August 31, 2012
I am still learning this site. I always feel sad at the end of August. Summer is over and I really cherish the mild nights and longer days. Soon, it will be dark and cool and then cold. Today, I learned an important lesson. Don't make appointments with government agencies the day before a holiday weekend. No one should laugh at what goes on in third world countries. The U.S. is not far behind. Today is not a holiday, but yet the Department of Motor Vehicles was closed and the passport office at the Post Office was essentially closed. And we had an appointment!
It is certainly too bad that we have become such a polarized nation. I don't understand the origin of this strong religious conservative segment of our country. Who are these people, trying to take away the rights of women and the middle class and the needy? What is unfathomable is that most of the people on the religious right are not wealthy, so why would they favor a candidate who wants to make life more difficult for them. And why this misogyny? Pro-life when it comes to protecting a life inside a woman's body; but certainly pro-war and pro-guns. Pro-family when it is a white, nuclear, traditional family, but not pro-family if the configuration looks different. I know that religion has always been a strong element in our country's make-up, but certainly there was not this tone of ugliness that now seems to permeate the land. How have the "liberals" and the "conservatives" become such enemies? How have Democrats and Republicans become such enemies? What has happened to the moderate Republicans? How have Democrats become characterized in one way? Is this just the result of the press and the politicians? Or are we really a country divided? Why are people so threatened? Is this just a cycle during which rapid change is resisted? Are we all amazed because we are living through this conflict rather than reading about it?

First Entry, August 28, 2012

I am not sure how to do this. All I know is that I love to write and express myself. It is 10 a.m. and I have to get ready. I have had my espresso and fruit. I have a singing lesson today, and I am taking Gabriel food shopping. Hopefully, I will go swimming in the afternoon if the weather holds out. That is it for now. I sound like I am 12 years old.  At least, I finally set this up....