Famous Last Words from a Non-Enigma

Do you remember that Lithus is a firefighting pilot? Well, in case you'd forgotten, he is.

You're cringing now, aren't you?

When I told Lithus I had officially turned down the unconstiutional and fascist job, he said "I'm in L.A. on standby. Why don't you come down here for a little while? We haven't flown in a month so it should be quiet."

You're laughing now, aren't you? Because you know the end of this story already, huh? Yeah...

The first few days were indeed slow. There was lots of sitting around. Lots of racing remote control cars. Lots of staring off into space. I was an incredibly productive author out of sheer boredom. And have a lovely tan thanks to the California sun. But then... Yep, the Santa Ana winds kicked up and the guys got busy. Really, really busy.

I watched these guys go from racing remote control cars to crawling inside the engine of a Sikorsky 61 (that's a really big fucking helicopter to you and me.) Watched them go from napping in the shade of that really big fucking helicopter and smoking a lazy cigarette to flying it into hurricane-force winds with sustained gusts of 105 miles per hour. I listened, afterwards, as these guys got drunk and toasted, not themselves, but each other.

I watched people on the news praise them as heroes. I watched people in the bar stare, transfixed, as they watched the really big fucking helicopter drop water on flames ~ without ever knowing the men who had been flying her when that footage was taken were sitting right there in the corner. And I watched these men turn away from the televisions, embarrassed to be caught in "the money shot" and grateful that, while their really big fucking helicopter might be recognizable, they wouldn't be.

They are humble, modest men who take pride in what they do ~ but don't want to be known for it. They can't tell you about every structure they saved ~ but remember every one they didn't. They know how hard they worked to put the fires out ~ but are just as glad you don't. They are heroic ~ but don't want to be called heroes. They know that what they do is important ~ but it's not what defines them. They have spent their lives being called enigmas ~ but they aren't. Not if your paradigm is big enough to accept ordinary men who do extradorinary things for no reason other than it's their job. Who have bad days, who can be assholes, who get sick, who are sometimes moody, who are a whole hell of a lot more than Hero Pilots 90% of the time. So, maybe they are paradoxes: heroes who don't want to be heroes. But enigmas? Nope. Just really interesting, well-rounded people.



Who look damn sexy in their flightsuits.



Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

I Couldn't Do It

First, all is well out here in Pobble Land. I just ended up without internet (damn the cable company!) for about ten days. Lovely, huh? Anyway...

I couldn't do it. I couldn't take the job. See, I am, as mentioned here previously, a Constitutionalist. And while reading over the employee handbook, came to realize that several of their employee policies were, quite frankly, unconstitutional. We they legal? Yep. They conform to the laws of the land. Were they constitutional? No, I do not believe so. And then there were the fascists ones. Yep ~ fascist employee policies.

Here are the biggies...

1. Employees' work spaces, lockers and purses or bags are subject to search at any time, with or without probable cause. To the point that the handbook said flat out being on a worksite implied consent to such search.

Okay, yeah, I hate this concept. You know what though? It was a casino. I can understand it, as much as I hate it. Kinda like mandatory drug testing. So where's the problem? The problem was in the next sentence of the handbook which informed us that employees need not be present nor given prior notification nor ever notified that their workspaces, lockers and purses were going to be/had been searched. In other words, I could have walked into the locker room on my break and found security personnel going through my locker and purse. Um...no.

2. Employess were to maintain behaviors and attitudes that reflected postively on the company at all times, both while on and off-duty. Now, who gets to decide this? While I am on duty or even on property while off duty, absoultely. On shift, I belong to the company for which I am working. I follow dress codes. I maintain a professional and appropriate manner. But once I'm off the clock? Who gets to decide what's appropriate and what's not? If I get a buzz on one night after work at the local bar, am I in trouble? If Bolger or Dr. B and I go to a gay club and are seen going in or coming out, am I in trouble? If I stop for gas while wearing my PVC and thigh highs, am I in trouble? And what about this blog? Can I write it or not? Whose morality is applied here?

3. Finally, the last one that I just couldn't ignore was the one about getting a second job. If an employee got a second job for a different company ~ even not a casino ~ the employee had to notify their supervisor immediately. The supervisor would decide if the second job "will or might" (notice the quotations marks?) interfere with the original job at the casino. Please note, it's not that the supervisor will decide if the job is indeed interfering. It's if the job "will or might" interfere. We weren't even necessarily given the opportunity to prove we could do both jobs. Someone else got to decide if we were even allowed to try. Yeah. Not so much.

Now, the truth is, none of this would ever have applied to me. Had they ever searched my purse, they wouldn't have found anything. For all my wildness, I don't behave in a way that would reflect badly on anyone or anything short of the most conservative of Christians. And I'm professional enough that any second job I might have gotten would never have interfered with my first job. That's not the point.

And no, I don't believe that these policies were written badly. I believe they were written exactly the way they were meant to be written ~ intentionally vague so that people could say "oh, that's just the worse case scenario; we wouldn't ever really do that." Fine. Then if you wouldn't ever really do it, don't give yourself the ability to do it.

I'm a goob. I know that. Who the hell doesn't take a job because the employee handbook has the potential to be unconstitutional and fascist? Well...me. 'Cause I may be a goob but I'm a goob who knows what I believe in.

So, back to the job hunt. I'll keep you posted (so long as the cable doesn't go out again!)

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Seriously...Not Helpful

As I mentioned in an earlier post, the only thing standing between me and my new job was a pee test. This was not going to be an issue. Seriously. So, I went and peed in a cup. This morning, I receive this message on my phone...

"Hi Pobble, this is Boss from We'll Take Your Money Hotel and Casino. Your drug test has come back and I've got some questions for you. Would you please give me a call?"

Wait? What? What does this mean? What could have happened? Am I on any new meds? Oh shit...I am. I'm taking a new homeopathic for *ahem* women stuff. What are those herbs? What family are they in? Okay. Deep breath. Return the call and find out what's going on...

"Oh, hi, Pobble. Just a second. Let me change phones." Oh shit.

