Good To Know I'm Not Alone

In a number of ways. I've been blogging since November 2002. And I believe this article about cats and the Web is hands down the best I've read -- possibly ever. I LOVED the connection between cats and bloggers. My favorite time to blog is when Tilly is hanging out in/on my desk. Only slightly better is when she wants to curl up on my lap. But she doesn't do that often and there's no forcing her.




I can't fault the reporter too much for not mentioning catster (yes, Tilly's registered) -- there is a dogster too but it's not nearly as cool. And I swear Tilly did not make me say this. It's so true. And Tilly didn't not make me say this.

Congress At Work

Considering that I [just] picked up digital records of Kevin's stent procedure from last year, I find the medical error development particularly galling. The physicians report concerning his procedure contradict what Kevin told me happened. But can I prove it?

Our Congress is more worried about "predatory trial lawyers" than about grieving families who are left with the awfulness of never understanding why the person they loved died in the very place that was supposed to care for them. Funny how that never comes up.

I would like to know how many malpractice suits are truly brought about. From my understanding, proving malpractice is a difficult thing to do. The "avalanche" theory seems blown completely out of proportion. But that might require some real reporting. I know one thing: this isn't about greedy trial lawyers or anything else. It's about the approximately 100,000 people who die needlessly each year. Believe me, if it happens to someone you love, you better hope this new law protects your interests over the insurance and health companies.

So That Explains It

I'm not a cat lady by definition - that is to say, I'm not into just any cat. My cat is exceptional - in every way. She's exceptionally cute -- and exceptionally cranky. Which by the way, is how Kevin once described me. But I digress.

What kind of supreme being could be behind the lack of a sweet gene in felines? At first glance, I though the headline said "females" instead of felines but I realized my error quickly. It just doesn't seem fair that every other mammal experiences sweetness but cats don't. Man, you'd be cranky too.

Generation Gap and Flip Flops

I started a new job this week - so haven't had time to get outraged - though I have been paying particular attention to the news this week.

My favorite story by far is the flip-flop flap. Only in America.

But it's a great example of the fundamental incongruence of human beings. We live in a country that stands for independence and individual freedom of choice. But I guess that stops when it comes to shoeware.

So it's freedom of choice, only if that choice means doing it "my way." Millions of my ways. I think the four woman on that team should be applauded. Given the Kerry flip-flop nonsense of last year, I view their footwear as a political statement. It's got nothing to do with fashion.

Beginnings and Endings

I start a new job tomorrow. But more than that, I start a new life tomorrow. And I've realized it's not by accident that I'm starting almost a year to the day of the one year anniversary of Kevin's first heart attack. I remember it so clearly. I was late getting home on July 21 of last year and I picked up sandwiches before I got there, walking in the door around 7:30 or so. A short while after we ate, Kevin said he didn't feel right. And by 8:30 we were at the Huntington Hospital emergency room.

I play back the days that followed over and over again - his open heart surgery on July 23, that next horrific day as he battled a fever that went as high as 106 degrees (he was unconcious and remembered nothing but it was so awful to see; a staph infection we later learned), his coming home on July 30 -- and his fatal heart attack August 2. Official time of death was 5:57 p.m. - but he died earlier than that - in our bed, watching Married...with Children, with Tilly watching him.

Sometimes I'm just baffled at I can go on without him but I somehow find a way. My new job is tied into finding a new way somehow and I'm going to see where this road takes me. I just wish he were here.

What's Taken So Long

I'm one of those that just accepted as truth that cell phones interfere with flight equipment on airplanes. Thanks to ABC for outlining theThe (Cell) Phony Controversy Over In-Flight Calls for us. It's about time.

Whole New Meaning To "Cat Lady"

My parents don't live to far away from the Mt. Vernon Cat Lady. She said she "got overwhelmed." No kidding. What fascinates me about a story like this is that the outside of the home was immaculate - no clue as to the decay and filth inside. Except the smell, of course.

Bird Droppings in Arctic

Somehow it's not surprising that Arctic pollution linked to bird droppings is breaking news. But it reminds me of a time on the boardwalk in Atlantic City. It's wall to wall people and a seagull finds me and "drops" a bomb that lands on my shoulder. I started to get upset and my father was able to put it in perspective. "Don't worry, El," he said. "For the rich, they sing."

Supreme Burger Flippers Wanted

I appreciate this theater as much as the next person but what wisdom is there in appointing someone who's never been a judge to the Supreme Court. Would the Senators who promoted such a thing please raise your hands because it's quite possibly the most absurd thing I've ever heard.

Now don't get me wrong - a non circuit court judge I get. But "non-judges?" What job in the world do you get with no experience, outside of fast food restaurants and...well, president of the United States? I can't think of any others.

Won't Defend? Then Attack!

Great article in today's WP. My hope is that Rove ends up in jail. My co-workers seem to think that's my hope for many people but that's not really true. I reserve that amount of outrage for a chosen few.

I'm embarrassed to admit it but I get goosebumps when I hear "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald." Just thought I'd share.

Wish I Were There

My godmother's burial is today at Arlington National Cemetery. She's number 16 on the list. She was quite a character. I hadn't seen her in years but I will always remember her laugh and her hugs.

Who Knew?

Crazy me - I could never get service throught he Midtown tunnel anyway. But I have to ask - if the NYPD didn't request that cell phone service [be] disabled in New York tunnels, who the hell did?

Waking a Sleeping Giant

Not quite sure yet who the sleeping giant is in this case but I do know one thing: we've all got a lot of waking up to do. In this article from ConsortiumNews, the question remains why would a political operative like Rove know anything about Plame's identity in the first place. Someone has to be held accountable for the layer upon layer of deceit by the Bush regime at some point, right?

Worse than Watergate?

I've been saying the jailing fo Judy Miller is the beginning of the end of a free press in this country. People who know me just nod and when they think I'm not looking, they roll their eyes. Well, Frank Rich's column today doesn't confirm what I've been saying but it comes close.

New Look

I've had trouble with my template for the past few days. It happened while I was in Nantucket and I tried to work it out through Blogger Help but to no avail. So I decided to start fresh - I'm going to be using Blogger's commnet functionality rather than enetation - so all previous comments have been deleted. Sorry about that.

Also, I'm psyched that Blogger has introduced an image upload function. Very cool. More pictures to come.

What's It All About, Alfie?

Re: the London bombings - why hasn't anyone brought up the issue of the 2012 Olympics decision? I've mentioned here several times that I don't believe in coincidence - or more accurately, true coincidence is extremely rare.

The media keeps referring to the G8 Summit - which takes place in Scotland. I'm not sure how terrorists think but if terrorists were making a statement about that, wouldn't Edinburgh a more likely target?

Blogger Now Allows Image Uploads

Gotta try this picture thing. Meet Tilly.
(Jay - this one's for you. Hope all is well)

Send Novak to Jail, Part II

I don't get it. How does a reporter who never wrote a story go to jail and the two assholes who did are home tonight? How does that work exactly?

Send Novak to Jail , Part I

Thankfully someone sees this clearly. Obviously the CIA leak probe reeks of politics. I don't understand how the original source - Robert Novak - isn't part of this witchhunt. If the public stands still while these reporters go to jail - one of whom never even published a story - I say the revolution begins at that moment. Who's with me?