Category Archives: Editorial

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Losing

Posted on July 4, 2015 | Leave a comment

I get emotional twice a year, after Thanksgiving listening to sad holiday songs on the radio driving home with my husband sleeping in the passenger seat in our old car. And July 4th with military and other music that makes us remember who we are, Americans.

Why did I not walk out to see the fireworks last night? Bugs in standing water the County will not drain. They’ve always loved to munch on me, since I was a kid. I also stayed to protect dog Zoe but she didn’t need protection as she just stayed away from the windows.

We used to live next door to the largest land-based fireworks in the US. Guess who was Zoe’s best friend? Pyro Paula. Company owner who ran the whole thing. We’d walk by a month earlier and a voice would call out ZOE! They’ve been buds for years so I don’t think she’s afraid of a little “thunder.”

And I don’t mind missing the fireworks as I’ve seen the best in the world, and then went to see the smallest on a tiny lake in the middle of no-where by the local fire department. Sitting on the grass for ten minutes was just as fun, but I got better photos of the big ones. One day my husband will tell me where he placed those old photos. New battery, more memory. Still my laptop is ancient.

I’ve been present at three pet euthansias. The first was my cat Nathan, then my dog Chani and then the dog of a friend. I do not look forward to the death of my old dog Zoe. My husband may not wish to be there but as he as been there through her entire life he must help her in the end.

Renewal. Do everything you can to protect someone you love. Care for them. Feed them. My sister gave a box of chicken broth to my mother, home from the hospital. She said “Dee always makes it from scratch.” I did, and used to go across the street to a mini-mart and buy her a NYTimes and a V-8. She needed nutrients.

Our dog Zoe passed her ten-year elderly blood panel with flying colors and another vet said she doesn’t need another until age 12. I think she’ll be with us for a while. There will be sadness when she goes but I think I’ve one more shelter pup in me to train and feed well and be a great companion. Thanks for reading! Happy Independence Day. “Aunt” Dee

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Happy. Woof!

Posted on July 4, 2015 | Leave a comment

Here, they do the big 1-hour fireworks on July 3rd then all the smaller towns have theirs on the 4th. I took out the dog for “last chance” before the fireworks began. My husband walked out to see the event and I stayed home with the dog.

Our neighbor was heading the newscast. What worked for us is that I kept the pops on TV low but loud enough to drown out the “thunder” outside. We could not see, but could hear the blasts. It helped that private planes were circling outside making more noise. All dog Zoe did was stay away from the windows.

Before we came home I ran into a neighbor who is getting a pup from the same place he got his beloved Jake. His sister and I helped Jake during his final months. He was Zoe’s age and got bone cancer. His ashes are on display and I asked for a photo of the pup and can’t wait to meet him or her. Getting a puppy is such a big thing. Bigger than July 3.

Happy 4th! Dee

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Making Things Happen

Posted on July 3, 2015 | 1 comment

Working for government is not a bad thing. It got me a start. Didn’t pay much and I got out of it a few years later.

What it did teach me is how people think. As a kid I was smart and emotional. Emotion has a small role in government when you want to write a piece of legislation that could have changed the world and a big company came in at the last minute and seized their day. Yes, after the agreement and subsequent denial that night I did lose my dinner in the lavatory. Two years of work down the drain.

I know how elected officials think, about what their staff wants, and what the bureaucrats want and how to get what I want. I don’t give anyone money, just cheer, cajole, pester and VOTE until they don’t want me to write or call anymore.

Yes, I pick up dog poop. I encourage others to do so as well by carrying extra bags. I call when there is a crosswalk I initiated two years ago whose paint has faded so much that it is useless. No-one ever stopped anyway so I’ve asked for a sign in the middle that says it’s state law to stop.

Encouraging positive legislation that helps people is our duty, as voters. Whether it’s your local city council person or state or federal legislator this is your job as a citizen. Determine what matters to you, think it out and write or call in to say a kid died because there was no stop sign. Hopefully that is not the case. Look up representatives by your zip code. We pay them. They work for us. Dee

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Our Flag

Posted on July 3, 2015 | Leave a comment

During the summer there is a flag next to our beach. It helps me know where and how hard the winds are blowing.

