• Beth’s progress in school.

    I am happy to report that Beth seems to be doing quite well. We haven’t had an “angry gram” in two weeks. Beth has had nothing but good things to say about school since she started. She has even gotten homework, which she has jumped into with enthusiasm and diligence (the lone exception being when we tried to get her to finish up an assignment at the Olive Garden, just before our meal was served – I have no idea what we were thinking). I haven’t spoken to her teacher since our last ominous but chance meeting, but I’m glad to take what I can get.

  • Are you ready for a war?

    The other day someone asked me what I thought about a possible armed conflict with Iraq. Like my coworker, I don’t really know what to think. What bothers me is, why is this suddenly so important now? As I understand it, the arguments being used for going to war have been valid for five or six years. You might say it’s different now with a new administration. In other words, it was important five years ago, but the last president was a “dove.” But if that’s so, why wasn’t it an issue in the campaign or a priority immediately after the new president took office? You could say that things changed after last September, but I haven’t heard the administration make a case for tying the two together. So if there is no real tie between the two, and there are no new reasons for doing it, I ask you again: why now? Give me a reason, any good reason and I’ll feel better about it. No one I’ve heard who has some knowledge of the situation, other than spokespersons for the current administration, seem to feel that it is critical that we invade now. So why now?

  • Are you ready for another vacation?

    On Thursday we leave home again for far away places. Let me say that in our house, far away places include anyplace outside Pinellas County. We are off to New England for a wedding and re-acquaintance with our roots. This trip will be shorter than our norm, but we hope to pack in all of the excitement of a longer trip. This is where I’m supposed to say that I’m really looking forward to the wedding. Don’t get me wrong, I am. Just the same, I’m really looking forward to the day in Boston we have planned. We’ll drive into Lowell, take the train into Boston, and go from place to place on the “T.” Taking the train adds expense, and it might even take more time, but I won’t miss the hassle of driving in town, and Beth loves the train ride. I can’t say that I blame her.

    I’ve been ready for this trip for about two weeks, which has done little for my productivity at work. Let’s go already!