Holiday Movies

Saw two movies the past two days. Lots to look forward to this holiday season. Today I saw "Blind Side", the true story of homeless black youth taken off the street by a wealthy Memphis wife and mother. Sandra Bullock makes up for the disastrous "Where is Steve" and overpasses "The Proposal". Don't leave before the credits. 4****/5

"Fantastic Mr. Fox" deserves the rave reviews that it is getting. Animation done with precision puppets directed by Wes Anderson, who can't fail IMO. Voices by George Clooney and Meryl Streep with Bill Murray and William DeFore in surprising roles. And who can beat a sound track including Burl Ives. 3***/5

Saw the previews of "Sherlock Holmes". Appears to be Sherlock imbedded with 007.

Will have to see it however because of Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law. And since my books to film group having read and viewed the "Hound of the Baskervilles." True Sir Arthur Conan Doyle fans, be warned.

Day after in the desert

Cold and windy day in the desert.

Road runners puff themselves up against the weather.

I am puffed and curled up listening to the wind.

What is is there better to do on the day after a holiday?

How much joy there is when one starts one of the rarest of treats,

a book you can't put down but don't want to end too soon either.

The book: "March" by Geraldine Brooks, the story of the father and husband of "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott. Mr. March joins the Civil War as a Unitarian Universalised Chaplain.

Buddy's Turkey dinner

Poor Buddy,

Photo before he got into the turkey.

And after he cleaned up the turkey roasting pan. Not a good way to recycle the turkey grease.

Thanksgiving

THANKSGIVING

Today I look out my window at the purple mountains

The green desert floor

The red of the Vermillion flycatcher

I smell the onions being prepared for the turkey dressing

The baking of the apple pies

The fresh roses from the neighbors garden

I remember those who are hungry

Those who are without shelter and warmth

Those who are at war, soldiers and citizens

Let there be peace on earth

Rationing Health Care

We go to the Dentist in Mexico and get drugs from Canada. What is wrong this picture?

So the Health Care Reform bill will ration care.

IMO we are rationing health care NOW.

*45.7 million people without health care = rationing

*pre-existing disease exemption by insurance companies = rationing

* insurance specifying which Dr.'s you can see = rationing

*inability to get Dr. appointments for weeks, even months = rationing

Monday - Visited Dentist in Mexico.

Unable to get a Dr.s appointment for weeks, we self prescribed and bought prescription medications in Mexico. Maybe not the smartest thing to do but desperation brings desperate action. We are an R.N. and M.D. and the internet gives assistance in drugs and dosages.

Quote of the Day

*** "Life is short -- Forgive quickly - Hug often - and dance as if no one is watching."

Thoughts on Hunger in the U.S.

Thanksgiving week. As we spend the week eating too much, lets review the state of hunger in the U.S.

*A USDA report released Monday said that 49 million Americans experience what the government calls "food insecurity". How many of us can say that we have felt unsure of when or how our next meal may come?

*In over 500,000 families, one or more children go without having enough to eat. And often what they do have to eat is not nutritious food. Government food programs that provide breakfast and lunch programs in schools don't provide many fruits and vegetables. 50 calories of fat and/sugar are far less expensive that 50 calories of fruit and veggies.

*Areas of urban poverty often have large "grocery deserts"; many square miles that have no grocery stores; only fast food and convenience stores that don't carry fresh foods.

*What is the relationship of obesity in the U.S. to poverty and hunger? Spend some time in the Malls or the ER's of Tucson. Better yet, stand outside the Food Bank. Make a guess or judgement. Who are the upper middle class? And who are the poor? IMO the poor are the most obese. We are too used to seeing the emaciated hunger of Africa. We don't see the obese as the poor and hungry of our own cities

We need a broader strategy to eliminate hunger.

I believe Obama may be able to develop a welfare program for the poor.

Through his tax cuts for the wealthy, Mr. Bush had a welfare program for wealthy