"Well, thanks for calling me back. The questions I have for you are if you still want the position, when you can come in to process paperwork and when you can start, if you still want the job. Your drug test came back perfectly clean."

Well...duh. And yet...Seriously. Not Helpful.

I start work on Monday. :)

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

The Things of Which Nightmares are Made

Today, we were moving shelves into my room. TTG someone noticed before they actually got into my room. Had that Big Honkin' Spider made it in there, I would never have slept again.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Employed Again

As I have often bemoaned here, new authors aren't exactly rolling in cash. Which means, once again, I am entering the "real" working world. When I started my job hunt, I decided that I wanted something I could leave at the office when my shift was over, something relatively brainless and something that would pay the bills. Not a big order, I admit it. It has taken me nearly four months and a relocation to achieve this goal. Who would've guessed????

See, for a while I had an impeccable but. As in "your resume is impeccable but..." Now, however, since my relocation, I have had one interview ~ and been offered one job. So, today I go pee in a cup and next week officially become part of the working masses again. While writing in the evenings, of course. ;) Because I have always had a career. Now I have a job, too.

My birthday was delightful. Once I find the cord to my camera, I'll post some pictures!

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Shameless Plug

Yep, it's my birthday. Show me the love.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee ~ and birthday cake (yellow with chocolate frosting, please.)

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

After years and years ~ and did I say years? ~ of living alone, the babies and I both are and have...


...ROOMMATES!!!!!!!!!!!!! (ominous music swells in the background and the screaming commences)

And life is very, very different. Now, I knew it would be very different when I made this decision yet I guess I was naive. See, while I was expecting very different, I wasn't quite expecting very, very different.

Family Dinners. WTF are those? Dinner is a bowl of cereal or popcorn in front of the computer. If I really feel like cooking, there's always frozen pizza or spaghetti (because cooking units must be activated so this counts as cooking.) Not any longer. Now, there are meals. With utensils. And people sitting around the table. Who talk to each other.

Laundry. Is scheduled. My days are Tuesdays and Saturdays. That whole leaving-clothes-in-the-drier-until-I-need-that-shirt thing I do? Not anymore. Because Wednesdays and Sundays belong to someone else.

Shower Wars. I share a bathroom with someone tall. He shares a bathroom with someone short. The shower head moves daily.

Flirtatious, Sexy Calls with Lithus. A thing of the past. Because it's very difficult to get into or stay in a flirtatious, sexy mood when there is always the possibility the door will be opened, the call "Maaaaaaaaaame! Where aaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrre yoooooooooooou???????" will sound or aforementioned family dinner will be served a little early.

Buying A Special Treat for Oneself. Aw hell no. Once it goes in the kitchen, it's fair game. Give it up and call it a donation to the cause. Consider yourself lucky if it lasts two days in a row.

T.V. I have almost no say in what is on, let alone if it's on. Why else would I know that Wonder Pets makes me cry?

Quiet Time to Write. Not when the door gets opened, the dogs get their tails pulled, the computer is in shared space in the kitchen, you have no say over if the t.v. is on and everyone is awake between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:30 p.m.

Privacy. Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



But you know what else?



My coffee is always made when I get up in the mornings, eventhough I'm the only one in the house who drinks it. There's someone to give me a ride to the garage for the Pobble Mobile's oil change ~ and take me back again when it's done. When I want to hit a coffeeshop, I don't have to call around and hope for someone to be free. Friday nights are game nights. There's someone to come sit out on the porch and chat or just look up at the stars with me. I don't have to run errands alone any longer. I'm not the only caring for and loving Lionel and Daisy. There are hugs and laughter and kisses on the head. Someone always asks me about my day. And every single time, there are people who are happy to see me.

That top list doesn't seem so important, does it?

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Odd Things

* I used to have an over-the-door hooky-thingy that had four hooks for my robes. One hook was always empty. I now have an over-the-door hooky-thingy with three hooks for my robes. There isn't enough room.

* Wonder Pets makes me cry.

* I do the Monday and Tuesday NY Times crossword puzzles. Mondays are pretty good for me. Tuesdays are a little tougher. I bought a big book of them the other day. The puzzles were large print. Because of the size, I found myself slightly surprised when they were just as tough.

* When I take my evening bath, one candle keeps it too dark. Two are too bright.

Go figure.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

At Last, An Heir to my Legacy

I have a two year old niece. Last night, she marched herself over to her mother and me and announced "I am Lady Pink! I am Evil!"



And all is well. hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha



Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

The End of Hiatus

Well, my friends, it has been an interesting time. And what do I mean by "interesting?" Do you happen to know the Chinese saying "May you live in interesting times?" That saying is a curse. Think "interesting" like that and you'll be more on track.

HOWEVER! Being a particularly tenacious Pobble, I am back ~ and things are pretty damn good again. Thanks to everyone who checked in and sent warm fuzzies my way. Don't fool yourself ~ those warm fuzzies are part of why I am back and things are pretty damn good again!

And I've learned a thing or two. Such as...

* drivers in CA, NV and WA go the speed limit, regardless of how good the music or how high their heels. to the point that they actually slow down when the speed limit drops from 65 to 55. who does that????

* reputation be damned, people in CA aren't as nice as New Englanders

* tumbleweeds are real

* the mountains in NV and WA are friendlier than the mountains in CA and CO. and no, I'm not sure exactly what this means either, I only know it's true

* 2 cups of coffee are necessary before dealing with children under the age of 6

* I eat a lot when someone else is doing the cooking

* a stuffed Bear, 2 dogs and a Pobble sleep better on a queen-sized bed than on a trundle-twin

* sometimes wearing size 12 jeans that don't fit feels even better than wearing size 10 jeans that do fit

* my friends love and support me to the point that I am humbled by it

So welcome back to Pobble Thoughts. I've missed you. And I'm around again.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will still get you coffee.

Taking A Break

I'm taking a break from blogging regularly. Not sure when I'll be back ~ although I know I will be. What does get posted is probably going to be sporadic. I'm going to be okay. Everybody take care of yourselves and each other.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Ramblings to Start the Week

* Today must have been the first day after a driving school graduation. There were several young women all driving by themselves, going about 5 miles under the speed limit, swinging WAY OUT THERE to make turns and stopping about ten feet from the line at lights. It would have been sweet ~ except they were all in front of me at various times.

