Dryer Drama

I lost my cool yesterday.

Last Saturday Sears delivered our washer and dryer. They didn't hook it up. So we called our plumber and the earliest they could get here was yesterday. So, as the laundry piled up, we waited.

Our plumber got all the gas lines and waterlines ready to go but he informed us that he was unable to install the gas to liquid propane kit that came with the dryer because he would have to dismantle the entire dryer and it wasn't something he was comfortable doing.

I called Sears to ask why they didn't do the conversion. I was told that they could do the conversion but only if they did the install too. I said that the install was pretty much complete and all I needed was the conversion. They said they would have to uninstall all the work the plumber did, do the conversion and then reinstall. I said, "that is stupid", hung up and relayed the info to Matt. He said, "that doesn't make any sense because the delivery person said they never install gas dryers".

So, I called Sears back and said, "I feel like you guys are jerking me around. Why did you tell me you could convert my dryer but only if you install it? But you don't install gas dryers so you can't install it and that means you won't convert it, right? But why would you offer the conversion service which is obviously gas related if you won't do it because you won't install?". Sears said "sorry", they couldn't help.

Frustration!

I then called around to a bunch of local appliance repair services. I was told they would be happy to do the conversion and when could I bring the dryer into the shop? Well, I was hoping to have it done on site because, you know, I don't want to be lugging a freaking dryer around. Nope. No go.

I finally got wise and called our propane provider (Amerigas by the way). Do you know what they told me? "Lady, today is your lucky day! Our service technician is on North Military Road and you are only a few miles away. He will be there in a few hours". So, it all worked out in the end and the washer and dryer were put into service last night. Good thing too or else Matt would have headed to Utah with a suitcase full of dirty socks.

White Privilege

Oi! The ever vigilant and always spot on Tengrain over at Mock, Paper, Scissors has spotted a brilliant post over at RedRoom via Acts of Hope. If you can offer a sound and concise rebuttal please try. I look forward to the chuckle.

AKA IDIOT

OK people, let us get a little perspective on this whole "pig in lipstick" fabricated controversy. I have collected videos of the original statement (IN CONTEXT!!!!), the McCain video (please note there is absolutely no context!), and Barak Obama's rebuttal to the whole ridiculous mess. This is out of control. If you type "Obama/Lipstick" into YouTube you get pages and pages of returns of video snippets of Palin's pitbull/lipstick comment cutting straight to Obama's pig/lipstick comment followed by "carefully considered" commentary by pundits. The whole business stinks of Karl Rove style bait and switch politics.
-First up, video of Obama's speech (the whole paragraph, not just a sentence fragment):

-Next, the McCain camp's online ad slamming Obama for running a misogynistic campaign of smears (!)

-Finally, Obama's testy response to the McCain group's swiftboating of pigs in lipstick:

As of this posting, the last word I have seen is a comment from the McCain camp telling Obama to stop passing the buck and to take responsibility for his comments. I believe in the last video you will see him doing just that. What he refuses to take responsibility for is the faux controversy spun up by McCain.

Oh, and one more thing, watch the second half of this short clip for a video illustration of just what a royal idiot John McCain is blasting Obama on the "lipstick on a pig" comment. I mean, according to his own logic, McCain needs to apologize to Hillary Clinton for calling her a pig, right?

Hat tip to Slate.com. I spent gobs of time searching for video of McCain's own "pig in lipstick" comment and finally found it there.

Confession

I am a hypocrite. I just COULDN'T bring myself to watch Sarah Palin last night. I will catch it online soon but right now just reading the transcript is killing me. I know I said everyone should watch speeches, even from those whose views differ, and I WILL watch the speech. I just can't right now. I really, really can't.

This is an excerpt from an AP article comparing and contrasting just one point by Palin with actuality:

PALIN: "The Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes, raise payroll taxes, raise investment income taxes, raise the death tax, raise business taxes, and increase the tax burden on the American people by hundreds of billions of dollars."

THE FACTS: The Tax Policy Center, a think tank run jointly by the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute, concluded that Obama's plan would increase after-tax income [emphasis mine] for middle-income taxpayers by about 5 percent by 2012, or nearly $2,200 annually. McCain's plan, which cuts taxes across all income levels, would raise after tax-income for middle-income taxpayers by 3 percent, the center concluded.

Obama would provide $80 billion in tax breaks, mainly for poor workers and the elderly, including tripling the Earned Income Tax Credit for minimum-wage workers and higher credits for larger families.

He also would raise income taxes, capital gains and dividend taxes on the wealthiest. He would raise payroll taxes on taxpayers with incomes above $250,000, and he would raise corporate taxes. Small businesses that make more than $250,000 a year would see taxes rise.

