fascinations.And sometimes you feel like you don't have enough time to take it all in.You love learning. Whether you're in school or not, you're probably immersed in several subjects right now.When you're not learning, you're busy reflecting. You think a lot about the people you know and the things you've experienced.
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5. Which internet expression or abbreviation do you use most often?

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I don't.

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6. Which internet expression or abbreviation would you most like to see disappear forever?

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Rotflmao. I don't roll.

Children Born out of Wedlock

You know I try to set some issues aside, because it just seems like I'm preaching into the wind when I comment about them. This particular issue isn't going away or getting better. I'm frustrated and I need to get it off my chest.
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I have a baby shower to go to soon. And I will go, and I will bring a gift. And I will be generous. I feel as if I have to. Someone I care about is having a baby out of wedlock.
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If anyone needs generosity, it is an single mother, and I will not turn my back on the needs of a baby. What frustrates me is simply that the largest growing and poorest element of society is made up of single mothers. Single fathers, on the other hand, aren't always held to their responsibilities to their children. There have always been problems with deadbeat fathers prior to this epidemic. And I shouldn't just point at men and say 'it's their fault.' I know enough women who have left their children behind.
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I've never been a proponent of teaching only abstinance because it doesn't work. If it did we wouldn't have the number of expectant children that we now have. Boys experience more sexual needs in their teens than later in life. It drives them. It consumes them. They will say anything to get it. Girls, on the other hand, don't want to hurt anyone feelings, particularly if the guy tells her he loves her. Never mind he told at least six other girls the same thing. And I doubt I've ever met a teenager who isn't involunarable. How many times have you heard a boy say, 'But I only did it once." Or "If she did it with me, she's done with everyone else in town. What a whore!" And then there's the girl who finally realizes that some guys say 'I love you,' more often than they burp.
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Father/daughter dances and pledges don't cut it. I've seen statistics showing how just as many girls who participated in those programs get pregnant as those who aren't exposed to programs like this. 'Just say no,' isn't enough this time.
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It's time to get back to educating kids about how the body works and what happens when you give into your urges. Teenagers, boys and girls, need to know about pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. They need to know that every other teenager who gets sick or pregnant thought it would never happen to them either. They also need to know that AID's is a long term death sentance. They need to know about condoms that break, and birth control that isn't 100% effective, or even what happens when you forget to take the pill. They also need to know that abortion isn't as easy as it seems. Just like with every other procedure there can be complications. There are emotional issues, and often girls who have abortions get pregnant again before the first year is out.
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Let me say this about abortion. I don't like it, but there is a place for it. It should never be used as a method of birth control though.
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Girls should listen to other girls who are raising children on their own. And boys should listen to the same girls about how hard it is to raise a child without the father around. Parents need to take a lesson, too. Teenagers have sh... for brains. To say 'my kid wouldn't do that,' doesn't make the problems got away. No matter how many times a parent says 'she's a whore and that isn't my son's child,' doesn't make it so.
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I have a friend who tells me, "A marriage liscense is only a piece of paper." Sure it is. But that piece of paper is a legal and emotional tool. When Mom and Dad are married to each other, they might try harder to keep their marriage alive. Positive role models, male and female, are important to children. How parents interact with each other, show their love, share a friendship, communicate, and even how they show their anger teach children about life.
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That little piece of paper also reinforces financial support. Here in Illinois, DNA testing is required when a child becomes eligible for State funding unless the parents were married to each other at one time. Then that little piece of paper makes both parents responsible for the upbringing and upkeep of their children.
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I pray my children don't make this mistake. If they do, it won't because we never discussed this issue in our home. I certainly won't be happy if their lives and their children's lives become harder because of a child born out of wedlock. I will be there for them, and I will do my best to make my children live up to their responsiblities as parents. Knowing I have grandchildren somewhere, means I will be part of their lives.

Jan 10 2009



Saturday Six - Episode 248
Tag: Saturday Six — Patrick @ 3:15 am

1. Which of the following methods of travel do you most prefer: plane, train or automobile?

As long as someone else is driving, I'm happy.

2. What is the furthest distance you have travelled by each method listed above?

By plane, to Orlando. By train, Detroit, Michigan. By auto, been through Ontario and New York in the East, Colorado in the West, and again to Orland in the South.

3. When flying, do you prefer to fly during the daytime or during the night?

Daytime, I think. I don't know if I've ever seen anything more beautiful than looking down on the earth through big fluffy clouds, especially when the sun is setting behind us.

4. Take the quiz: What’s Your Travel Personality?

Your Travel Personality Is: The Adventurer
For you, travel is how you learn about the world. And you like to learn the stuff that's not in guidebooks.You truly have wanderlust. When you're not traveling, you're dreaming about where you'll go next.And your travels are truly legendary - they leave you with stories you'll be telling for the rest of your life!