* The song "I Don't Want to Stop" by Ozzy Osbourne makes for great driving music down the Pike.

* Chocolate shared with a girlfriend is always better than chocolate eaten by oneself.

* A blender is a good thing. A blender with a strong ice crush mechanism is a necessity.

* DiGoronio self-rising pizzas are better than any frozen pizza has any right being.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Sunday Poll Question

I've been somewhat introspective this week. Nothing major and certainly not bad. Just turned inward. It has led to some interesting thinkings and the Sunday Poll Question...

Question: What quality is important to how you live your life?

Pobble Answer: Integrity. This comes from my father and grandfather. They were old school and taught me my name and my word means something. While no one can take it away from me, they taught, I can make it worthless. A handshake was as good as a signed contract. Seriously. That has stuck with me. Am I perfect? Hell no. Do I try? Every day, in little ways and big ones. Professionally, I cannot live the me first and screw everybody else attitude. Personally, I cannot assure someone something and then not follow through. I hate when people do not know where they stand with me because I have been less than honest. Even spiritually, I have been asked to mess with people's lives and won't do it. I have been asked if I have cast love spells on people. The answer is no. Behaving that way is living without integrity. I goes against my grain and everything I hold dear. Hell, I don't cheat on my taxes; if a cashier gives me too much change, I give it back; and everything on my resume is both true AND accurate. And when I fail to do something, be it my fault or life's, I own it, apologize and accept the consequences. Without excuses. Again, am I perfect? No where close. I do try though. I try very, very hard because integrity is that important to me. Because my name means something to me and I refuse to make it worthless.

Your answer...

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

The Details

Since my post on the difference between showing concern and lecturing me seemed to cause some trauma for my readers, let me explain a bit.

First, if I vent about it here, it's not directed at my regular readers. Know that. It's not about you. I promise. This is my little corner to vent the things that aren't worth dealing with in real life, for whatever reason, but that I really need to say somewhere. Posting a problem with one of my regular readers here and not addressing in person is too passive-aggressive for my tastes, leaving readers to wonder "OMG, is that about me?" and I have no desire to do that. Nope. It won't be.

Second, here's what happened...a friend of mine ~ not a good friend, not an overly close friend, certainly not one of the ten people "mentioned above" (because I left out Pharmyard so she makes ten), yet a friend, nonetheless and one I thought knew me pretty well ~ was asking about Lionel and Daisy and their health. I informed him that I was preparing myself for Daisy's check-up next week to not go well and for me to have to put her down. That I was sincerely hoping the vet would say "This baby's got several more months in her" however, I was preparing myself for the alternative. So he asked about Lionel. To which I replied that I have made the very difficult decision that, should I have to put Daisy down, I will put him down as well. He has never been without her. He will not understand where she's gone. He is also 14 himself. My faith is strong enough that, for me, this is allowing them to continue to be together, just somewhere else. At which point, he starts talking about the fact that I need to remember I can't put them down just because they are getting older. Okay... I remind him I adopted them as senior dogs and knew what I was getting into. At which point, he asks if Lithus likes dogs. Well, no, Lithus isn't an animal person. And this "friend" says "Well, you shouldn't be letting him influence your decision." Wait. What? At what point did that even enter into the conversation????? Anyone who knows me knows how I feel about these babies! Then he starts talking, on and on, about how I need to be on the lookout for changing myself for Lithus. When did this become a conversation about my relationship with Lithus? My nearest and dearest ~ those people mentioned in the other post ~ like very much who he and I are together and think our relationship is great for me. Who the hell is this guy to be lecturing me about not changing myself? And when I have ever given any indication that I am willing to change myself at a core level ~ like being willing to kill my dogs ~ for anyone?????? It crossed a line and went too far.

I have issues. Don't get me wrong. I can point to the baggage and tell you what's mine and where it comes from. That being said, sense of self is not one of my issues and to be lectured about it and accused of being willing to kill my dogs just to make another person happy... Words cannot discribe how pissed I was. Or how much I wanted to say to him Just Shut The Fuck Up.

Instead, I said it to y'all. And, yes, have re-evaluated this friendship, as well.

Those are Pobble Thoughts and a Pobble Explanation. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

So... What Now?

Here's the news: I have finished the novel!!!!!!!!!! It feels GREAT! I did the Pobble Hop all over the house last night. Danced with the babies and probably kept my neighbors awake. And before you ask, I have no idea what happens next. It has only just this morning gone to the FAE. She will look at it, we will tighten it up and then it goes to my publishing house and editor. At which point...I have no idea because I've never gone through this particular process before. Do rest assured that you are all invited to the release party ~ whenever that is.

Meanwhile, though, the book is done. I've spent a little over a year of my life with these people and now...it's done. And I'm wandering around today a little lost. I'm not quite sure what to do with myself. New emails? Nope, not since I checked this morning. New posts on the blogs I read? Nope, not since I checked this morning. Hmmmmm...

The next book is outlined and ready to go. Yet I would like to take a little time to let Angie and Chris settle before meeting Carter Anne and Trevor. Monday is soon enough to get to know them. So...what now?

Dear God, I might actually have to clean my apartment.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

There's a Difference

I am always touched when someone expresses a concern about me. Means ~ in my mind anyway ~ I'm loved. And that doesn't suck. Whoever you are, you have a concern about me, express it. It's all good.

Don't lecture me. You know who's allowed to lecture me? The Lovely Cats, the Divine M, the Muppet, Nemeria and Appsrus. They've earned it.

You know who's allowed to give me a brick to the head when I need it (and I often do)? Along with the people listed above, Graziella, Coffee Girl, the FAE and Lithus. They've earned it.

There is however a difference between expressing your concern for me and lecturing me. So, to the person whose name is not listed above ...

(say it with me, people...)

Just Shut the Fuck Up.