It would be interesting to be an air traffic controller out here on the lake, because the wind changes every few minutes, there must not be a boring time, and sometimes planes come in overhead and it seems like they’ll hit us before they bank and head to the airport to land.

Our government flag was hoisted and left for a few weeks then taken down for some reason for at least six weeks. I made some calls and asked that it be up before July 4 for the remainder of the summer.

It is not to test the winds, it is a reminder of what our nation means to us that we only get to celebrate once per year. For the government not to raise a flag would be a travesty (of a mockery of a sham, Woody Allen). It went back up on the 2nd.

Here they do the fireworks (we can’t see them from here) today so I think I’ll make my new pork tenderloin with peach salsa. Tomorrow it’s probably steak on the grill, potato salad and celebration coleslaw. Kind of red, white and blue.

Dog Zoe doesn’t mind the fireworks that much. They were much louder years ago when we were right next door. We’ll just remember to take her for “last chance” walk before they begin and keep the windows closed. Happy 4th. Ask the kids about the Constitution and Declaration of Independence. Dee

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Orphan Cheese

Posted on July 2, 2015 | Leave a comment

What a great idea! A market I don’t visit enough has a basket by their new cheese counter with “orphan cheese.” I picked up a bit of 3-year cheddar, Emmentaler and Gouda for under five bucks, yes including all of them.

I made a triple decker 6″quesadilla for my husband the other night. These are fresh cheeses that are from the ends that no-one will buy because they’re not big enough or gorgeous. They’re fresh, tasty and perfect for lunch for a grilled cheese sandwich for me.  I’ll buy them any day!

A quesadilla is a possibility for my husband tomorrow morning and I can even make him some fresh salsa. No, perhaps I’ll make it for me and give him his special bacon and eggs tomorrow.

One of the ideas I created and our place has adopted is an herb garden. It’s doubled in size this year. I’ve a few tasty tomatoes, shallot, and shop for my own cilantro, parsley and chives at our herb garden. I tend it weekly through the summer, as a volunteer.

We are in a land of some great ideas, some that include orphan cheese. Cheers! Dee

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Sunshine on My Shoulders

Posted on June 29, 2015 | Leave a comment

As a kid we made fun of His Rocky Mountain Highness. Then I learned his songs with my guitar at age 50, when I took it up. He had a passion, and my husband and I love the mountains.

In the morning, we get sun very early, starting around 4:15 a.m. I’ve always risen with the sun. At about four, our hip-less herding dog jumps down from our bed and goes underneath the bed by me to get her beauty sleep away from sunlight and to assure I won’t go anywhere without her.

If I get up at 4:30, by 5:00 she will open the bedroom door and relocate away from sun, and sleep. If I’m here in the office she’ll be a foot from my chair. She wants to sleep. It’s five in the morning.

Daily, I’ve real sunshine and Zoe’s (the dog) sunshine on my shoulders and I’m lucky for those gifts.

If we were ever to renew our vows (we eloped) with family present we may even choose a John Denver song. I just lost all of Gen X. Johnny Cash? That’s not in the cards right now. Right now there’s a beautiful sky and it’s not even six in the morning. Cheers, have a great day! Dee

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Good Things, Bad Things

Posted on June 28, 2015 | 1 comment

A few bad things happened last week with family and work. I do not wish to dwell on these as I’ve been reading papers since four o’clock this morning and have crafted a response by seven.

The good things start with us buying the blandest seedless watermelon ever. I’d rather drink a glass of water with a touch of lemon juice than go through the mess of breaking down a watermelon. My husband eats it with a hint of salt (surprised it’s not sugar, as he’s a proud Texan) and that didn’t do the trick. I added a tablespoon of my new peach salsa and it worked for me. I brought a plate downstairs and was told it was the boldest and most innovative item I’d ever donated. Yes, I have to depend upon someone else’s husband to tell me this.

