Friday, December 23, 2011
Tuckered tootsies tonight!
Am done with cookies -- what didn't get made isn't going to get made. Still have to finish the tree; Tom & the kids got a great start on it but we've got another bin of boxes of ornaments to go through -- at the very least the icicles have to go on the tree. Then have to pick up and put away all the boxes, cookie sheets, baking stuff, ladder, unplaced decorations, etc etc etc. Going to be a busy day tomorrow but I'm done for the night! (And an aside: after years (35 at least) of making anise drops I've discovered parchment paper is the secret to not having to lather the Crisco on the cookie sheets in order not to have the cookies stick. Taste test tomorrow to see if they are good and snappy (another problem I have with getting them right.))
Monday, December 19, 2011
Neil Noel News 2011
Neil Noel News 2011
Warmest greetings to our friends and families as 2011 draws to a close! Hope this finds you at the close of another year that we hope has brought many blessings and much happiness to you and yours.
The year started out with a grand celebration as my father turned 90 on January 2. Just about all his descendants gathered in Oil City for a celebratory dinner where written memories from family, friends and former employees and business associates were read aloud. Dad good-naturedly downplayed remarkable stories of his coming to the aid of his brother and sister when they got into precarious situations on the farm growing up, a state trooper who was being assaulted when he’d pulled someone over on I-80, a car full of teenagers who crashed into a tree, employees injured in logging accidents (lifting logs off them!) and several others. At the end of the many tales, the grandkids exclaimed that they didn’t know they actually knew Superman! A short six weeks later, Claire turned 90 too, and once again we gathered to celebrate. My niece Christine spoke for all of us with her tribute to Claire and all that she has brought to the family.
Tom’s father passed away unexpectedly in April. He had just seen his doctor who cleared him to start a moderate exercise program, but a few short days later before he could begin, we received a call that he had had a massive stroke and died. His funeral was held in the chapel at their new home in Chambersburg, and his ashes were interred the day after Thanksgiving back in western Pennsylvania on a beautiful fall day. Dad’s life was an example of hard work, love of family and pride in the accomplishments of his children and grandchildren. He is greatly missed by us all.
Tom’s niece Elizabeth married Oliver Beckstein in June. They met while both were at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Elizabeth working on her doctorate and Oli doing post-doc work. They had a long-distance engagement while Oliver, who is from Germany, was teaching at Oxford in England. There was a bit of a snag (to put it mildly!) with visa arrangements, but at the last minute it all worked out and the Denning-Neil-Beckstein families joyfully celebrated the first wedding of the next generation of the Neil family. Several of Oliver’s family and many of his friends came to the US for the festivities, which were a combination of American and German traditions. While they are currently living in Baltimore, Elizabeth and Oliver are moving to the Phoenix area where Oliver will begin teaching at Arizona State University in Tempe and developing a research lab in biophysics.
Living in Chicago, Eva bemoaned the lack of lush green grass into which she could sink her feet, and in October moved back to Dexter. She had really enjoyed working as a bridal consultant, but because the business was somewhat cyclical she supplemented her income working as a nanny and doing contract graphic design work. She did take advantage of opportunities to travel to the Bahamas and to Key West during the year; if it’s a new and exotic locale, she’s ready to go! Now, back in Dexter, she’s excited to have found a position she loves as assistant manager at The Buckle store in Ann Arbor, and is happy to be on a managerial career path. Before she left Chi-town, I took advantage of the free couch space and visited in September when my college roommate Deb Fetters McLane was in town. Deb and I had a delightful visit while Eva was at work.
In August, Tommy also returned to Dexter. He has chosen to change schools and switch majors, and is now considering Music Education. This year he was the senior member of the Field Staff of the Dexter High School band camp, and during the fall he assisted at marching band practices. Tom and I both talked with the Dexter High School band director, Ken Moore, about his contemplated change of plans, and Ken was very enthusiastic. Before classes began this fall, Ty worked for our church as a member of the grounds and cemetery maintenance crews. It was fun to have him around during the workday.
Earlier this summer, he went on tour in Illinois and Iowa with Tree Hut Kings, the rock group with which he had toured last year. Now he’s playing in a group named Dirty Deville with some guys he’s known for years from the Dexter area.
Our three-car garage now sports a service bay; Tom was thrilled to have a lift from a defunct Chrysler plant installed so he can work more easily on his ‘47 Plymouth (and the household cars as well.) I find that it serves nicely as a mug stand when I’m leaving the house in the morning with my arms full, coffee cup in hand and I have to close the door behind me. The ‘47 developed an electrical problem that took much of the summer to diagnose, only getting on the road in early August. That was time enough to tick one of the items off my “bucket list” — to be in a parade. We joined the line of classic cars in the Dexter Daze parade in mid-August, and I had a ball waving and tossing candy. Tom good-naturedly bore with me (though no doubt he was a tad embarrassed.) Can’t wait until parade season next year!