And thank you.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Ah...The Bill of Rights

Those aren't Pobble Thoughts but really great. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

It's the Little Things

* clean, freshly mopped floors
* an unexpected twenty bucks
* a friend to run errands with
* support from an unexpected source
* a funny little critter posted on a favorite blog
* the words "thank you"

Yeah, it's all good.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Sunday Poll Question

Most people have A Cause. Some issue that is close to their heart. Causes can be anything from charities to animals to political activism to groups. Sometimes we know why it is the Cause. Sometimes we don't. Some people devote their lives to it. Some people don't. And yet most people have A Cause. Now, since you can probably tell what's coming next, don't worry if you don't feel as if you're an activist. Very few of us are. Think about it this way, if you had $1000 you had to give to one cause, what would it be? That's your Cause. So...



Question: What's your Cause? Why?



Pobble Answer: I have many, many issues I care about. That $1000 I mentioned ... only giving it to one thing would be very difficult. My Cause, however, is domestic violence. For most of my adult life, I was a domestic violence counselor. While I enjoy public speaking in general, the speak I am most passionate about is domestic violence education. As a young woman, I watched two of the most important people in my life go through domestic violence relationships. To this day, as strong as they are now, they both carry the scars (emotional ones) and even occasionally the behaviors left over from those relationships. My own boundaries are particularly strict around this issue. I once refused to move in with a man because, within days of the lease being signed, he got angry enough that he swept everything off the bed in his anger. All that was on the bed was a box of tissues, a shirt and my bear. It didn't matter to me. Now, I'm not saying my boundaries are too strict or just strict enough or anything like that. They simply are what they are, no more, no less. They are as strict as they are, however, based on watching these women go through what they went through when I was younger. Domestic violence is one of those complicated and convoluted situations. It is layered and nuanced and ugly. It is also my Cause. I speak out for individual freedoms and animal rights and the Constitution because I am passionate about those things. I speak out against domestic violence because I have to.



Your answer...



Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Linking

May I request your attention over to my links.... You will see Trudy Booty Scooty of the Inedible Journey is back. She's posting again and it makes me happy. Check her out.

Which was going to be the extent of this post and then I realized it was also a great chance to ask something else (it is Sunday Poll Question Day afterall ~ eventhough the Sunday Poll question is up there, above this.) If you have me linked to your blog and aren't over there in my links, let me know. Leave a comment. Drop me an email. Something. Because I probably want to read you as well ~ only I don't know you're out there! Even if you have commented or emailed me in the past. Let me hear from you. (And if you happen to be one of the two people who wrote asking permission to link to me ages and ages and ages ~ possibly as much as a year ago ~ if you haven't stopped reading because I was too much of a bitch to respond to you, I'm really sorry. You wrote right before a deadline. Please, let me know who you are and for goodness sake, feel free to link me!)

Thanks much!

Those are Pobble Thoughts ~ and Trudy's Too! That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Drama?

Here's the thing ~ I really have no use for drama. Especially not melodrama. As I was telling a friend last week, I got over that need about 10 years ago. Life is dramatic enough without us adding to it. Mind you, I can tell a story dramatically. I can have you laughing or crying or on the edge of your seat. Give me a simple exchange and I can tell it like it was the shootout at the O.K. Corral or the end of Casablanca. But I don't need drama in my life. That being said...

Last night, I'm on the phone with another friend of mine and the conversation went something like this:

Friend: So I gave him my email, he kinda smiled and walked away.
Me: So what happened?
Friend: Ummm...I gave him my email, he kinda smiled and walked away...


AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No, no, no!!!!!!!! I've been following your flirtation with this guy all summer. I've been encouraging you, cajoling and cheerleading you to give this guy your email. What did you say? What did he say? Was there The Look? Did he give you his email in return? Did you get the feeling you might hear from him? Give me something, here.

My friend and I are both known for not being terribly girly. We don't fit the typical girly-girl type. We communicate more like guys. We think more like guys. We deal with emotions more like guys. But come on already! Because I really get not wanting the drama. But maybe a few dramatics wouldn't hurt, just this once.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

It Wasn't Him

Thank you to everyone who has been in touch regarding the pilot who was killed fighting the California fires earlier this week. Your concern for Lithus and for me is very appreciated and will be passed on to him.

He is fine. Thank the Goddess.

But someone else wasn't. And someone else ~ a partner, a parent, a friend ~ did not receive their hey, I'm back at the hotel and exhausted phone call that they were waiting for. Instead, they got a very different phone call.

But it wasn't me. And it wasn't Lithus. And it wasn't any of his friends.

Thank you for you concerns.

Those are grateful Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Addendum: I have just gotten off the phone with Lithus this evening. Apparently, another helicopter went down today. We don't know the status of the pilot yet. Still, this one wasn't Lithus, either. TTG.

The Babies - NOT an Obituary!

The Babies are Lionel and Daisy. A few years ago, my therapist and I decided I was doing really well, had worked through A LOT of issues (VERY hard work yet oh so worth it!) and was at a place where I could terminate with her. Under one condition: I get a dog. Because she was concerned about my ability to love something new, my ability to accept and to return unconditional love. Now, my ability to love those whom I already loved wasn't damaged at all. My ability to love someone new ~ tenuous at best. So, if I would get a dog, we could terminate. If I wouldn't, I had to keep dragging my butt into her office every week in order to keep an eye on this whole love-thing. After much thought and research, I decided a dachshund would be great. Being a rescue-type-o'gal, I started looking at dachshund rescue organizations. I even knew what I wanted: a dachschie between the ages of 6 and 8, already housebroken, located somewhere here in New England. Oh my goodness, were there some cute dogs out there and available. So cute.







I didn't send a single email of inquiry.




Then, one day, while scrolling through a national database looking for a single New England dachshund, I saw this picture. I remember saying out loud "there you are." They were 12 and 13. They were not housebroken. They were living in Virginia. They could only be adopted together. So much for youngish, housebroken, in New England and one. These were my babies.