Again, I know there is spin on both sides, duh! But I would not drink the kool-aid being offered at the RNC for all the tax breaks in the world.

Oh, and one more thing, the meme being pushed by the GOP that Palin is well versed in international relations because Alaska is so close to Russia? Puh-lease. But maybe I am being too cynical. Perhaps she has looked into Dmitry Medvede's eyes just like G.W. looked into Putin's eyes, saw his soul and declared it good. We all know how well that turned out.

Oh, and another thing, boo hoo McCain. Is the media being to "mean" by asking questions trying to figure out just who Palin is? Sucks to be you. Just like it has sucked to be Barak Obama and Hilary Clinton during the exhausting Democratic primary race. If you want to run an unknown candidate then don't be surprised when the talking heads ask you probing questions and challenge your talking points. Obama already walked that gauntlet. Biden didn't really need to as he has been on the scene so long. Take your medicine big boy.

Barak Obama Comes Out Swinging

In case you missed it, MSNBC has the entire speech here. It was a thrilling speech that spoke to the heart of the frustrations that so many Americans are feeling right now.

Go Dennis Go!!!

How did my brain become so lucid and begin speaking out of Dennis Kucinich's body?

Congressman Kucinich (D)Ohio addressing the audience at the DNC

Politics. Yeah. I am Really Going There.

I have been watching what I can of the Democratic National Convention considering I don't have a television. Most of what I get comes from online videos found at various sites: YouTube, MSNBC, BarakObama.com, etc. Last night we went to Drew's house to watch Bill Clinton and Joe Biden speak. I thought Former President Clinton knocked it out of the park and Joe Biden was appropriately aggressive. Tonight is Barak Obama's turn. According to the DNC schedule he will speak at 8pm mountain time. I recommend everyone, whether Democrat, Republican, Green, Libertarian, Label-Adverse, whatever, tune in.

And here is why:

Love or hate the message, you will hear straight from the man himself without the filter of talking heads.

I spend time scrolling through blogs written by people I agree with and last night I watched the speeches on a news network that leans left. I know this. But when it comes to something as important as the presidential race I want to hear the real words without spin. That is why I enjoy debates.

The Republican National Convention begins on September 1st. I will also catch as much of that as I can and will make sure not to miss John McCain's speech. Not because my mind is not made up but because I want to hear him speak straight too.

I am frustrated by the 24 hour news networks endless spin and opining. Can it really be called news at this point? Because of my personal political beliefs I place Fox News squarely at the head of a poisonous pack but I hold all of them in contempt.

To fill their 24 hours of info these stations are latching on to any and every tidbit - true, false or unconfirmed, and lending them credibility. Stephanie pointed out that she has seen headlines on the online outlets of news stations highlighting info gleaned from blogs. Now I love a good political blog as much as the next person but bloggers are not (for the most part) journalists. A news story from a blogger should be on an opinion page and not a lead story. I am beginning to ramble here but I hope I am making my point.

Barak Obama has launched a website to combat the smear tactics that are first put out by fringe lunatics and then given weight when the news networks give it air time. I don't know if John McCain has, or has need of, a similar website. People of the internet, pardon my language, but that is uber-bullshit.

There is an abundance of misinformation on both sides. It is our responsibility as Americans and voters to vet out the truth. Somewhere between Fox News and MSNBC lies a kernal of reality and truth. Vote Democrat, Vote Republican, Vote Ross Perot. Do whatever is true to your conscience but do it with a wealth of reality and truth behind it.

For the record:

• Barak Obama is NOT a muslim
• Barak Obama did NOT attend a madrassa
• Barak Obama is NOT the devil
• Barak Obama is NOT Osama Bin Laden
• Barak Obama is NOT an elitist
  

I wish I were being funny by overstating things but I HEAR people who really, really believe the above statements. Why is it even necessary to refute malarkey like this? How can we begin to have a political debate about the economy and foreign policy when the starting point is crap like this?

Oh, one more thing: when did being a smart and educated person who thinks things through become a liability? Why is that so often portrayed as a flaw for Obama? It makes him an elitist who had no grasp of the lives of "ordinary" Americans. Really? Isn't he an example of the American Dream gone right? And if we are talking about "ordinary" Americans, may I just say that I don't want an "ordinary' American to be President. I want an extraordinary American to be President.

Parse This!

I see this car around Winlock frequently. To me it makes zero sense. Is there a sentence in there? Are there multiple sentences jumbled together like some sort of word puzzle? As far as I am concerned this must be about as effective as a guy wearing a straight jacket approaching a girl with the old "hey baby, what's your sign" and following that up by speaking in tongues, and snorting like a horse. I cannot imagine that anyone ever approaches the driver of this vehicle and says, "Yes. Tell me more".

