Allergies plague us. Doctors, pharmacists as well as friends
recommend all sorts of remedies. If the allergy is too bad sometimes
a prescription is written. Most times it's catch as catch can over the
counter products are purchased and some work. Sneezing and runny
noses are quieted until they come back again and again.
Packaging for pills, large and small all shout I AM THE CURE.
Specific instructions for use are carried on most products. They tell us
how to unwrap and use pills. That's when I miss the late Andy Rooney.
Rooney was television's sweet curmudgeon. He closed "CBS
60 Minutes" with the most irreverent remarks about ordinary
things that don't work well. He had a whinny gravely kind of voice
and always told manufacturers why their products don't work.
I thought of Rooney when I made my umpteenth purchase of allergy
pills. The package had arrows for easy opening. I pushed the arrows.
The pills did not come out. I tried a scissors and then a knife and
finally the pills came out. They were crushed.
I wish Andy Rooney was around to tell
pharmaceutical companies they ought to do something
about all those cute arrows that don't work.
Monday, November 11, 2013
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
THE SCARIEST HALLOWEEN
The night was chilly and misty. But she had decided to go out anyway.
She put on a rain cape and pulled the hood over her face. She went out
and headed straight for the pumpkin patch. I know my way she thought.
Mist covered the ground. It was scary. As she walked along, she thought
she saw a mob of people making their way toward her. They were being
led by the tiniest bird. Then she began to see the people were all
very small children in single file like in a parade.
The leader had big floppy ears and was carrying a WWII flyer's helmet
and wore a white scarf. The last child was waving what looked like a big letter.
All of sudden some one pulled at her coat. She looked down and saw
a round bald headed kid. It was Charlie Brown!* He pulled her down
and whispered, "Want to know what's in the letter ?"
According to Charlie the kid was writing to the great Pumpkin. The kid
asked the great Pumpkin if he could help the children understand a few
things like why people were losing their good senses. Charlie continued talking.
Like asking the Great Pumpkin why people were
telling lies. Like saying kids don't want to learn to read, or other things.
Like guns don't kill people or why moms and dads were called lazy
because they did not have a job or why people were so mean to each
other and other lies about a whole bunch of stuff to each other.
That's when Charlie paused. He Looked up and then looked directly into her eyes
and asked "Do you know why?" and then he disappeared into the misty night.
* * * * *
*With apology to Charles M. Schulz. 1922 - 2000
She put on a rain cape and pulled the hood over her face. She went out
and headed straight for the pumpkin patch. I know my way she thought.
Mist covered the ground. It was scary. As she walked along, she thought
she saw a mob of people making their way toward her. They were being
led by the tiniest bird. Then she began to see the people were all
very small children in single file like in a parade.
The leader had big floppy ears and was carrying a WWII flyer's helmet
and wore a white scarf. The last child was waving what looked like a big letter.
All of sudden some one pulled at her coat. She looked down and saw
a round bald headed kid. It was Charlie Brown!* He pulled her down
and whispered, "Want to know what's in the letter ?"
According to Charlie the kid was writing to the great Pumpkin. The kid
asked the great Pumpkin if he could help the children understand a few
things like why people were losing their good senses. Charlie continued talking.
Like asking the Great Pumpkin why people were
telling lies. Like saying kids don't want to learn to read, or other things.
Like guns don't kill people or why moms and dads were called lazy
because they did not have a job or why people were so mean to each
other and other lies about a whole bunch of stuff to each other.
That's when Charlie paused. He Looked up and then looked directly into her eyes
and asked "Do you know why?" and then he disappeared into the misty night.
* * * * *
*With apology to Charles M. Schulz. 1922 - 2000
Sunday, October 27, 2013
VINEYARDS OF MISSOURI
On a recent beautiful, cold 40 degree day, I took the opportunity
to visit Missouri's wine country, even though I am no wine connoisseur.
We took highway 40 West to a small, two lane, hilly road to Augusta.
I wasn't disappointed. The trees were beginning to show and
weeping willows gave us a royal bow as we passed them.
Our road followed the Missouri River and we were soon passing
rich farm land and historical markers. We passed quickly but
we passed one that marked Daniel Boone's home and
museum. Near by the Bush Wildlife Preserve which once housed an
ammunition center is said to have bomb shelters hidden in the ground.
Signs for gun and fishing clubs popped up every so often.
Defiance, one of the towns we came through had small houses with
white picket fences and signs that the Katy Trail ran through it.
Bicyclists, families and walkers were using the path. As we came
close to our destination, Balducci Vineyards, we passed row after
row of the vineyards of other farms.
To my surprise I learned there are more than 120
wineries in Missouri located in nine different sections of the state.
A brochure with all this information is available at the
Missouri Wine & Grape Board, missouriwine.org
Any one of the nine wine trails of Missouri is worth a day's trip for the
scenery alone. I did taste a red and white and found them pleasant.
to visit Missouri's wine country, even though I am no wine connoisseur.
We took highway 40 West to a small, two lane, hilly road to Augusta.
I wasn't disappointed. The trees were beginning to show and
weeping willows gave us a royal bow as we passed them.
Our road followed the Missouri River and we were soon passing
rich farm land and historical markers. We passed quickly but
we passed one that marked Daniel Boone's home and
museum. Near by the Bush Wildlife Preserve which once housed an
ammunition center is said to have bomb shelters hidden in the ground.