So I finally sent a letter of inquiry. A lovely woman wrote me back, telling me that she could not hold dogs and that there were several other families interested in Lionel and Daisy but that she really liked my email the best so she hoped it would work out that we ended up together. At which point, their behaviour changed. When she took them on home visits, they started snapping. Or being shy. Or peeing Everywhere. Or something. After over a year of being perfectly behaved babies. The point is, none of the other families ended up wanting them. The lovely woman wrote and said "Pobble, I think they're waiting for you."

We met in NY state and they were mine from the minute she took them out of their travel crate. And I was theirs. Even she said she had never seen them react to anyone the way they reacted to me ~ even when they were being good before their adoption behaviour changed.

I've known from the beginning we were on borrowed time. Sure enough, my Daisy is getting sick. She is often confused, can't climb stairs and has slowed waaaaay down. There is a lot of whimpering and sleeping. Lionel is protective of her ~ but he is getting crotchety himself in his old age. Both their livers are failing and her kidneys are going. They have their bi-annual check up early next month. I'm expecting to have to make the hard decision. I know what it will be. I will hate it. Because they did what they were supposed to do. They reminded me how to keep loving. So, here they are, in all their glory. An excellent reminder to keep loving...






























Those are Pobble Thoughts ~ and Pobble Babies. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Sunday Poll Question

Today is the Divine M's birthday. We've been together a long time. In honor of her, the Sunday Poll Question...

Question: Who is your best friend and how did you meet? (Seriously, I'd like to know!)

Pobble Answer: The Divine M. Now, I know you're thinking of the Lovely Cats or the Muppet. The Lovely Cats is my sister ~ and if you have siblings, you know the relationship between siblings and best friends is different. No, we're not related by blood ~ and she's more my sister than BioSis is so... And the Muppet? Well, he's the Muppet. There is no explanation for us. But my best friend? That's the Divine M. We met in college as transfer students. At the university we attended, they held transfer orientation alongside freshman orientation. Later in life, 5 years doesn't make that big a deal. Between 17 and 22 it's HUGE. Especially when the 22 year olds have been out on their own, doing their own thing since they were 17 or 18. We were even forced to sit alphabetically. At one point, the woman doing the orientation called us men and women ~ and then asked how many of us were shocked to be called that instead of boys and girls. The woman sitting next to me made a low noise in her throat, very much like a moan about the same time I rolled my eyes. Our eyes met and we each groaned a little louder. Then the woman running orientation asked a very beautiful blonde to pass out papers. This little boy was Really pretty. I made an appreciative noise and the woman next to me said something like "Yeah, that's not hard to look at." When I agreed, she said "I'm the Divine M." "I'm the Boston Pobble." "Think there's a bar around here?" "It's Boston. There has to be." And we've been together ever since. Sometimes, we've gone months without being in touch. We've gone years without seeing each other. It doesn't matter. She's still my best friend. Happy Birthday, Divine M. LYMY.

Your answer...

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Word of the Day

The word of the day is Evacuate.

e·vac·u·ate [i-vak-yoo-eyt] to remove (persons or things) from a place, as a dangerous place or disaster area, for reasons of safety or protection; to leave a place because of threat

Can you say evacuate? I knew you could!

So when someone tells you to evacuate, you will do it, right? I knew you would.

Lithus is okay. And so is the rancher who wouldn't evacuate. And so are his horses. But the rancher and the horses are okay because Lithus spent two hours risking not being okay himself in order to ensure that the rancher and his horses were okay. (When the rancher wouldn't even cut the horses free, Lithus buzzed them until they broke the fence and ran ~ only minutes before the flames engulfed the field where they were penned. By the rancher who wouldn't evacuate. Because "I couldn't be up there and watch them burn to death, Pobble, and it was coming for them." And yes, they all outran the fire, ttg and Lithus.)

So why do we evacuate? Because it's not just about you or your sorry ass or your belongings. It's about the people who are willing to put their lives on the line trying to protect you, your sorry ass and your belongings, too.

So, the word of the day: evacuate.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

The Most Terrifying Headline EVER

Bush to cede power to VP during colonoscopy


'Nuff said. Truly.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Graziella

She's home again. And Lionel's not the only one who's happy about it.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Things I Love ~ A Reposting

Though Lovers Be Lost issued a fun challenge a couple days ago. List things you love. Pretty simple. One of my first ever posts, before I had readers that weren't the Lovely Cats, Nemeria, FAE and the Divine M, was a post about just that ~ things I love. Since my readership has increased since then (have you seen the counter by country? Yes, I'm still obsessed. And digressing...) I am going to repost that one. Disclaimer, I believe I have reposted this before. If you have seen this already, here's another chance. Because it's a happy little post and we could all use those some times. Even if they are in reruns. TLBL, this one's for you...

"A Variation in Hot Pink on Ten Things" Originally posted on July 29, 2005




These are 10 things I love. Here's what's neat. I had a hard time limiting it to ten things. You may see this theme again. :) Here's the disclaimer: These are not things like my family, chocolate cake, or a brisk autumn day. These are the obscure, unusual little things that make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

1. Bears. Seriously. Black bears, brown bears, koala bears (I know...), panda bears (I said, I Know...), polar bears, teddy bears, Pooh bears, bear cubs, the Three Bears. They make me smile. (for the record, I'm also partial to puffins, owls, and duck-billed platypus..es? platipi? Whatever, I like them.)

2. My bed. Lord, I love my bed. Snuggle down, pull the sheets up and...ahhhhhhh. For being sick, for being well, for reading a book or doing a crossword, for ignoring the world, for feeling cozy, napping or getting a good night's rest ~ there is no place better than my bed. Golly, I do love my bed.

3. Kids' stuff. Eloise, Barbapapas, Muppets, Dr. Seuss. Proof that genius is not only for adults.

4. Getting mail. Not bills and fliers but real letters from real people actually sent to me. Nothing's better than finding a letter in my mailbox, curling up with a cup of tea and catching up with a friend.

5. Modern inventions. Okay, that is a polite way of saying "indoor plumbing" and "tampons." 'Nuff said, don't you think?

6. Lists. Have you noticed? I like lists. Top ten lists, Best-Of lists, To-Do lists, grocery lists. Hell, I like this list of lists.