By the way, I was going to use the "small town" label for this post but this stuff is also all over Los Angeles so crazy is everywhere.

My Morning Walk - Beach Version

Tom, Kathy, Andy and Andy's friend Megan spent the 4th of July holiday at the beach. I had a strange work schedule on the route over July 4th so we went down on the evening of the 5th and came back home on the 6th. Here are some pics of our brief sojourn.

A citizen concerned about the welfare of sea birds covered an entire section of the boardwalk railing with pieces of bagels, various flavors. The birds didn't seem to care. Perhaps they were full up on people food, this being the end of a busy holiday weekend. Notice the whale skeleton in the distance.

Seriously, this burn patch has to be the best cautionary illustration ever. I honestly wonder if the local fire department didn't burn it on purpose right by the fire danger sign as a dire warning.

Kathy thinks I hate the flag because I am so glum about the current state of the union. I don't hate it. I am just crushingly disappointed in things right now. Doesn't mean I am without hope or that I am the walking embodiment of anti-patriotism. I just want better from my elected officials on the federal level. And also the flag got abused after 9/11, don't you think? Everyone had flags poking up from their car windows. I saw so many sun bleached and tattered flags for months after that that I wondered why, if people felt so strongly, did they let the symbol of our freedom fly so shabbily. I would truly prefer an angry patriot burning a flag in protest over a lax, lipservicey sheep with a shredded flag flying from his/her car window with a new Jack-in-the-Box head on the antenna. And the car flags came from China. And flag stickers on cars request God to Bless America and tell me that "These Colors Don't Run". It all seems so diluted and commercial now. A real flag, in good repair, taken in or lit at night, folded properly when not in use. Doesn't seem to be asking too much. Am I wrong?

The United States of America

Gassy and Bloated

Last night, on my drive to and from Chehalis to watch the American Idol finale at the Market Street Pub, I noticed that every gas station from Winlock to Napavine had 87 octane hovering at $3.99. It seems no station wants the bad karma of stepping into the $4.00 zone. With $4/gallon imminent I have taken a look at the places I drive and broken them down by round trip price (28mpg because, though Friq and Fraq are nice little cars, they are old and don't quite get the mpgs of days gone by).

Tom and Kathy: $3.52
Chehalis: $5.29
Centralia: $6.80
Olympia: $13.19
Portland: $21.43
Seattle: $30.14
If I were to drive to Utah it would cost me: $266.47

When we lived in Los Angeles I didn't drive very much. Many things were within walking distance so I only used the car a few times a week. On the other hand, Matt had kind of a murderous commute. His daily round trip was over 60 miles so at today's gas prices that would be $48.55 p/week. Maybe since he isn't commuting and since we don't leave the immediate Winlock area on a daily basis it all evens out somehow.

Speaking of gas prices and Los Angeles, I posted this on my old blog on July 12, 2005. You have to scroll down past the "David" house pics to see what I am talking about. At the time I thought that price was so colossally bad that it warranted documentation. Silly, naive me.

Hope Not Fear

Today I was driving up to Chehalis on I-5 when a car came up beside me all a honking on the horn. Now the first thing that comes to mind when someone comes up beside me honking is that flames must be shooting out the back of my car. The second thing that comes to mind is that perhaps I have inadvertently run over something (or someone) and am dragging a carcass along behind me. Neither was the case today. The people in the other car were just Obama supporters (based on their bumper stickers) responding to my own Obama bumper sticker. We live deep in the heart of Ron Paul country so I can understand their enthusiasm at seeing a politically kindred spirit out on the road.

Yay California!!!!!

California Supreme Court overturns gay marriage ban

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Awesome

Report Shows Crime Increase

From Topix.com I learn that "the most recent report on crime in Washington state suggests that crime grew about 7.7 percent in Lewis County while statewide, it was down by 8.4 percent."

Full Story: The Chronicle, Centralia, WA

Note this paragraph: "A 27 percent rise in violent crime in Centralia has been attributed by its police chief directly to the gang-related drive-by shootings last summer."

Proverbial frying pan into the fire?

In related news, a thief was caught recently in Vader (our neighbor to the south, the town that voted to shut down it's school!!!) pulling down powerlines, "[using] a rope with a weight attached to the end to throw over the power line. They then attached the rope to the back of their vehicle and drove off, pulling the wire down." According to The Olympian, he has been charged with malicious mischief.

