TAKE NOTICE

TODAY’S WORRY

You know how when there’s a smell in your house and first you smell it, and then you don’t, and then you only notice it when you walk in? Or when there is a background noise that seems really annoying but then kind of blends in? Or when you wear a hat and at first all you can do is notice how you have a hat on but, after awhile, you don’t realize it’s on your head? Well, I’m wondering if we have become inured to the death in Iraq, especially Iraqi deaths. I think we still are in pain over Americans killed. But do we care about the people who live there? Are they like a hat we’ve stopped noticing? Ten killed this day, fifteen another, a bad day with forty-six killed. What does it say about us when the numbers become meaningless?

FALL PHASES

TODAY’S IDLE THOUGHTS

I was thinking about Fall today. It’s always been one of my favorite seasons. I think, though, people look at it differently depending on their age. Something like this –

Ages 5-12 The Simple Years
Boo (or yay), it’s time to go back to school.
Yay, we get to dress up for Halloween and Christmas is coming!

Ages 13-22 The Intrigue Years
Ooh, parties, homecoming and football games!

Ages 23-45 The Holidays-Are-A-Lot-of-Work Years
Yay, it’s time for the kids to go back to school!
Sew costumes for Halloween, buy candy.
Prepare giant Thanksgiving dinner.
Buy presents and decorate for Christmas.

Ages 46- 56+ The I-Can-Almost-Do-Whatever-I-Want Years
Oh thank God it’s not so hot anymore, I was hot already.
Let’s go on vacation now that kids are back in school!
Buy candy that we like in case few Trick-or-Treaters show up
Try to connive one of the kids to making all or part of the holiday dinners.

KANGAROO COURT

TODAY’S MUSING

Now I bet you think I am going to carrying on about some miscarriage of justice. But, no. I am actually going to write about kangaroos. This week in the St. George newspaper, The Spectrum, the Vent (see my entry The Vent) had some input from a disgruntled citizen about his unhappy time at the county fair.

“I looked forward to the county fair this year because I had finally arranged to box with a kangaroo at the Friday night bouts. I couldn’t believe it, but when the fight began most of the crowd was cheering for the kangaroo! Whose side are you people on, the humans or the animals? I also thought it was unfair that the kangaroo was allowed to use its hind legs, which is technically kicking not punching, and nobody said a thing!”

Seriously, wouldn’t you have rooted for the kangaroo?