Monday Musings - November 9, 2009

1. The headlines (newspaper and electronic) this week were really downers. Tragedy everywhere, it seemed. Why can't we behave as adults in our world and help others out? Here is a sample from Friday:

- U.S. unemployment rate hits 10.2 percent in October, the highest rate since April, 1983. Job losses total 190,000.
- 12 die in Army rampage (now 13)
- Waiting to learn who pays Dixon's legal bills. (Baltimore City Mayor)
- Health battle nears fever pitch (we know what happened here!)
- At least eight people have been shot in an Orlando, Florida, high-rise office building, CNN affiliates report.

2. Another football weekend is over--I did pretty bad--again. All of my teams were in the losing column: Maryland, Syracuse, and the Baltimore Ravens. Remind me why I watch football again? Oh yeah--because baseball season is over.

3. God provided a stunning weekend weather-wise. I am glad that I could enjoy it and be outside in the sun. It was great--the sun was so bright that I could not read the Sunday paper while sitting outdoors. So, at Chris' suggestion, I took off my shirt and just sat there enjoying the warm rays. Was it really November?

4. What is the primary rule of computers? Back-up, back-up, back-up.

5. There are about 27 million people around the world living as slaves! If you are interested in learning more--follow the link to the International Justice Mission. I was shocked to learn this. We think we live in a kinder gentler world--but reality is anything but kind and gentle.

6. Sunny Sunday autumn mornings, crisp and clear bring cheer to dreary, weather challenged souls.

7. Looking forward to the week ahead, I have strategically positioned a day off on Thursday to have new windows installed at the house. It does two important things--improves the house while qualifying for a tax credit AND gives me essentially a mid-week weekend since I have Wednesday off to celebrate Veteran's Day.

8. So the first stew of the season is history--yes--it is the time of the year for heavy, hot, stews. Chris made a fabulous one for Sunday, only, fortunately, the weather did not cooperate and it was warm and nice--definitely not stew weather. Can you spell leftovers???

9. We drove Kitty to church Sunday. It was good to have her out on the road for a bit. I've started calling her the "old lady" and Chris rankles at that. Maybe she want me to call her "my old lady?" Probably not.