7. Funky toenail polish. I stay (relatively) conservative on my fingernails. But if you can't wear electric blue or blaze orange on your toes, really, where can you wear them?

8. Halloween. All the holidays are great. From the end of October through mid-February, I'm practically giddy. And then there is Halloween. It is (almost) the most under-rated holiday. We get to dress up in funky costumes, we get to be scared, we get to do things like drink hot cider and go on hayrides. How can you not love it? (And in case you are interested, the most under-rated holidays are both on Feb. 15th: I Want Butterscotch Day and National Sea Monkey Day)

9. Cherry soda. Not cherry cola, although that's good, too. But good, old-fashioned cherry soda. Canada Dry used to make a great one but now Acme is the best around (if you're lucky enough to have family in southern NJ who stock it for you!).

10. Purple. Yep; I like purple. Blue is my favorite color. It's peaceful and calming. Hot pink is great. It's alive and happy. And still...there's something about purple. All shades of purple, from aubergine to lavender. Purple is the National Sea Monkey Day of my color preferences.

Those are 10 things that make me feel all warm and fuzzy. They may not be your warm fuzzies but I hope they made you think of whatever ARE your warm fuzzies. We could all use more warm fuzzies in the world.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you (warm but hopefully not fuzzy) coffee.

And nearly two years later, those are still things that make me wicked happy. And they are still Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Questions and Not Answers

There is a tenet in the law that states "Don't ask a question you don't already know the answer to." In other words, don't get caught by surprise when you're questioning someone on the stand. It's a good rule. It's harder in life. I am a firm believer in not asking a question I don't really want the answer to. If I ask a question, I want the truth. Not what the other person thinks I want to hear. I also follow this when I am asked a question. I assume the asker wants the truth and so I will give it. I will give it as gently as possible ~ something like "it's not your best look" instead of "oh dear God take that off; you cannot be seen in public looking like that!" I will, however, tell the truth (as I see it.) That being said, I have learned that I do not always know the answers to questions I have. And I do not always want the answers to questions I have. I may want reassurance. I may want sympathy. That's not the same thing as wanting the answer. Here are the big ones. I ask them here because, quite frankly, I don't want to ask them anywhere else...

* Did you tell him not to do it?
* Why did you keep it when you knew I was in no condition to think of it?
* How did you help him?
* Are you really doing this thing?

I don't know the answers. I don't want the answers. I won't ask the questions.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Sunday Poll Question

For someone who doesn't consider this a thinking blog, I earned the award this last week, huh? So, in light of that, today's Poll Question will be a fun, unthinky one. Just enjoy it. Because the posts I've got stewing on the back burner may take us back to thinky! Or they may just end up me ranting, who knows. :) Anway, enjoy.

Question: What character from literature, cinema or television do you most identify with and why? (And yes, this assumes fictional characters are actually live people, not a culmination of several different writers. Go with it; it's fun!)

Pobble Answer: I have to go with two ~










Han Solo from Star Wars (with a nod to Michael ~ ah, Sunday male beauty!)




















and Zoe from Firefly and Serenity (can you say Sunday female beauty? I knew you could!)




















I don't claim to look like either of them ~ although I wouldn't complain if I did (don't complain that I don't, either, but that's a different post.) The point is, I can relate to these two. They have a strong sense of honor, duty and loyalty ~ to those for whom they have it. They are willing to follow ~ but neither blindly nor silently and only those who have proven themselves worth following. They are sidekicks ~ and their own people. So, yeah, in the great "which character are you" debate, I'm Han and Zoe. For all those reasons and more.





Or maybe I just like the idea of flying around with big guns wearing a really great leather vest.











That's always a possibility, too. :)










Your answer...

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Hot Damn!

Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Adams Media Corporation (January 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1598691465
ISBN-13: 978-1598691467

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Ps ~ Test Words continues to sell much better after all the reviews. Amazon has had to reorder several times. Thanks again!

Reasons I'm a Goob

* I worry my dogs are bored ~ while they are asleep.

* I drove to the store to get half and half and drop a couple things in the mailbox. Dropped the mail in the box, got back in the Pobble Mobile and came home. Had to go back for the half and half.

* I looked all over for a pen the other night ~ forgetting I had one attached to my shirt collar. And another in my hair.

* I get excited about office supplies.

* I'm obsessed with my new "by country" counter on my blog.

* I own copies of the Constitution, three dictonaries and Emily Post's Etiquette.

* I attach pens to my shirt collar. And tuck them in my hair. At the same time.

Those are goobish Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Friendship, Movies and Harry Potter

The FAE took me to see Harry Potter tonight. I loved it. Considering the book was 900 pages long and the movie less than 2 1/2 hours, they did a damn good job. But even if they hadn't, I still would have loved it. See (slight spoiler alert!) ~ the love of Harry's friends and his love for them literally saves his life. And that's when I teared up. Not when I was "supposed to" but then.

Courage and bravery in the name of friendship is my favorite theme for movies, television or books. Mushy romances don't phase me. Death scenes? Moved but dry-eyed. There's a show on now called The Black Donnellys. It's okay but they are brothers and I don't get it. Because they are also jerks and family or not, I'd've cut 'em off long before now. However...

Star Wars ~ Han Solo doesn't come back to fight the Empire. He comes back to save Luke's ass.

Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves ~ Little John swings his wife through a flaming forest because they know Robin will catch her. Know it.

Lethal Weapon...whichever ~ Murtaugh is stuck on a toilet with a bomb about to go off. The odds are he will die. They clear the room. Riggs won't leave.

Serenity (and the television series Firefly that spawned it) ~ Mal has no reason to take River home. It makes no sense. Yet he does. (And he keeps everybody alive and sane throughout the series, too. "Yeah, but she's our witch so cut her down!")

And countless others. It doesn't even matter if a movie is any good or not. I mean, come on, Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves??!?? It doesn't matter if the acting is top notch or barely summer stock. It doesn't matter how often I've seen the movie. I will weep. Every time. Because friendships like that are what it's all about. And if you don't believe me, ask my friends. They know.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

The Right to Offend, Pt. 2

The entireity of this post was almost " 'Just' shut the fuck up." However, in the interest of being a little more productive than that, I'll phrase it differently.


