Was able to run errands and get to Manahawkin for various supplies. A. stopped in after work. Other than that, the usual domestic chores. What's funny is not only do I not mind them, I actually enjoy them most of the time.
Saw the first episode of this season's "Little People, Big World." Matt went to Iraq to search out a family with several dwarf children. X-rays were taken and eventually, I guess, they'll be flown here for treatment--or something.
I thought it was very bizarre. Why did the military allow this? Of course, they'd like us to believe the whole reason for their illegal and immoral presence in the Middle East is to "help" people (while systematically killing and maiming, but never mind that). Presumably, they saw advantageous propaganda here, but it seemed odd. Well, no matter. Matt made it safely back to Oregon and the Iraqi family remained in dangerous squalor. Maybe the squalor is indigenous, but the danger--that kind of danger--isn't. It's an import from us.

Went to the Women's Club meeting, but didn't win anything from the "Tricky Tray" (just as well because it would mean more junk to donate to the thrift store).
Call/web cam from Ellen and we had a long, enjoyable chat. After, brother Frank called from California. He and Marybeth will be in Baltimore for new grandson's christening at the end of October and will come to Jersey for a time, maybe to stay in Betty's unrented house, so we'll see them--great!
Pat has rallied to a point, I'm happy to say. His appetite has returned and, while he isn't up to where he was a month or so ago, he's noticeably better than he was last week.

After getting lost in the wilds of north Jersey, I got to the caregivers' conference about 11:00. Was pleased to see Donna McQ., who was staffing the Wellspouse exhibit. Met some nice people, had a scrumptious lunch, which included chicken with mushroom sauce, pasta, spring mix salad, and petit fours. I ate six of these little cakes, along with two helpings of almost everything else. Am not worried about my weight, as I over-indulge only on special occasions like this when I'm out. To compensate, I had only a bowl of eggplant casserole (almost no-calorie) when I got home.
Getting home wasn't easy. Took the long route via Lawrenceville, as it was easier than the complicated way Mapquest sent me. But a few miles south of Warren Grove, I ran into (not literally) a horrendous accident and the road was blocked. After sitting for about 20 minutes, heard from the police officer that it would be at least another hour to clear things, so I drove back to Route 72 and got the parkway home, adding another 45 minutes or so to my trip.
Things were okay at home. A. went to the store for me and we had a quick dinner. Made cubed steak and stewed tomatoes for Pat and A. and I ate with him in the living room.
Love this little nugget from a comment on the "Truth Dig" site:
"McCain was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and married a silver shovel."

A. came after work with Lovable Lulu, the cockapoo. I gave Pat ham and eggplant and he ate it all; we had pizza--yum! A. then went on her hike and Mike called on the web cam. Saw precious Vivian and Violet, then filled him in on his father's condition--not good.
My cousin Bob called to say he had gotten the scrapple--still cold and it got there in three days. Had a long, good talk with him and it occurred to me again how lucky I am to have such a huge and wonderful extended family.
Will leave shortly for the conference in New Brunswick, to which I'm looking forward with pleasure. It isn't even the topic (caregiving) I'm anticipating--it's just getting out for the day.
Later: Forgot to mention that when I went out to go to the store yesterday morning, the car wouldn't start. Had to take it in to get a new battery--what a pain in the rear.
Well, if that's all I have to complain about...

This is from the October 5, 2008 entry of Chris Floyd's "Empire Burlesque" blog. This is only a snippet of his long, incredibly well-reasoned, yet easy to follow treatise called "The Wounded Shark: 'Good War' Lost, But The Imperial Project Goes On."

"...beyond these more immediate, gritty concerns, there is also the blind, iron logic of perpetual war that drives any imperial power. Like a shark, it must keep moving, must keep the water churning, obscured with clouds of blood and fear -- or else it will stand revealed as the naked, brutish, pointless thing that it is: a bestial lust for domination, a secretion of the chemical mud that lies in the lower swamps of our misfiring, imperfect brains. Every imperial project bedecks itself with high-flown rhetoric and shining, self-glorifying, emotion-rousing ideals. These are internalized by millions of individuals, who are then unable to see the world in any other way. Whatever is done in the name of these ideals is rational, reasonable and right; anything that threatens their primacy and authenticity is evil, insane and worthy of destruction."

But read all of it. If you never read anything else about the illegal and immoral actions of our benighted country, read this. Then see if you can get out that damned spot.

Got my flu shot and spent the rest of the yesterday on chores and such. Packed up the seven pounds of scrapple for cousin Bob and sent the package off to California. I had frozen it; hope it stays cold.
Made egg and tuna salad for lunch today, when J.J., J., and T. are coming. Will add a green salad and bread. Offspring P. and A. called and we were glad to hear from them.
Nothing else of note going on around here except an unusual occurrence: I overslept today. When I woke up, it was 7:05, practically the middle of the afternoon for me. Missed our walk for the first time in ages, but will explain to Susan.
Lest I be lax on the political scene:
"On foreign policy the Republican Party is dominated by crazed Wilsonians who want to involve the U.S. military in perpetual global warfare 'to spread democracy.' As with all such imperialistic ventures, this would eventually bankrupt the country and create countless enemies who would like nothing better than to destroy us by the millions with nuclear weapons or poison. The Democrats are as bad or worse."
--Lew Rockwell.com

On "Countdown" last night, Keith ran a montage of Palin repeating the Obama-as-terrorist smear over and over. I can just imagine Rove and his aides sifting through piles of old newspapers and transcripts trying to find something--anything--to hang on O. "Okay, there isn't much, so we'll have to go with this. Twenty years ago, he passed some former revolutionary in the hall..." And the Repubs, well aware of the knee-jerk response of the public, keep repeating and repeating until--well, it must be true because otherwise, they wouldn't keep saying it, would they?
I'm actually beginning to be okay with the idea of a Repub victory. It might as well be them who preside over the last gasps of the republic. After, maybe some party will rise that can get things back together, but it will take decades and the U.S. will never be the same.
Also:
By George Monbiot. Published in the Guardian 7th October 2008.
"While all eyes were fixed on the banking bail-out, a bucketload of public money was quietly sloshed into the pockets of another undeserving cause. Last week, George Bush agreed to lend $25bn to US car manufacturers. It’s a soft loan, which will cost the government $7.5bn(1). Few people noticed; fewer fought it. The House of Representatives approved the measure by 370 votes to 58. The great corporate bail-out is spreading like the plague."
Did you know that? I didn't know that.
Domestic Note: On the home front, I cooked up a big pot of kidney bean stew. Ate some and froze some. Gave Pat scrapple and eggs for dinner and he ate every morsel. Getting a flu shot today and want to ask the doc some blood pressure questions.