Good Morning, Bambi

Last week I spent a few days in Michigan, and I got up early to listen to Steve's show.  As the sun rose, I watched the lake, and saw this young one checking out the dune grass.  No mom was in sight.  I just thought I'd share, since I had a camera and modest enough pajamas to become a photojournalist.  I was in an agitated state, and this moment of peace guided me to a world bigger than my own.   I hope it at least gives you a smile.

Red White and Blue- it is a great country

I have my politics, and I am quite passionate about them- but they are MINE, and I do not wish to assault or bore you with them. But on a beautiful, Midwestern, autumn day, 100,000 people crowded together to take part in the process. It was quite a sight, one for all Americans to savor. During this season of ramped up anger and partisan energy, we should stop to just give thanks that this great nation allows us to take part in the process without fear of reprisal. The drafters of the Constitution could never have seen the future, but they provided us with the framework to protect and enjoy our democracy. Franklin Roosevelt later articulated Four Freedoms- blessings that we too often take for granted.  Participation in the electoral process is a right in this country, and yet still a privilege. We must treat it with gratitude and respect.

On November 5, we will be the same people, living in the same country. Those we differed from at the polls will still be our friends and family. To that end, I will hope that the words become less inflammatory and polarizing- in the campaign rhetoric, in the media and in the conversations taking place among ordinary people. That way, the gap we will cross after we vote will be smaller. Perhaps it is too much to expect, but the average American has begged for it. We are tired of fighting for the right or the left. Let's bring back the points of light, or the kinder gentler America. It might just be contagious.

In the meantime, whomever your candidate is- demand truth and respect. When they make a claim, check its veracity. Try factcheck.org,  politifact.com- or for the rancid e-mail nonsense- snopes.com.  The truth is out there.  These candidates  represent YOU.

 William Shakespeare said "to thine own self be true" and this still resonates. On November 5, both of these men will have to take stock of the things they sacrificed to get to the White House. By extension, we will too.

Long may she reign

This story made my day.   Everyone involved should be very proud.

One less regret

The weekend was a glorious and glowing gift, despite the double losses for the Hawks and a heartbreaker for the Bears. I managed to spirit Steve to New Buffalo for two days of escape, and of course, the dogs were the second (and third) party beneficiaries.

In my last musing here, I lamented the fact that I was not as generous with Lake Michigan as I might be with the dogs. Ta Da! I already fixed it!

This weekend, I had a chance to let the girls frolic; Mabel does the heavy lifting of swimming and fetching, and Milly greets her with ear bites and tries to steal the tennis ball. They both rejoice in the sand and water. Milly carries far more sand in her fur, and we paid for our generosity when we slept in a sand bar created by our pups.

Soon the leaves will free fall, and the skies will hold clouds and snow. But I have good recall, and this weekend is etched in my spirit. I share these little glimpses into Lake Michigan so that you can share in the bounty. Or maybe to inspire you to get into a car and find a place where trees dance and dazzle before they wither. If you cannot make time- borrow my view and enjoy the beach. You won't have to smell wet dogs or sleep in their sand. My Harvest gift to you!

Summer fades

In point of fact, summer ended a few weeks ago. My birthday is perched upon the autumnal equinox, and so I have an annual opportunity to bid farewell to the summer season. I do not wish to. I have dipped into a glum phase, and that is not part of my preferred persona. I am fighting it, but who doesn't unfold to possibilities in the summer months? Who does not feel the constriction of joy as days shorten and the nights chill?

The completion of the White Sox season has put the lid on the pot- the pot that formerly held fresh sweet corn. Now we move on to the hearty fare of winter: the football buffets of mini franks in barbeque sauce, chili, pot roast. My garden, with its pink geraniums, has faded, and mocks me with its inherent clash with any mum. I have a bumper crop of gardening failures: I added bleach to my little fountain in such copious quantities that I killed my "Janet and Pat" garden. I only had two moonflowers. (Big failure) My border garden of ageratum and dusty miller looks ridiculous and spikey. I cannot bring myself to show you! My morning glories took the entire summer to develop; they are a purple-blue delight. On the exciting side, some hydrangea I transplanted last year flowered for the first time in a decade. Ironically, this choked and eclipsed my coneflowers, which had cheerily bloomed for me without any effort for years. My back yard is undisciplined and out of control, kind of like Summer Janet. Next year I will do better. Maybe I will even sit in my "Janet's folly" gazebo, once again relegated to use as a storage shack for patio cushions. Probably not.

I am not ungrateful for the 3 months of release. I am mad that I did not make more of this gift. I should have frolicked in the pool, plopped in a chair with a book, invited friends over to do nothing but eat and drink. I should never have postponed a chance to sneak over to Lake Michigan and watch the dogs roll in the sand. I should have let Mabel swim in the pool more. I should have walked the dogs until we were all thin. I should have eaten more peanut hot fudge sundaes to regain the weight I lost walking dogs. Summer evaporates when I'm not looking!

There was bliss for me during the summer. We visited California before Pat and Rachel relocated home. We saw fireworks and baseball games at the Cell. We celebrated Dad's birthday in Detroit, and crossed the Atlantic for my first European adventure, Steve Dahl style. I had my California newlyweds back in the Midwest, biding time in the basement until they found a home. We had epic pizza at Stop 50 in Indiana, and steak on the grill at home. We drove the back roads to New Buffalo. I read 8 of the 100 books awaiting my attention. If intentions equaled action, I would have a bigger list. The blessing is that there are so many joys to carryover to next summer, God willing.

This week, I found myself counting the months until the Sox open the 2009 season, because although spring has barely sprung at that moment, baseball launches my summer persona. That is when I make my summer "to do" list. 6 months. I can make it.

In the meantime, I formalize my basic intentions for next year here, so I can refer back to them.
I intend to:
Stay in the Midwest- Chicago gets only 5 months to be outside. Travel September 15-April 15 only.
Lose weight so summer clothes do not mock me
Tame the gardens
Screen the dog run with fencing
Go to Millennium Park for a concert
Swim in Lake Michigan
Eat a peck of fresh fruit
Learn to entertain with less fuss, more grace
Ditch Chicago for New Buffalo more often

Now, on to Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. My witch collection is on display already. I will postpone the candy purchase until I can count on not devouring it pre-holiday. I will post pictures of my wretched excess of decorations in a few days. With Steve home by noon, it is harder to embellish surreptitiously. He is not really on board the Halloween Express, though I believe he would perk up if I would dress up as a slutty nurse or some such thing. Not a chance. I bought a skeleton apron, which certainly is a costume as I never cook.

I DO love my holidays.
I hate winter.

Once the festive season has passed, I will try to wriggle my way out of town.
Dad is in Florida.
Sun is in Florida.
I will be there, ramping up for opening day.
6 months.
It is just around the corner!