Aside from working on his car, Tom did spend time on his motorcycle, though not as much as he would have liked. Seems like family and work schedules (and the weather) precluded him riding very often. He did take a week’s trip to STAR Days again this year in July, which was held in Madison WI, and continues to serve as the STAR Motorcycle state director.
My 40th (!!!) high school reunion was held in August back in Oil City. It sure is hard to believe that four decades have passed; I am frozen in my mind’s eye as being 16 or 17. The marvelous thing about the friends of your youth is that your friendships aren’t based on what you do or where you’ve been; you’re friends simply because you are. Jean Deemer Gilmore once again had a slumber party for our group of 7 friends, and while we didn’t manage to stay up all night (which several of us did 10 years ago!) several of us did last until 5am.
Following the reunion I headed up to Chautauqua, NY for a few days in the quaint lakeside Victorian community. I had absolutely glorious weather and a wonderfully restful and entertaining time. Tom joined me for dinner as he passed through the area on a business trip which was a pleasant addition to my mini-vacation.
He and I went to Mackinac Island in September and stayed at the Grand Hotel for a few days. Sitting on the enormous front porch, looking out over the Straits of Mackinac where Lake Huron and Lake Michigan meet, offered quite the respite. I can now say I’ve been “up north,” finally getting beyond the Christmas shopping destination of Bronner’s in Frankenmuth after living in Michigan for almost 15 years!
In October we once more celebrated with Dad and Claire on the occasion of their 10th wedding anniversary. In 2001 when asked why the rush to get married after a whirlwind courtship of only a few short weeks, Dad had said, “We’re 80!” At the rate they’re going, we may be happily gathering again in 2021 to rejoice at their 20th anniversary!
Work for me has seemed to be more hectic than ever, and my office is a testament to that. It seems no matter how hard I try to get organized, it still looks like an egg beater went through the room. Life in a parish office is constantly busy as we deal with people, womb to tomb; a person has to be able to juggle multiple tasks while smiling all the time. But I continue to thrive on the chaos and love the people I work with and the 4300+ souls for whom I work.
My latest hobby is playing Lexulous online, a version of Scrabble in which each player has 8 tiles rather than 7 on the rack. Now if I could only exercise while playing! Didn’t hit the links as often as I would have liked (see preceding paragraph!) this year, though always had a good time when I did. There’s always next year …
And on that note, our wish for your next year is a year of God’s blessings, full of peace, joy, happiness, good health and much contentment. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
Friday, August 26, 2011
Chautauqua = peace and contentment
Just got back from a week in PA/NY. In PA for my 40th (!) high school reunion -- had a wonderful time, especially with the Friday night visit with Don Slater & Kevin McGinty and family, and the Saturday night slumber party at Jean Deemer Gilmore's house with Chris Straub, Karen Kozek Steffanina, Jane Stubler Francis, Eileen Caffrey Riddle and TC Lauer Hull. In both instances, it was as if we'd seen each other only days ago. With Kevin it'd been about 38 years (ran into him in the ND bookstore while I was in college and he was visiting his cousin at ND); for most of the others it had been 10 years (our last high school reunion.) The years vanished (I was going to say "melted away" but that would imply some time, even a minimal amount, passed, when in fact, the connections were instantaneous.) The VCHS Class of '71 reunion was great fun; but of course, now, after the fact, I come up with all sorts of things to talk to people about and ask about. The bane of being introverted!
I stayed in Seneca with Dad and Claire -- we went out to eat on Sunday night and took a drive out to Kennerdell Lookout. I don't know how long it's been since I was there, but it's still beautiful, and as my college boyfriend Tim said, "Look at all the trees!" The Lookout sits above a bend in the Allegheny River; from that vantage point (itself at a break in the woods) you can see ridges, in both directions, covered with trees with hardly any signs of human encroachment. It's just what the Indians of the area would have seen centuries ago.
Driving up to Chautauqua on Monday, I went along the Allegheny River, past Tionesta and Tidioute (in Forest County, PA, where there used to be -- still is? -- only one stoplight in the entire county) before cutting over to Youngsville and up through the lake plain to Chautauqua. Along the river I was immediately taken back to thinking about the Indians who lived along the river and in the forests beyond. Didn't realize until just then just how much an essential part of me was the knowledge that I grew up in a region where the Indians had once lived. Does that make sense? That sense just immediately came forth as I once again drove through the area. I have never seen the Painted Rock, however; when I am back over Labor Day weekend I will rectify that.