Signs for gun and fishing clubs popped up every so often.
Defiance, one of the towns we came through had small houses with
white picket fences and signs that the Katy Trail ran through it.
Bicyclists, families and walkers were using the path. As we came
close to our destination, Balducci Vineyards, we passed row after
row of the vineyards of other farms.
To my surprise I learned there are more than 120
wineries in Missouri located in nine different sections of the state.
A brochure with all this information is available at the
Missouri Wine & Grape Board, missouriwine.org
Any one of the nine wine trails of Missouri is worth a day's trip for the
scenery alone. I did taste a red and white and found them pleasant.
Saturday, September 28, 2013
MECHANISM VS TECHNOLOGY: OR A FAD?
The window display in an up beat shop caught my eye. Piled one on top of each other were portable record players circa the fifties. Each player was a different size and color. Each had a 75 rpm,vinyl record on its turn table.
Not an iPhone. Not a smart phone. No curly cues, just plain, ordinary looking portable record players. So what's the difference between this mechanism and the technology we now have to listen to music?
My guess is it may be lonely as an audience of one on an iPad when a record player lets you share music with others. Or is it just another fad?
MUSIC: US AMBASSADOR TO THE WORLD?
The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra often plays music by living, established composers like John Adams, Steve Reich and Thomas Ades. But one of the first concerts of this season previewed the work of Patrick Harlin, a young composer and his composition, "Rapture."
According to our program, Harlin counts traditional classical music and Jazz among his influences. He credits James Tabors book, "Blind Descent" about the crippling onset of emotion, known as "The Rapture" which cave climbers experience after living weeks in total darkness. At the conclusion of the composition, the audience rose to its feet shouting bravos and hosanna as the composer came to the stage.
It was clear to many in our audience that this approximately 8 minute
composition represents the strength and determination of people in this country and will serve as a a good will Ambassador around the world.
According to our program, Harlin counts traditional classical music and Jazz among his influences. He credits James Tabors book, "Blind Descent" about the crippling onset of emotion, known as "The Rapture" which cave climbers experience after living weeks in total darkness. At the conclusion of the composition, the audience rose to its feet shouting bravos and hosanna as the composer came to the stage.
It was clear to many in our audience that this approximately 8 minute
composition represents the strength and determination of people in this country and will serve as a a good will Ambassador around the world.
Monday, September 23, 2013
NRA & MENTAL HEALTH: BED PARTNERS?
The NRA would have us believe the organization is an advocate for the mental health system.
According to Wayne LaPierre, head of NRA: "Mental Health patients should be taken off the streets and be committed!"
Our mental health system is in great need, but to use mental health in a clever public relations campaign is to mislead the public. It is outrageous and will not work.
The problem is that we permit unregulated manufacturing, distribution and sales of military guns, equipment and ammunition to be used by people on our streets and country roads. The unregulated business of guns is not acceptable.
It is time for voters to tell our elected officials, and those who would represent us, we will not be side tracked by simplistic language or solutions. It is time to stop being afraid of the NRA and take back
the civil society in which all of us, gun owners and non owners live.
According to Wayne LaPierre, head of NRA: "Mental Health patients should be taken off the streets and be committed!"
Our mental health system is in great need, but to use mental health in a clever public relations campaign is to mislead the public. It is outrageous and will not work.
The problem is that we permit unregulated manufacturing, distribution and sales of military guns, equipment and ammunition to be used by people on our streets and country roads. The unregulated business of guns is not acceptable.
It is time for voters to tell our elected officials, and those who would represent us, we will not be side tracked by simplistic language or solutions. It is time to stop being afraid of the NRA and take back
the civil society in which all of us, gun owners and non owners live.
Sunday, September 22, 2013
AUTUMN STILL A GRAND LADY!
Autumn marked her arrival with an "I'm glad to be alive" kind of day! Temperatures were where they belonged, high 60s, low 70s. Clear skies and little or no humidity brought bikers, walkers, joggers, people pushing strollers with infants, still more skipping behind were out in force.
Jackets were off, some shorts still prevailed, and cars rolled down windows to reveal more children, some guys and dolls and lots of picnic baskets for those headed for the country. Dogs, pedigree and rescue alike were eager to give their handlers a run for their money.
Every once in a while a tree showed a red leaf as if to say, watch these branches, we are about to show you some brilliant color. Flower beds were turning golden with new plantings and meals were eaten out of doors.
Autumn provides us with a lazy yet energetic, colorful pace and a time for reflection all her own. We hope this Grand Lady will be as kind and gracious to river, land and sea in the months ahead.
Jackets were off, some shorts still prevailed, and cars rolled down windows to reveal more children, some guys and dolls and lots of picnic baskets for those headed for the country. Dogs, pedigree and rescue alike were eager to give their handlers a run for their money.
Every once in a while a tree showed a red leaf as if to say, watch these branches, we are about to show you some brilliant color. Flower beds were turning golden with new plantings and meals were eaten out of doors.
Autumn provides us with a lazy yet energetic, colorful pace and a time for reflection all her own. We hope this Grand Lady will be as kind and gracious to river, land and sea in the months ahead.
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