Recently, I have had several conversations about relationships. Some have been about my relationship with Lithus. Some have been about other people's relationships. Here's what struck me: people (generally) accept things in their own relationships while being incredibly judgemental about things/aspects of other people's. In other words, we tend to be hypocrites. So "just" shut the fuck up. No, wait ~ I'm attempting to be more productive...


We are hypocrites out of love, our concerns for our friends' well-beings, with their 'best interests' at heart or even sometimes just to be "right." Still, we are hypocrites.


The phrase "S/He just needs to..." comes to our lips far too often. Because, folks, if it was "just" that simple, it would have been done by now. Also, the fact that you or I might need to "just need to..." in the same situation does not mean that the person in question "just needs to" do a damn thing.


None of us ~ not one ~ has a perfect relationship. Anyone who claims to is lying to us, themselves or both. And all of us have different deal-breakers. Yet we tend to get angry, frustrated and judgemental when other people's deal-breakers are different from our own. As if we, and only we, have the secret to a healthy relationship.


When I said that, however, in one of the aforementioned conversations, the response was "No, Pobble. Healthy is healthy. It's the same for everyone." Well. No. Eating toasted coconut will kill me. Literally. I go into anaphylactic shock and, if not treated, will die within minutes. It is the single most unhealthy food on the planet for me, including anything cooked in transfats. Does this mean you should stop eating toasted coconut? Hell no. Because it's not unhealthy for you.


"But Pobble, relationships are different." Why? How? I know a woman who is married to a man I think is an asshole. I simply do not like him, as hard as I've tried out of love for the woman. Guess what? Their marriage works for them. It's healthy for them.

So, I have learned over the last few years to keep my mouth shut. No, I'm not perfect. I still step in where it's really none of my business sometimes. I often roll my eyes at choices I see in other relatioships and thank the Goddess I'm not in that situation. More often than not, though, it ends with the eye rolling and the TTG. It doesn't include judgement any longer. I will look for cruelty and/or abuse. That's different. That's when I must step up. But just because I'm grateful I'm not involved with that person? Just because I think he's an asshole or she's crazy? Nah. That's none of my damn business. Because I really hate hypocrisy.


And Lithus and I put up with shit from each other that would make other people crazy. I know this. I do not claim it to be a perfect relationship. However, TTG, it is healthy for us and works for us. So go ahead and roll your eyes at my relationship ~ or someone else's relationship. Be grateful you're not in those relationships. Mutter that you don't understand how we can be in these relationships. All that is fine. Just know there's something in your relationship that makes us roll our eyes too. And "just" shut the fuck up.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Pobble Thinkings

Half-way between Pooh's house and Piglet's house was a Thoughtful Spot where they met sometimes when they had decided to go and see each other, and as it was warm and out of the wind they would sit down there for a little and wonder what they would do now that they had seen each other. ~ The House at Pooh Corner, A.A. Milne



I am honored. I am touched. I am confused. Michael (in Norfolk) has nominated me and my Pobble Thoughts as a "Thinking Blog."





I am honored because one likes to think one's thoughts and words are not totally without merit. I am touched because he said some really nice things about me and, since we don't know each other outside of cyberspace and haven't known each other here very long, I can't imagine he felt obligated. I am confused because, quite frankly, I don't consider this a thinky blog (as Lori over GNightGirl put it when she was nominated ~ and damn whoever got to her first because she would've been one of mine!) I am as likely to post one of those silly online quizzes and use double negatives as I am to write about my thoughts on great issues. And yet...here we are.



So, Michael, thank you. Very much. For the honor. For the touching moment. And yes, for the confusion. Because confusion is good for us every now and then.



Here are the rules...

1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think,
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme,
3. Optional: Proudly display the ‘Thinking Blogger Award’ with a link to the post that you wrote


So without further ado, my nominess ~

* Get Off My Lawn over at, well, Get Off My Lawn! He is insightful, challenging, good-naturedly curmudgeonly, and an overall good read. He stumbled into my corner of the world and I continue to be grateful.

* Rose at Lessons Learned She shares her struggles with youth, inner cities, family, society and life in general eloquently and with grace.

* Jaded at Is Anybody There? Honestly, she doesn't post as often as she used to. But when she does, she will make you think. She will make you challenge and defend your own opinions to yourself. "Commitment Abby - commitment! There are only two creatures of value on the face of this earth: those with a commitment, and those who require the commitment of others." She is a creature of value ~ and insists the rest of us be, as well.

*The Lovely Cats at Finding Avalon My phone rang last night. Part of the conversation went something like this:
Him: Michael in Norfolk has nominated both of us for Thinking Blogs.
Me: Really??!? OMG, how cool! I'm so touched!
Him: I know! Me too. We have to nominate others.
Me: Right.
Him: I left you Cats but I took Cracker Lilo.
Me: That seems fair. So long as they both get nominated and we each get one.
Him: But you always get Cats.
Me: Well, yes.
However, I'm not nominating the Lovely Cats because she was left for me. I'm nominating her because she deserves it. Why else would there have needed to be negotiation?

* And Dagoth at Dagoth's Domain He has a gentle view of the world that is truly lovely and always reminds me to look around a little more closely, a little differently.

There you have it. Five of my favorite thinkers. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.





Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Your Post

Still Standing...

Sunday Poll Question

Another week without a post in between Poll Questions. Eeek! Summer is still moving quickly...

So, without further ado, a fun, mindless Sunday Poll Question:

Who is (are) your hero(s) and why?

