Gloriously warm, wonderfully springlike day! It must have been in the sixties, with blue skies and brilliant sun--what a treat after the clouds and cold. Hope it lasts.
The podiatrist came and actually performed surgery in the living room on Pat's right big toe. He injected Novocaine, then cut out half the toenail down the middle. I have to dress it every day for several weeks with saline solution, peroxide, and an antibiotic cream, then a gauze bandage. Never studied health care--the last thing in the world I'd ever want to do--but guess I signed up for it with those fateful words, "I do."
Wider: From an article in Harper's, "Sick In The Head; Why Americans Will Not Get The Healthcare They Need," some startling statistics:
"In 2006, Americans spent $2.1 trillion on health care—at $7,026 per person, more than any other nation—and yet we lag far behind other nations in such measures as infant mortality, life expectancy, and early detection of life-threatening illnesses."
Yet single payer healthcare is generally ignored both by the criminals in Washington and most of the mainstream media. Why? Gee, I don't want to get all cynical, but could it be because the insurance companies are against it? The present archaic and outrageously unfair "system" supports their bottom lines so nicely and anything more equitable would be "socialized medicine." So we'll continue to have one of the least efficient and poorest functioning healthcare in the developed world, aided and abetted by the criminals in Washington.
But 'twas ever thus, I suppose. Came across this gem on governments, from Sir Thomas More:
"They are a conspiracy of the rich, who, on pretence of managing the public, only pursue their private ends, and devise all the ways and arts they find out, first, that they may, without danger, preserve all that they have so aquired, and then that they may engage the poor to toil and labour for them, at as low rates as possible and oppress them as they please."
That was written 500 years ago. Hey, anybody want to argue we've been treated to "hope and change?"
Later: At WW, lost the teeny-weeny .2 (two-tenths of a pound or, I think, about 3 ounces) I had gained last week, so am back at 128.8 with 70 pounds off. I've been within my desired range of 125-130 for more than two months and although I'd prefer the lower number, I consider this perfectly okay.

Was pleasantly surprised to get a phone call from my cousin, John. He had e-mailed me a picture of farmhouse where our Uncle Frank and his family lived years ago. It's a beautiful picture and I'm going to see if I can get it on Facebook and/or the blog "Uncle Frank's Farm." This consists of a memoir my uncle wrote about 20 years ago, about his growing up years in the early part of the twentieth century. It can be seen at http://uncle-franks-farm.blogspot.com/
Also got a call from sister Betty; other than that, slow-pokey--as ever--day. Later, though, Pat and I were awakened by a loud crash. Almost surely inside the house, it sounded as if a picture had fallen on an uncarpeted floor. But I checked both bathrooms, the kitchen, and the laundry room, and saw nothing. Will look further.
Wider: From a talk on March 4 by Justin Raimondo:
"Illusions die hard. Especially the ideological kind. When the illusion of Barack Obama, the peacemaker, is finally dispelled, we are going to wake up and find ourselves waist-deep in a war that will soon threaten to dwarf the disastrous invasion of Iraq, both in human and material cost.
We know this from what he has said he will do, and what he has already done. He's already announced he's sending 17,000 more troops to Afghanistan, bringing the total to nearly 40,000. Not that this comes as any surprise: his entire critique of the Bushian foreign policy during the campaign was that we've been fighting the wrong war: that we had to get out of Iraq so we could occupy and pacify Afghanistan, and make a proper job of it."
There's a lot more which can be read at Anti-War.Com.

Okay, I apologize, Outlook Express. You fell down on the job yesterday, but seem to have gotten over your sulk and are now functioning (but not before I had to turn to Comcast Mail).
Went to Shop-Rite yesterday while Pat slept, then to Shop 'N' Bag in the afternoon. These are the windows of time I usually have to go out.
Delightful daughter-in-law Paula called on Skype last night, as Mike had said she would. She wanted to test her office cam, as she was shortly going to be interviewing a candidate in the states. It's good news that her company is hiring; they just picked up two other American designers, also.
Wider: Here's a priceless--priceless!--video by Jon Stewart on The Daily Show:
http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=220252&title=cnbc-gives-financial-advice
It's hysterically funny, at the same time it's horrible, disgusting, and a good indication of the fury so many feel at the present debacle. As somebody else wrote, "I don't understand why these bank heads don't resign..." Because they have no shame, that's why.
Note: I deeply, deeply apologize for the commercial up front in this video. I guess there's no way to avoid the ads--they're everywhere. I do believe once you get through it, the show is well worth watching.

