Below, you'll see THREE DIFFERENT POSTS in one long posting; it was getting late, I had all this stuff which I wanted to post. I didn't want to leave any of it out, but I didn't want to make three separate postings...so, awaaaay we go......

********************

Debates? Or just ARGUMENTS?
...you know, it's just EXCRUCIATING to watch these things...

Ho-hum, another election year, another bunch of Prezzidential debates. Only, are they really debates? From my perspective, they sound like argumentative confrontations. I always thought the word "debate" implied, you know, some dignity, some civility. But ooooh my, these Prezzidential Debates are just Downright Nasty. I made history last night by enduring a Prezzidential Debate for the first time. And then I went totally off the deep end, watching MSNBC's re-broadcast. That way, if you hadn't had enough of John McCain's pacing like a punch-drunk boxer, throwing the kitchen sink at Barack Obama, all the while Obama demanded the right to re-butt one of McCain's points after McCain had lambasted Obama in a rebuttal, so Obama's response was a rebuttal to the rebuttal, all the while Tom Brokaw, who I thought was not as graceful and debonaire as he usually is, scolded both candidates like school kids getting into a fight over a piece of bubblegum....

I did find it amazing that McCain referred to Obama as "that one" when referring something that Obama did or didn't do. Honestly, there was so much thrown out there by both candidates, that for me, it all sorta runs together. The only positive thing I can see coming out of this debate, is that both candidates have the next 27 days to clarify things so people who ain't normally political, such as myself, have at least a few cut-and-dried options disguising themselves as any kind of knowledge, so that when I enter the voting booth, I can actually feel like I'm almost making a decision that borders on at least a foggy semi-knowledge of what's going on. Which would be good.

The economy absolutely stinks right now, and the Candidate that Us Citizens believe can lead us out of all of the stock-market-based woes will probably be the one who Wins The Election. But more than that, there's a certain "likability factor" that ticks away within us all, originating deep within our respective frames of reference. What was our impression of the person we just saw; how do we feel about what they said, and so on. I got the distinct impression that Obama is Really Trying To Be Nice while at the same time, fending off McCain. At the same time, McCain seemed to "circle the ring", looking for a pugilistic confrontation. McCain's attempts at humor and his cheesy fakey-smile were ill-advised, and I thot it was rather ironic when McCain was standing in front of Tom Brokaw's cue cards at the end of the political jousting, and Brokaw asked him to move. So I've got Just the Slogan for the Obama Campaign: "McCain...In The Way." Come On, Mr. Obama...take the gloves off...you can do it...

Face it, things get pretty crazy when you have two firebreathing candidates competing for the Prezzidential Seal (as seen at left, arf arf...) In short, I just didn't LIKE McCain a whole lot last night. Oh, he's slick, all right. He rattles off the political jargon; indeed, it oozes out of him like some acerbic form of Verbal Slime. McCain knows his way around the Political Arena, for sure. After all, he's had 30 YEARS OF PRACTICE! Maybe, in any other time, McCain's Military Experience might count for something, but Our Country just happens to be going through an economic Deja Vu, circa 1929 these days. I've even taken to reading Stock Reports to get an idea of how my bank is doing. Gosh. First I get political, then I start reading the financial page? The world as we know it must be ending. There's a comfortability factor that McCain just did NOT have; his entire presentation sounded forced. And in a way, Obama is damned if he attacks McCain (respect your elders!), and damned if he doesn't (lest Obama be seen as a wimp). I think, after the last 8 years, we're all wanting a Prezzident who is believable, can complete a sentence, and maybe projects some warmth and compassion. I don't expect perfection; we all screw up. But, doggone it, isn't it about time we had a Prezzident who can LEAD? I was so disappointed when Bill Clinton threw away what little integrity he had for a White House Library Encounter. I don't want needless scandal to negate a President's effectiveness. Don't you hate it when that happens?

I have reservations about BOTH candidates. We've all just endured the Most Corrupt Prezzidential Administration in history, led by an aging Frat Boy, with the Really Scary Vice Prezzident calling all (or most of) the shots. McCain may be a good guy. But LOOK WHO'S HIS RUNNING MATE! If McCain's heart clocks out 6 months into his administration, we've got HER in the Oval Office, and, oh my gosh, I don't even want to think about that. At the same time, Obama IS a Junior Senator; he's just about Everybody's Junior in terms of Senate Experience. An unknown quantity, versus a time-worn and possibly antiquated quantity. I guess if you wanted "a choice" and have been frustrated 'cos you didn't have a choice, well, you've gotta HECKUVA choice this time around. I have an idea of which way I'm leaning in this election, but rather than endorse anyone here, I'll just say, let the best man win, and regarding Prezzidents I've voted for in the past, well, I've been disappointed before. Maybe this time I'll get it right...
____________________

Have the wheels come off the "Straight Talk Express"? Will "Change" lead us all to more of the same? Who knows? I heard a radio DJ saying, "why do I need all these (political talking heads) telling me what the Debaters said?" Well, sometimes those talking heads can clarify, perhaps provide focus, although I get suspicious that any focus they may impart is nothing more than Spin. What, me cynical?