My (new) Mountain

Above is a picture of my Dad in front of Ben Lomond. He loves this mountain. So do I. I was raised at it's foot and always felt that it was my benevolent protector. In Los Angeles I didn't have a mountain to root myself to.

Sunday, after putting up some new walls on the addition we went for a picnic with Tom and Kathy at the foot of my new mountain, Mt. St. Helens. I view this new mountain of mine as kind of malevolent in contrast to Ben Lomond's benevolence. Perhaps that is fitting. Ben Lomond was perfect for my youth; a grand, unmarred tor sitting like a king. Mt. St. Helens is majorly flawed, obviously, but she is recuperating nicely. The explosions of her past and the contiuning grumbles of her present mean she will never be the same. She is, however, turning into something new and equally striking. Perhaps because if their names, I always think of Ben Lomond as masculine and Mt. St. Helens as feminine.I have a mountain waiting for me in Scotland if ever we do retire there as is the plan. I want to be near Schiehallion. So beautiful. I envision having my ashes released at the peak so they blow across the Highlands. Perhaps I will settle for having my ashes set free at the rim of Mt. St. Helens. There is some poetry to in that: ashes to ashes and whatnot. No point to this other than I am happy to have a mountain again.

Breaking News: Atheists invade Western Washington

(Mom, don't read this one)

Dateline: Safeway, Chehalis, WA 04-02-08 11:45am

Cashier: Hello. Did you find everything you need today

Atheist Customer: Yes. Thank you.

Cashier (to Bagger, Atheist Customer and Next Customer In Line): So this atheist and this Christian were talking. The atheist said to the Christian, "There is no afterlife. When I die and am buried I am going to grow into a tree above my grave." To which the Christian replies, "I hope they take that tree, cut it down, turn it into pulp, make it into paper and print a bible on it."

Cashier looks to his audience for laughs and communal appreciation. Cashier gets "amen's" from the Bagger and Next Customer In Line and a blank look from Atheist Customer. Cashier points to box of organic cat litter in the Atheist Customer's cart.)

Cashier: The leaf logo on that box reminded me of the joke.

Atheist Customer: That or you must have sensed that I am an atheist.

Cashier: I apologize. (uncomfortable looks all around plus laughter as Atheist Customer rolls eyes and exits store after transaction is complete.)

End scene.

(In the above dialog the Atheist Customer was played by your friendly Eggtown Blogger.)

Here's the thing ladies and gentlemen: the joke itself is 100% inoffensive. What IS offensive and drives me batty is the smug ignorance of it's concoction and delivery. I wasn't quick or clever enough to give a snappy reply at the time so you, dear readers, be you Christian, atheist, Scientologist or Other, are subject to my belated thoughts.

Point one: Someone who thinks they will turn into a tree is not an atheist, they are more akin to a reincarnationist.

Point two: The punchline of the joke flat out doesn't work. An atheist upon whose grave, or scattered ashes, a tree grew wouldn't know or care what happened to said tree. Turn a tree over me into toilet paper for all I care.

If there is going to be verbal bashing of atheists, I would appreciate it very much if it is done in style. Wish me a Merry Christmas, knock on my door to sell religion, assault my eyes with billboards and crazy cars (more of an L.A. thing but I have seen a few here), but don't, in the name of all that is holy (ba dum bum chhhh), continue with these lame jokes. Ridicule away but make it funny, or else I might have to start recruiting your children to my wicked ways.

Photo courtesy of g33kgrrl. (whom I don't know and is in no way affiliated with the preceding semi-tirade)

The Oscars

I watched the Oscars on Sunday as I do every year. I only had one horse in the race so to speak. The only nomination I felt strongly about was Best Actor Viggo Mortensen in Eastern Promises. He didn't stand a chance of winning (and he didn't win) so the excitement level was low for me. I was completely underwhelmed by No Country for Old Men and was disappointed that it got the top honors. Also, Into the Wild was robbed. Not a single nod. Not for Emile Hirsh who was in nearly every scene, not for cinematography, not for Michael Brook's soundtrack. Not for best song. How is it that Enchanted got 3 best song nominations but there wasn't enough love for Eddie Vedder's original work on Into the Wild? Understand that I have never had any love for Eddie Vedder/Pearl Jam but he really brought something special to the movie and deserved a nod. Seriously? 3 noms for Enchanted and not a single nom for Into the Wild? Please. The only song that deserved a nom for Enchanted is Happy Working Song and only because Giselle is dancing and singing with rats, cockroaches and pigeons. That scene was almost worth the cost of admission and my 90 minutes.