There’s a Japanese lady that walks around the neighborhood the same time Zoe and I do in the early morning. She likes to practice tennis against a wall at the courts nearby. We spoke two mornings now. Zoe likes her and tried to lick her and I said “no.” She petted Zoe and said we must have had her a long time. 11.5 years, yes. She said her coat was soft and she was happy and very few dogs were that lucky. Wise woman. I’ve raised this dog since she was six weeks old and have told you I’ve never met a happier critter in my life. My former adoptees (all were adopted) were abused or starving or sick. Zoe did spend five weeks of her life in squalor and had severe coccidia and hookworms but her eyes were closed most of the time and all she did was eat and sleep and crawl over her litter-mates so I don’t think she remembers that part of her life.

She is kind with adults, children, other dogs, even the occasional cat. Forget squirrels, they’re prey as are mice. Not sure about bunnies. She doesn’t care for birds, especially the turkey who lives here and gets his pardon every year at Thanksgiving. Here’s to concentrating on the good things. I live and wait for the city/county to replace the flag on the Lake before July 3. Patriotically, Dee

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Bachelors

Posted on June 27, 2015 | Leave a comment

Ladies, you should have seen this cute guy at the meat counter at the grocery. He specified two pork chops on the bone. He remembered seeing me around. I recommended a peach salsa I created last week. He said he really doesn’t cook.

Of course I thought he had a hot date tonight and might be on the marriage track. He’s nearly young enough to be my son, so don’t get any ideas there, I’m happily married.

I asked about a peach salsa to put atop the pork chops when grilled. He said no. Then I ran into him in the elevator and told him I’d whip up some peach/shallot/honey and sriracha salsa.

I tried to match a name to his home with no luck and for the third time today, he walked in the door and asked “is this my sauce?” Unfortunately he was eating both pork chops himself before going out later tonight with his buddies.

Once he tastes this salsa he’ll cook for the right woman and be on the marriage track. I Dee-guarantee it.

He said he wanted to pay me back, in pet wee wee pads. I told him our 11.5 year old Zoe will never pee in the house or on the deck. Maybe in 6-7 years he’ll have a client. It was kind of him to offer. Cheers and hoping for good results for pet folk and single gents alike. All he has to do is man the grill and make a salad, open a bottle of wine and say cheers! Bella Ragazza, hi beautiful girl, Dee

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Selling Out

Posted on June 26, 2015 | Leave a comment

On the Pride issue, I worked hard and have many friends of different persuasions. I get it and really know that everyone deserves a right to live and work and be different.

The legislator I worked with on this issue and saw it pass the Assembly over 30 years ago chastised me. We were both eating free food in NYC, my first time at Tavern on the Green. He chastised me for working in real estate, doubling my salary and getting me out from under my boss who insisted on doing my job.

He told me I sold out. Now I see his website and he sold out. I went into non-profits and volunteer work and helping my husband change the world through technology. No, there’s no mini-me here except for the dog. And we are not on a big ship looking for ha ha “one million dollars.”

I sold out for a life of working with non-profits and he sold out for a lot more. He should have not criticized me that day. It did help me quit my job, but he sold out on a big scale and I do not have victories I should share with him today. Dee

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Pride

Posted on June 26, 2015 | Leave a comment

Congratulations to the Supreme Court! I started working on this issue over 30 years ago but never thought it would go the distance. Thank goodness it did. Do you know why?

This is my theory. AIDS. The government denied it, conveniently forgot to fund research into it, and blamed it on gay men. Then tennis star Arthur Ashe died from a blood transfusion and all of a sudden it became the disease of the decade.

I worked on a project in So Cal years ago, and it did not fully succeed but made great strides because gays and lesbians knew how to organize. Sad to say, it was because of AIDS.

Years ago we pioneered the first sexual orientation legislation in the country. Steven Sanders authored it, I only helped it through. In the 80’s we just wanted jobs and housing and no discrimination. The dissenting votes on the Court today were telling.

I know many gays and lesbians. I am heterosexual, married many years with a great dog, too. She’s named Zoe, Greek for life. My husband’s family will not like to read this entry. My family and friends will like it. Dee

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