Again, as has happened so many times before, Outlook Express is giving me trouble. It used to refuse to send, now it refuses to receive mail. A. stopped in yesterday and helped me put a picture on Facebook, but I don't think that's the problem. I may have to revert to Comcast Mail.
A. also gave Pat a trim and mixed peroxide and baking soda to try to clean the grout in the bathroom, but had no luck. It's not too bad, but is one of those things that prey on the mind and loom large for me. Guess it should be re-grouted.
Other than that, not a whole heckuva lot went on. I was able to get to the supermarket, as we were running low on basics, such as winter squash. Didn't walk this morning, as Susan had an early appointment. Zzzz...
Wider: One of the blogs I follow, "Hugo Zoom," carries an interview program today from Australia about the American bailout. It's a downer, all right, but it rings true to me. I was especially struck by the interviewee's phrase that the action is "horrible economics and outrageous morality." Here's the link: http://hugozoom.blogspot.com/

We had lots of snow! I think Little Egg got about 9 inches. It's very pretty and very annoying. I must say the service cleared our walks and driveway quickly, but I didn't go out--even skipped our walk. Instead, got a lot done around the house: changed the bed, scrubbed the bathroom, did mountains of wash...
You know, I'm not sure why I record this stuff. Is it because I want everybody to know what a virtuous little wifey I am? (Now, that's pathetic.) Or because I think I'll read this over a year from now and be enthralled at my industry? (Hell, even I won't be interested.) Dunno.
I did take several pictures of the huge flock of blackbirds (grackles?) eating birdseed at Susan's and sent them to her. I think the sight of such strong black against stark white is somehow satisfying to humans--kind of a basic recognition of the principle of contrast, maybe.
Wider: Note this by Chris Hedges, from a talk that will be read at the anti-war rallies on March 19:
"The occupation of Iraq will not be disrupted. Lies and deception, which launched the war in the first place, are being employed by Democrats to maintain it. This is not a withdrawal. It is occupation lite. And as long as American troops are on Iraqi soil the war will grind on, the death toll on each side will continue to mount and we will remain a lightning rod for hatred and rage in the Middle East. Add to this Obama’s decision to increase troop levels in Afghanistan and even his most purblind supporters will have to admit the new president is as intent on maintaining American empire as the old..."
But for thinking people, it's important that the whole piece be read. See it at http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20090302_its_obamas_war_now/

Had a GREAT day yesterday. I desperately needed to get away for awhile, so after getting Pat settled, drove up to A.'s at her invitation.
A., J., T., and I went to the Manasquan Environmental Center, a terrific place I'd never been before. It's not overwhelmingly large, but just the right size for an active, curious first-grader and a hyperactive 18-month-old. It includes only the flora and fauna found in its setting of the pine barrens of New Jersey, and includes several large tanks with fish at child's eye level, stuffed animals, dioramas, and lots of hands-on learning for children. There's also a charming web cam that showed an eagles' nest on the grounds and mommy and daddy eagle--live--feeding their homely little chicks, born on February 10. Large windows show beautiful vistas of the Manasquan reservoir and the surrounding woods--it's a great place and it was a wonderful day.
Got home before 6:00, in plenty of time to make Pat's dinner. I had noticed a few little flakes of snow coming down on the drive home. Hmm...they were joined by, I guess, several billion others overnight and we've got about six inches out there. Don't care, we're snug in our home and I have plenty of the basics, including a new jug of Taylor Country Red--hey, we're good for a month.
Wider: From "The Distant Ocean" blog:
"...unfortunately the participation of large numbers of mainstream Democrats in the anti-war movement is over now that there's a Democrat in the White House. So if there are protests against either the continued presence in Iraq or the renewal of the war in Afghanistan, you can count on them being far smaller than anything we saw when Bush was in power."
As I keep asking, "Where is the anti-war movement?" Sadly, I'm afraid it's curled in a cot with the Dear Leader, too blinded by love to notice the blood on his hands.

Talk about a slow pokey day. After my walk, WW, the usual chores, and I had settled Pat in, I sat on the sofa and watched television. Television! In the daytime!
Guess this signals my decline. Soon, I'll stay in my bathrobe all day and let dirty dishes pile up around me. They'll find me, stiff as a board, clutching the remote in one hand and a warm beer in the other.
Actually, I mildly enjoyed it. Pat had on "Survivor Man," which I assume means somebody is dropped off in a remote area--and so on. Guy was in the Amazon jungle and there was a full cast of ants and spiders--his dinner, as it turned out--plus he had a foot fungus. Here we go: art imitates life, as Pat has a foot fungus, a laughably minor ailment, for him, anyway.
We also watched an absorbing show about an expedition exploring the Lusitania, on its side in 300 feet of water since 1915. It's generally believed that the English government surreptitiously loaded explosives "for the war effort" on this commercial ship, thereby being directly responsible for the deaths of more than a thousand unsuspecting men, women, and children. When the Germans torpedoed it, there was a great outcry--"unprovoked," "diabolical," "let's get them back," etc.--and the incident helped fan the English war fever.
Well, thank heavens governments no longer hoodwink their citizens that way.
Talked to P. and N. on the web cam. P. assured me that the study of the Kallikak family (see yesterday's entry) is notorious for its racism, though it may be more like "classism," it seems to me.
Was delighted to have A. invite me up to be with her and the little boys today. If I can swing it and get Pat settled reasonably early, I'll go.