Caucus Away

Today Washington State is holding Caucus' for both the Democratic and Republican parties. We also have a primary election on Feb 19th. The Republicans assign half of their delegates based on the caucus and half based on the primary. The Democrats assign all of their delegates based solely on the outcome of the caucus. For them the primary election is just a beauty pageant. In case you were unaware, I identify myself as a Democrat. So, if i want my vote to count I must participate in today's caucus. I have never lived in a state that caucused before so this will be an entirely new experience. I don't know what to expect. I will let you know how it all shakes down. Matt will miss all the excitement because he is in L.A. and there is no provision for absentee caucus' except for religion or military duties.

Because my roots are deep in conservative Utah Mormon territory, many of my readers identify as Republicans. You guys can stop reading this post now if you want. I am going to lay out the hows and whys of what I plan to voice at the caucus today.

I think all of us democrats suspected that it would come down to a Obama v. Clinton race. While I admired Richardson and Edwards I just couldn't see them reaching the buzz level of the biggies. They were mostly ignored by the media and didn't get very much face time in the debates. So, here are my (greatly abbreviated) thoughts on Obama and Clinton.

My gut feeling all along has been to lean away from Clinton. Why? This business of Presidential dynasties has got to stop. We are not a banana republic. In the last debate she was asked about that and she said in this country we are all judged by our own merits and that is what she was running on, not those of her husband. Whatever. That is like asking a jury to strike a remark from the record. Doesn't mean they never heard it. That said, I still wanted to give her a shot based on what she had to say. I do think that she has something to offer in the way of experience. I feel that the policies she puts forward are well thought out and take into account what she has learned over the years. Take healthcare for example. She failed spectacularly when she put forward her plan as first lady but she tweaked and learned and moved forward with a revised plan. I also agree with her thoughts on the economy and immigration. In the last debate where the candidates were allowed to speak w/out time limits her carefully thought out ideas moved beyond sound bites into plans I could really get behind. That said, I am having trouble with her inability to own up to her votes to give W carte blanche on the war. And she also wasted a bunch of time in video game legislation when, to my eye, the walls were falling down all around in regards to all the big issues.

And Obama?
Well, the reality is that he and Clinton are not so different in policy. It's all in the minutia. His plans seem more like "elect me" soundbites rather than Clinton's more thought out road maps. Does that matter? I don't know. We all know that when presidents, senators, representatives, etc, get elected things never go as they promise in elections. It's not usually due to lies during the campaign. It is simply that the system is divided, complicated and fraught with lobbyists that it seems impossible to make any forward progress. He is less experienced that Clinton but I believe that he is smart enough to learn on the fly. (please, please, please, let us have a smart president on this next go around - I just can't deal with this "aw shucks" good, ol country boy shtick anymore.) But when he speaks - Oh when he speaks! He makes me want to be a better citizen. He makes me want to help others. Over the last 7 years I have wondered what happened to the country I love. Why have we become mean? To those who are different, to those who need help? To those who are living in different cultures? I know, we were attacked but our response has been black and white and this world and our country are painted in every shade of grey and the rainbow. When Obama speaks I believe that we can be better. I believe that we can lift up those who are struggling and reach out to the world with a broader mindset. I believe that we can attempt diplomacy before bombs.

So what does it mean to me? Clinton has experience and carefully thought out plans but she also comes with baggage and she is a divisive character in U.S. politics. Can she really help stitch this country back together and repair the damage done to our position on the international stage? And Obama, he is smart as a whip but I am not sure he is ready for what lies ahead if he is elected. In the end I have decided to vote for Barack Obama. Hillary Clinton lacks the ability to inspire and unite. With the baggage she will bring to the White House I don't think she will be able to help us return to the country I miss. Barack Obama may not be as experienced as Clinton but I believe his learning curve will be short. In the face of all the problems in the world and at home, the power to inspire seems more important than the minute details of policy. If he inspires a move toward unity in our fractured blue/red country and inspires a renewed respect from the other countries of the world then we can all begin to work together as we move into future.


I want to BELIEVE again.

"My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you -- ask what can you do for your country."

"My fellow citizens of the world, ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."

President John F. Kennedy

A quick diversion from construction to politics

It's been a very long time since I felt hopeful and optimistic about any politician on a national level. I know that campaigns are all about rosy forecasts and the reality of office is vetos, lobbies with more money and influence than god, partisan bickering and filibusters and corporations with representatives in their pockets. Still, I am grateful to Barak Obama for reminding me that there is a way forward that is positive. I am posting this video in the hopes that it stirs the same hopeful feelings in those of you who may not have seen it after the Iowa caucus. What I loved best is that his speech is all about what "we" can accomplish, not all "me" this and "I" that. Shades of JFK. That is all.