People Can Talk and Drive at the Same Time....

Of course I support a law that bans texting while driving. I begrudgingly support a law about driving while holding a phone (yes, I do it sometimes). To ban hands-free phones while driving seems unreasonable. What's the difference between talking hands free on a cell phone and talking to a rider in your car?

Get Rid of the Meters

If city leaders are serious about revitalizing downtown, they need to get rid of the parking meters. Sure the City gets revenue from the meters, but it also costs the City in personnel to check and maintain the meters. That money could be saved and the City would be rewarded by city goers spending money while frequenting the downtown area. Maybe the city meters could be recycled into a towering new local sculpture.

aCORDing to me

Where do all the plug in cords come from? I see them lying in nearly every room, in my car and even the garage. They aren't hooked up to anything. Do the cords belong to the camera? The Ipod? The Zoon? The many cells, computers, TVs? Why is it that I can find only one sock out of a pair and cords without connections?

They Don't Hear You

They are alone....or they may as well be. Their eyes are downcast toward screens while their fingers are moving while driving, biking, eating, waiting, walking, dining, schooling, bathing..... Someone speaks to them. They don't hear.

Is it an improvement in the quality of life to be constantly, globally connected in Cyberspace? All around I see and hear about people Twittering, Facebooking, Blogging, MySpacing and texting. They are constantly "connected."

They share and share and share. What do they share? Are they really connected? Or is the technology disconnecting people from WHAT IS? What and how are they thinking? What and how are they learning? What and how are they seeing? What and how are they knowing? What and how are they feeling?

They don't hear you. Maybe no one is listening at all.

What Are You Reading Now?

I started reading "Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea" by comedian Chelsea Handler, and found that her take on the world is way too hard core for me. I felt like I needed to wash out my eyes with Koolaid.

I also read The Wichita Eagle daily and have for many years. I learned that the subscription price is going up again. I have thought about reading it online for free so I scoured the online version. Online offerings include more content, but it's just not as enjoyable reading online as it is to read while holding something. I guess in the interest of trying to be more technology connected that I'll keep trying the online version, but I'm not ready to part with the paper "paper" yet.

I am planning to start a new book "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" trilogy by Stieg Larsson.

June Morning Surprise

At breakfast Mike and I looked outside our patio door to see a baby squirrel feasting on some leftover birdseed. The squirrel seemed unfazed by several photo shoots and the interior noise at our house even included rock music. He must have been OK with it as he hung out for more than an hour. See photo at the bottom of the blog page.

Things I'm Looking Forward To

I am going to take four grandchildren to see Junie B. Jones at the Crown Uptown in a few days.

I am going to see my Aunt Beth and celebrate the fact that she's been alive for 83 years tomorrow. Wow!

What are you looking forward to?

Just My Speedo

I recently bought a bicycle. I do not believe I have been on a bike in about 20 years. You know the saying that once you learn to ride a bike you never forget? It's TRUE! My bike is a one-speed, that's right and it's just my speed. I like it because it's making dormant muscles work and it just feels great.

Question of the Week...or so

What did you do recently that you haven't done before?

I went to an ordination and saw five young men become priests. It was very a beautiful ceremony and one that I felt hopeful about, because I believe these men to be earnest and faithful to their calling.

National Treasures

Thank you to all military men and women who have served and defended this Nation during all declared wars as well as in all battles past and present to protect the U.S. Constitution as well as to protect the rights of people in other places in the World. May God watch over the people who are serving as protectors.

I read that the United States has used military force a number of times, but has only declared war five times. Those were the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Spanish-American War, World War I and World War II.

May we never have to declare another war to defend our soil, our people and our faith. And if we do, may God protect us.

Beware the Geese

Talk about goose bumps.... My daughter clobbered one unlucky low-flying goose by surprise on the way to work the other morning, causing a spider web crack in the windshield. I was relaying this crazy story to another daughter while sitting at a stoplight at 119th and Kellogg when a huge goose flew within four feet of my windshield. I felt fortunate that I wasn't moving at the time. I had driven only about one-half mile when I saw on the side of the road a dead goose! So if a goose honks at you. HONK BACK.

I'm Not Sure I Believe That

Health authorities say that people can not "catch up" on sleep. We can catch up on housework, reading, eating, gardening, exercise, hobbies, movies, etc. ... So why can't we catch up on sleep? I know that I will continue to try and disprove this theory throughout some of my summer break.

Q of the Day...or So: What are you reading & why?

I am reading Janet Evanovich's "Plum Spooky." This one is a quick read and funny with snappy dialogue.

OPI (Of Potential Interest)

I have two perfect white blooms on the magnolia tree in my backyard.
What is blooming in yours?

New Things I Learned....Share New Things You Learned

I learned how to set up a blog today that will be a work in progress.

I learned that "Sonic" is not just a delicious place to get a burger. Sonic is a hedgehog super power from a video game.

What have you learned?