Blearghhhhh... Braaaiiinnnssss, Braii-ugh, wha? Ogh. Braaaaiiiinnnzzzzzz...  (translation: iz zombie, still sick)


But I came home and sifted through our recycle paper pile and pulled out all the political propaganda mailings. Alan's usually good about clearing this area out prior to guests, so the longest these could have been sitting there is a month and a half. 
11 for Donna Edwards, 7 for Albert Wynn. 
The best part was the 2 identical mailings from the Sierra Club for Donna Edwards. For Shame! 3 came from a group called Maryland WOMEN VOTE! for her. And 6 fine mailings came from her own group Donna Edwards for Congress. Mr. Wynn only sent 3 from his own campaign, and the other 4 came from Realtors Political Action Committee. I believe all of them will get angry messages back.

I also went pawing through ealdthryth's green posts and found a link for GreenDimes.com that reduces your junk mail and plants trees on your behalf. Now this will be worth the money if they reduce my hassle and stuff to recycle. Reduce does come first in the mantra.

The one good thing about the icky weather this afternoon/evening is that there was no horde waiting outside the polling place to accost you to vote for their guy. I even bought a magazine at CVS this morning (when getting another antibiotic Rx filled) to have reading material for the wait. I didn't even get the chance to crack it open as I had no wait, and walked right in and voted in less than ten minutes.

BTW, the local politicians are pissing me off. For the MD 4th congressional district, I have received so much junk mail from the two (assumed) leading democratic candidates full of negative (and some positive) BS that it makes my hippie heart want to scream for the trees. I literally got 5 in the mail from the two candidates today only. Seriously, five huge multiple page pamphlets, 3 from one and 2 from another. I actually got so pissed off, I sent a note to Donna Edwards' campaign site contact regarding the shame that someone who calls herself an environmentally friendly candidate should feel at the pile of junk mail I have to recycle in her name. And Albert Wynn? Oy vey. 

So I did my research on the democratic candidates, visiting each of their websites and reading up on their stance on the issues, etc. On the whole Jason Jennings really spoke to me, so he got my vote. I was glad that Edwards and Wynn didn't appeal to me on the issue level since they appall me on an advertising level. Sadly, JJ probably won't get the nomination since he didn't advertise and, let's be real, not everyone takes the time to look up everything themselves.

~~~~~~~~

Speaking of being green, I've taken some small steps towards being more environmentally friendly myself where I can. Yes, I still love and drive my SUV. But we have not been heating the house as toasty to save a bit on the energy usage and bills. I've also taken to buying more organic in products, except when the packaging is so outrageous to make it not worth it. (Quaker Oatmeal, what is with you packing the simple harvest stuff in plastic instead of the nice waxed paper packages of your regular oatmeal? Ditto with you free-range egg folks putting eggs in plastic containers vs. the recyclable cardboard ones?) But my biggest step has been to take and use reusable bags to the grocery store and other shopping outages. I've been doing this for months now, and it warms my heart, and I can carry more in each bag. It really costs me so little, just keep the canvas bags in the truck and take them in shopping when I do. I've done this at Giant, CVS, Trader Joe's, Bed Bath and Beyond, Target, and even DSW. The noticeably thinner pile of plastic bags that need recycling is what makes me really happy.

So Green is the new Pink, and has been for a little while. Wish more folks would make the small changes.

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. 

On this day 66 years ago, around 8am local time, or 1pm Eastern time, Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese Empire, ushering the US into the second World War.  It was a ruthless, and brilliant attack, tactically sound but with astounding repercussions. Perspective is very important, and I liked that the video watched before visiting the USS Arizona Memorial tried to give both perspectives, US and Japanese. 


The USS Arizona Memorial was built in place above the wreck of that battleship. They say that the memorial sags in the middle to show our initial shock and defeat, but ultimately rises on each end showing Americans resolve and ultimate triumph. The attack on Pearl Harbor did indeed serve as a rallying point for the US. New battleships were built, more troops were enlisted, a bitter resolve fueled all Americans toward victory over the then Axis of Evil. My grandfather was not able to enlist, so he served in the way he could, by helping to build new battleships up in the Great Lakes. It is rather astonishing to think of the effect that Pearl Harbor had on America and Americans then, that even 9/11/01 hasn't had on Americans now.  Is it the difference between the seen and unseen enemy? There was a war already afoot for us to join instead of starting one. But I'm getting way off topic...

While many cemeteries have headstones for each of the fallen, the USS Arizona Memorial has a single but towering marble listing of those over one thousand Navy seamen and Marines who remain entombed in the USS Arizona. She leaks oil still, as if crying for those trapped within. 


There are many unknowns from many conflicts. The great Tomb of the Unknown in Arlington, Punchbowl Cemetery has an entire large section of unknowns from the Korea War, and unknowns from Pearl Harbor surround Ernie Pyle's headstone, and are also sprinkled about the crater, all over the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.


Please take a short moment today to honor the many, known and unknown, who have given the ultimate sacrifice that we may all live as we do now. Remember the sudden attack and America's ultimate response. Remember that no peace is permanent without vigilance, and thank the vigilant.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And now for a minor whine...

Yesterday I took a sick day and stayed in bed practically all day. I was awake from 10-11am checking email and sending in a sick notice, but I was in bed. I got out of bed to make myself some lunch around 3pm, but ate it in bed, and napped more until about 7:30pm. And I think I could still use a nap. I wish this sickness would cease.

I did my duty and voted yesterday. Of course I cheated and worked from home a little and went to the polls at 9:30am and literally had no wait. Brought a book, didn't even crack it open. I got to walk in, check in, get a card, and go immediately to a booth, and vote. Hooray.  Even the stumpers were simply polite and said hello and thanked me for coming out to vote. Most of the folks I voted for won, so hooray there too. 

I'm going to let my Democrat petticoat show and note that I am very pleased at the party win, totally jazzed at the first female speaker of the house elect, glad the Missouri lady won, hopeful for still taking the senate, and completely appalled at the closeness of the VA race between Webb and Allen. I'm realistic to know that sometimes it was a choice of the lesser of two evils, but that a change was needed. Let's hope that the Dems don't get complacent like the Reps seemed to.

But I am more moderate than I used to be. For example I was slightly offended that my polling place only had the bilingual "I voted" stickers. I'd prefer a choice of "I voted" vs. "Yo Vote'". I mean, only citizens can vote, and I understand that having the ballot in spanish is good for those who are more comfortable with their original language, but wouldn't they want to proudly display "I voted" in english? I can even understand the need for the Yo Vote' stickers to encourage spanish speakers and possibly illegal aliens to become citizens so that they can then vote. But why should I have to display Yo Vote when the most spanish I know is gracias? Maybe I'm just a piggie, but dude. Note I am not against immigration, just the illegal kind.

Well now we have the news of legal battles and recounts over poll results to look forward to in at least two states. joy.

The rain and traffic and sinus pressure has defeated me so I'm working from home today. Ah, home sweet home.