Pobble Answer: I have three heros. Nelson Mandela. I cannot imagine having the strength to fight the way he did ~ nor the sense of self and peace he must have had to forgive. Julie Taymor. She is the first woman to win the Tony for Best Director of a Musical. Growing up, I thought it would be me. How can I not have her as a hero, since it was her? And finally, John Adams. In light of my completely missing the Fourth of July here in cyberspace, I'm going to spend a little bit of time on him. John has, over the last few years, started to come into his own as historians and biographers have remembered that he was indeed instrumental in getting this country started. And yes, we are indeed on a first name basis. :) The man was obnoxious. A bully. Stubborn. Always right, in his opinion. And I would imagine annoying as hell to be around. (I'm obnoxious and disliked, you know that sir...) And yet...He was one of the greatest minds the world has ever known. The confluence of minds that occured in that room in 1776 was and continues to be unparalleled. It was led by John Adams. Yes, it was voiced by Thomas Jefferson. Kept under control (and perhaps manipulated a bit) by Benjamin Franklin. Still, it was led ~ bullied, pushed, badgered ~ by John Adams. As with Mandela, I cannot imagine the strength, the will, the sheer bull-headedness that he must have had to make happen what happened. So ~ those are my heros.

Your answer...

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Sunday Poll Question

First, my apologies for missing last week. It was my last day with Lithus and, quite frankly, the Sunday Poll Question slipped my mind entirely. Why do I think you understand? ;)

Second, it's July. How in the hell did it get to be July???? Anyway, it did. And so we say goodbye to the rainbow that has been at the top of my blog. I won't be deleting it, just allowing it to move down. It was a great idea from Kelley and I hope to participate next year as well! Happy Pride, everybody!

Now! For the Sunday Poll Question...

One of the things I enjoy the most/hate the most about traveling is you can't really get away from other people's conversations. When they are sitting right there and you're on an airplane, you gotta hear what they are saying. This time, it led to the Sunday Poll Question. I believe the gist of the conversation went something like this:

If you were given two choices ~ vote for a member of the party you usually disagree with the most and reserve your right to complain or not vote and keep your mouth shut about whatever happens over the next four years, which would you choose? And if you would choose to vote, which current candidate would you vote for and why? Now, I'm going to tweak this just a little and limit this to Democrat and Republican parties. See, I know my readers and suddenly there would be lots of voting for the independant candidates. :) So, if you normally vote within the Democratic Party in order to keep your right to voice your opinion, you would have to vote for the Republican candidate and vice versa. So ~ vote or keep your mouth shut for the next four years? (And for my non-US readers, change the parties to the ones in your country and chime in! Or answer as if you were voting in the US elections. Or something. I'm curious to hear your opinions as well!)

Pobble Answer: This was tough for me from the moment I heard the kids behind me debating it. Luckily for me, I have had the entire week to mull on it. I would have to vote. Have to. First, people died to give US citizens the right to vote. Second, I cannot forget what women went through to get other women the right to vote. And there are still too many places in the world where I would not be allowed to vote because of my gender. Third, I am really, really bad at keeping my mouth shut. To do it for four years...nope. It would never happen. So ~ I would vote. And I think I would vote for Rudy Guiliani. A year ago, I would have answered John McCain but John has been distressing me in the last few months. I'm no Rudy fan. I'm not even sure I spelled his name correctly. Since the Republican debates, though, I have kept an eye on him and listened to what he says. Still not a fan. Still don't want him as the President. But I like what he says more than McClain or *gulp* Mitt Romney. And if my vote for Guiliani helps keep one of the worse ones out of office AND I still get to bitch ~ yeah, that would have to be my route. TTG this is hypothetical! Part of me is grateful to those kids for making me think about it from this angle. And part of me says Dammit, you couldn't have buried yourself in your iPods and been done with it?

Your answer...

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Rainbow

Remember, if you've read this already, scroll down. This post will stay up top throughout the month of June ~ but that doesn't mean it will be the only post throughout the month of June! And I'm a comment whore so don't leave me hanging! :)


A newly discovered blogger had this posted earlier in the weekend...

Here's a challenge from Kelly Stern at Rambling along in life... with a Stern point of view. ... I encourage my fellow bloggers to post this picture on your blog and let Kelly know. Celebrate Diversity.

It is that time of the year again where I post a photo that shows the rainbow and ask everyone to pass it around in hopes of spreading the idea of diversity. It may not be as pretty as last years, but it is more of the point I am trying to make. This is a rainbow created by different forces in nature (a little sunshine, water and wind). Last year there were over 100 of you who participated in my challenge and this year I want more. As I find the picture on sites, I will link to that site here in this post. I will try and keep this post at the top of the page all month long with links to the other sites. This challenge is not just about being accepted as a gay man, but it is about societies around the world learning to accept people for being themselves... diversity. Gay, straight, Christian, Muslim, skinny or fat... we need to be a little more accepting these days. The world is a mean place, let's work to make it a little nicer by showing this colorful rainbow that formed thanks to the right angle of the sun and a slight breeze across the pond. Mother natures way of saying she approves of this challenge... shouldn't we all. (Thanks Though Lovers Be Lost!)

Now, being the computer goob that I am, I cannot post the picture on my blog and just leave it there. Instead, I will ~ like Kelly, the original author of this ~ simply try to keep this post at the top or near the top of the blog for the month of June. What this means is you, lovely and loyal readers, need to scroll down past this post in order to get to the most recent one. Takes a bit more time but totally worth it, don't you think? So...scroll...there's a new one down there. ;)

Recently, I was asked why I, a straight female, was so concerned with homosexual rights. I was ready with my standard answer (I get asked a version of that question a lot; just insert "black" or "civil" or "refugee" or "poverty" or whatever isn't white, straight and female into the question where it currently reads "homosexual.") My standard answer is How in the name of the Goddess can I not be concerned? Just because it doesn't affect me directly doesn't mean it doesn't affect me directly.


They came first for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant
Then they came for me,
and by that time no one was left to speak up. ~ Martin Niemoller (from the NE Holocaust Memorial version of the quote)

Evil is not to be traced back to the individual but to the collective behavior of humanity. ~ Reinhold Niebuhr

If you don't like the way the world is, you change it. You have an obligation to change it. You just do it one step at a time. ~ Marian Wright Edelman

Those are Pobble Thoughts, with a little help from some friends. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee ~ and a whole hell of a lot more.

Broken Record

133:33

That's one hundred thirty-three minutes and thirty three seconds.

Over two hours.

Can you imagine what it would be like if either one of us actually did like talking on the phone?

I love you, my friend.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.