In Memoriam - My Sister Carmen

I cannot express how much I miss being able to call her and knowing I won't see her again...so to Carmen:
Though my heart is broken at the moment, all I can hear is your laughter and see you holding hands with me when we used to walk to the store as kids, and playing under the big mimosa tree in the summer, building a miniature zoo out of toothpicks and popsicle sticks, with all our little plastic animals as the occupants. I think at one time we both wanted be veterinarians together. We should have done that...but life took us in different directions and a 1000 miles apart and I regret not seeing you more often. Carmen, I hope that you can still see me and watch over me for I love you and will miss you forever... Kari

She and I both played pool (when we played each other it was always pretty even, I'm a lefty switch hitter, and would always be able to wear her down-not win but at least stay even) and she was actually good enough to play on the Miller Lite Team and ended up 16th in the nation playing in Las Vegas at a National competition around 1979-81, I can't remember the exact year, now for some reason. So:
We now drink a toast
for Carmen was the most
ace stick in the room.
for there they were
always behind so far and
shooting pool like they were using a broom...

I have so much more to say and tell you, my gentle readers, about my sister, but my hand hurts a lot now. I'll post that stuff later.

Al Franken - Finally!

Finally - Al Franken after 8 months after being elected, they HAD to let HIM in.

Al Franken is made for this and I think he'll do well. Other comedians who might do well> Robin Williams, Senate Medicare Review. Bill Maher, Senate Drug Czar. Louis CK - Finance Czar, he KNOWS the value of a dollar. Dane Cook, Secretary of Interior or at least Parks and recreation.
And best of all: Lewis Black, for anything he wants. Nobody smarter.

Palin quits as gov this month

I happen to agree with most of Time Mag's writer Halperin reasons, they are not unforeseen. However, I think there are some other concerns:

To run for Republican Prez, Palin is gonna have to be squeaky clean because the GOP (govt of the perverts) is having such a hard time in the Morals and High Living area. There may be some things she wants to do as the Gov that are illegal/frowned-upon to do as the Gov.

She doesn't have a squeaky clean past and - not trying to sound err-umm... lefty-elitist or Obamatic, but can't help it - Palin and the family is a wee bit like average-trailer-park-occupants in background, behavior and hobbies. She might need the next couple of years to make us forget the things we know about and to eliminate the things we aren't sure of yet, but suspect. Simple as that.

And of course, the book deal. The special-needs kid. Grandma-ing her teen's baby(ies?). Mothering in general. Householding. These things take a lot away from making ridiculous statements on TV that tell us one sure thing, math (or history) is not her strong suit...how DID she get elected again? What was McCain thinking? But I digress...

Not least of all - for her to say she's quitting because of the "criticisms" (i.e. media beatdown) her and her family have taken since she was tapped by the McCain election crew, well... it's disappointing at best and infuriating at worst. Isn't it the old diatribe of the primarily male-dominated political sphere, that women may cry and run out of the room if insulted and therefore not capable of being in politics in the first place, let alone trusted with the nuclear codes?

Thanks Sarah, for nothing. In the movement for equal rights, but equal acceptance, women struggle the world over (ok...mostly here and in Tehran).

"awww jeez, Edith!"....says the primordial GOP'er, Archie Bunker....