...and now, for posting number two, because after all, you see, there are three posts in this post; an unheard-of value in these inflationary times...

********************

Pause and Remember, if you will...
Today, October 9th, is his birthday. He would've been 68.

But he belongs to the ages now. John Lennon, probably the Most Famous Person In The World way back when. From all accounts, it was a crushing fame. Some see him as a sage, a visionary; I see him as Just another imperfect Human Being who helped bring a huge about-face to music All Those Years Ago. He's still very much alive in his recordings; he sounds vibrant, vital. But he left this planet 28 years ago, and with each day he recedes further and further, sinking ever deeper in our collective consciousness...

I remember at the time of his death, and long afterwards, I felt Tremendous Loss 'cos he was killed at such a young age, so senselessly. Now? I still revere him, but the sting of his passing is largely gone now. George Harrison's death probably had a lot to do with that. The Beatles, or rather half of them, are Old Men Now. (Even tho Paul will never admit to it.) I love their music; I always will. What can I say; I'm a product of my times.

The Beatles' Fame is a thing which will probably never fade out until the last Beatle has drawn his last breath. Gosh, I remember how much I loved their music...whenever a new Beatles' single hit the airwaves, I just had to Go and Buy it as soon as I could. They were part of my life. No, I didn't look to them for vision or inspiration or any of those lofty things; rather, I enjoyed the music, for it was Melodic. Adventurous. Different. Unique. And it's still a pleasure to hear them. Maybe I'm an old 'phart', but I still find their music fulfilling. And it's still a pleasure to watch them old Beatles' records spin 'round and round...
____________________

I don't listen to them as much as I used to. Nor do I spin their records as much as I once did. But whenever I play 'em, they "Don't Let Me Down". The music still sounds like it was made "Yesterday". And when I hear Beatles' music, "I Feel Fine".

Okay, kids, just one more little innocuous post to go...and this one's especially innocuous in an eminently forgettable way...

********************

A FACE ON A VASE...
An arty artifact that I've had for FORTY YEARS...

In 1968, I was sitting in my Earth Science Class in Junior High School; it was mid-morning, and all of a sudden I began feeling sick. Sweaty. Clammy. Really Sick. I had to be carried to the Principal's office. My Mom was called. Her best friend, a nurse, was visiting my Mom at the time. They came and got me and took me to the hospital. All of a sudden, I was being "shaved" and prepped, and wheeled off to surgery...I'm not kidding, it happened just like that. My Appendix had come awfully close to bursting; the doctor said it was just about ready to explode when he took it out. I was in the hospital for a week. I was looking forward to watching TV nonstop. Well, that plan went down the tubes; former President Eisenhower died that week, and the networks (all 3 of them!) were providing 24-hour coverage over several days. I'll always remember a remark my Dad made: "They better BURY him before he starts to STINK!" Funny, the things a person remembers.

So anyway, I told you that story to tell you this one: While I was in the hospital, recovering from my Appendix Extraction, the Pastor of our Church came by with Flowers In a Vase. And somehow, through every time I've moved into a new place down thru the years, whether it be college dorm, apartments, houses or wherever, I've managed to keep this vase (seen at right). It features the face of a Shepherd. Maybe Jesus? I've never been sure. I suppose it would be a fairly valuable heirloom, except that I dropped it about 20 years ago; a piece broke off; nothing Krazy Glue couldn't fix, however. I suppose I put the Plastic Rabbit in the vase for some sort of absurdist touch, since I can be, more than occasionally, absurd. As I've been here, in this far-less-than-relevant-to-anything section of posting...
____________________

There you have it. Three posts for the price of one. Never let it be said that I never gave you anything less than full-value for your Hard Earned Dollar. I strive to blog truthfully, never letting my public down, with never an ounce of Spam...(whoops, I'm sounding like a Political Candidate now...)

Yep, you made it through all three posts. I realize that if you've read this far, you've put your life on hold for a while. Thank you, dear citizens, for your sacrifice. Vote for me! (Wait, I'm not running for anything...)