5. If you had the chance to take a one-year vacation and spend that time traveling anywhere in the country you wanted by motor home, would you do it, and if so, where would you most likely wind up?

In a heartbeat. I haven't been to the Grand Canyon yet, and I've always wanted to drive both coasts. Start north, like Bangor, Maine or Seattle, and finish off in Miami or San Diego.

6. Do you have any superstitions or rituals you rely on before or during a big trip?

Other than packing and cautioning the boys about taking care of the animals? No.

Playing Catch Up - And No I Don't Mean the Bottled Junk

Just wanted to end the year off by catching up with myself. First off, Christmas went well and the New Year's was quiet. I didn't make it Uptown to see the fireworks go off over the Dunkin' Donuts. That was disappointing. It was so cold though, and my ankle is still giving me hell. I fell three weeks ago yesterday. Now that aside, let me get onto important junk.

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The Blagojevich watch is growing more silly everyday. As I said in my first entry on the subject, Jesse Jackson Jr. was mentioned in the indictment. I felt at the time that he didn't act like a guilty man would. He was pleasant and didn't avoid the press. Heck, he even brought hot coffee out to them on a cold morning. I felt sorry for the man. It always follows in Chicago when something happens, the press saturates the neighborhood and surrounds the house of whomever it is they're reporting on. Usually the person who is in the news can't enter or leave his house without confronting them. Not long after the word broke that Blago was being indicted, Jackson's name came up again. Indeed District Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald commented that Jackson was mearly one of the people that Blago spoke to on the subject of Obama's Senate seat. Jackson supporters held a fund raiser for him right about that time. Fitzgerald, though, said he had no evidence that any money was offered by Jackson or his people to 'purchase' that seat. It wasn't exactly explained what the fund raiser was for other than to mention that as a Congressman, Jackson is required to run for election every 2 years. In other words the man is continuously running for office.

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On another front, Blagojevich appointed Roland Burris to that seat after being told by both the Secretary of State and the U.S. Senate that whomever he appointed would not be seated. This has put us in a really weird perdicament. Roland Burris was the first African American to win a Statewide election. To my knowledge, the man has served honorably for over 30 years. Most Illinoisans feel he is a good selection, except that he has been tainted by Blago's appointment. Congressman Bobby Rush spoke on Burris' behalf on the day of the appointment. Rush commented that the choice should not be pushed aside even though the person who appointed him is questionable. He also made it sound that if we in Illinois, did this, we were racists. The thing about Bobby Rush is that he never leaves race out of any issue. He is my Congressman, and I'm not so pleased with him. After having said that, Secretary of State Jesse White replied that he, a Black man, would not sign the documentation declaring Burris Senator, not because he is a racist, but because Blagojevich was part of the process. Every Democrat in the State and in Washington is standing up against the appointment on those grounds. Even President-elect Obama is against seating Burris. The National news is making Roland Burris look like the fool in the middle.

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I should point out that Congressman Rush and Obama are at odds and have been since Obama ran against Rush and lost. Rush has supported Obama's advisary in every race except the Presidential. I would also point out that Bobby Rush was formerly a member of the Black Panthers.

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Republicans are calling for a special election. There are municipal elections scheduled for April, and it would be a matter of adding a name to the ballot. Democrats are against this because of the cost. At this point bills coming up for payment by the State are not being paid. I heard a horrible story today about a pediatrician who handles only children on Medicade, the poorest of the poor. She is being forced to close her office because the State is $200,000 behind in payments to her.

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On a lighter note a group raised money for a charity by using Rod Blagojevich's name. Actually it was a cardboard cut out of Blago. Commuters in Downtown Chicago were invited to pay a dollar for a shoe to throw at the cut out.

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The Illinois General Assembly is currently working on the first impeachment proceedings since the mid 1800's. We've since written and voted into effect a new Constitution.

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Angel season is officially over. I spoke to George over the weekend. She said that we helped 38 families. That is a big step down from the number we usually help. The thing is though, we didn't turn anyone away after all. We serviced everyone who called for help. We had very little left over. Even still we donated to St. Vincent DePaul at St. B., although not at St. W. I have food in the van, too, for the Salvation Army. I wish we could have done better, although I am thrilled to say that we still have been able to help all that have asked us.

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Becki returns to school tomorrow and Ed returns on the 19th. That's good. I feel like I'm accomplishing something here. My goal is to get her into college and to keep him there. So far so good.

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Oh, and the boys went to a comedy club in Schaumberg this past weekend. Christopher Titus was there. They enjoyed the show wholeheartedly. Jon bought a CD and a t-shirt. Titus signed it all, too.