And eventually, I was there: Chautauqua! My place of ultimate peace and contentment! That beautiful Victorian community, founded to bring the enrichment of religion and culture to those who walk the grounds. At the Main Gate there's a board listing where accomodations are still available; probably there were more listings than any other week of the season since it's the last week. However, I went through about seven calls before either someone answered or there was still availability. I lucked out in getting a room in a 3 bedroom apartment at Collingwood. It hadn't been rented for the week so the owner was renting the individual rooms. The other two bedrooms were never rented, so I had the entire apartment to myself. Nice to have the amenities of kitchen and laundry at my disposal (and the TV, which I turned on only to hear news of the earthquake in Virginia.) And well-disguised beneath the genteel shabbiness of Victorian Chautauqua are modern day technological conveniences: wi-fi all over; bar-coded gate passes required for admission to the Amphitheater. I ended up losing mine the morning I left, so had to pay to get a replacement just to get out! My fault; oh, well! A minor inconvenience in the scheme of things.
As soon as I pulled up to my guesthouse (The Collingwood) to unpack, I told the owner I want to come back next year for a full week -- I'd been in Chautauqua for all of 20 minutes. The enchantment of the place is so dear. Everyone is so friendly but not intrusive. One sweet little old lady (she turned 88 on August 24) who sat in front of me for the Wednesday night performance in the Amphitheater was wearing, with great panache, a red straw hat. She turned around to ask me if her hat was in my way (it wasn't.) She proceeded to share several humorous stories -- including the fact that she and her friends are regular weekly attendees at a comedy club in Phoenix. Must be a hoot see them sitting right up front! She also pulled out of her purse several funny emails and articles (and a published book on what men know about women; it's filled with blank pages!) Humor! That's the way to live a long and healthy life!
It struck me on the second day I was there (checked in Monday evening at 7pm and left Thursday afternoon around 1pm) that what is so peaceful about the place is that there is no overt encroachment of the modern day; no neon signs or discordant "in-your-face" advertising or establishments. For a while in the '80s, Chautauqua did seem to be attempting to be a "chi chi" place, a "destination," but as I then told my sisters, underneath that you could still sense the essence of Chautauqua. I'm so happy to say that phase has passed. I wonder if other long-timers feel the same?
Though there are more cars parked around the Institute (at residences), traffic (though the use of that word seems to be wrong, in the most common sense of the word) is minimal and the pedestrian still has the blissful right of way. Bicycles are used quite a bit; though walking is much more common. No skateboards allowed, though I did see one razor scooter that seemed the most raucous mode of wheeled transport.
The Catholic presence at Chautauqua quite startled me. Chautauqua was founded as a staunchly Protestant place. It used to be there was one Mass a week on Sunday mornings with a priest from a nearby parish coming in. Now there is a Catholic House prominently situated (either near the Amphitheater or Bestor Plaza; I can't remember which), two daily Masses (at the Episcopal Chapel of the Good Shepherd), a weekly Thursday afternoon seminar (at the United Methodist Chapel) -- can't say the spirit of ecumenism hasn't extended to the Catholics! -- and a daily social hour. There is a Jewish house on the grounds as well. My mother would be so pleased at all this; I think that was the one objection she had to Chautauqua, that non-Protestants were marginalized.
I walked the grounds during my days there, revisiting almost all the places of my youth. (I never did get over to Norton Hall where we attended operas -- under duress -- and plays.) The beauty -- well, one of the beauties -- of Chautauqua was and is that it is so safe. Mom would let us have the freedom of our days to go wherever, whenever, without fear of something untoward happening. We were expected to surface for meals and the ensuing cleaning up (had to clean up our rooms too -- one of the indulgences of my stay there this time was to leave my bed unmade and my clothes strewn about,) and we did have chores, such as cleaning the bathroom. Where we generally stayed we may (or may not have! depending on the year) have a private bath and shared space in the communal kitchen of the boarding house.
The theme of the week this year was "All Men Are Created Equal," celebrating the sesquicentennial of the Civil War. There were morning lectures on emancipation (Tuesday), secession (Wednesday), and the period leading up to the Civil War (Thursday), and afternoon presentations by enactors from Williamsburg. Concerts on Monday and Tuesday night in the Amphitheater (with the delightful opportunity to listen to the symphony orchestra practice on Tuesday afternoon -- I enjoy warm-ups and practices just as much as the actual concert); an organ concert on Wednesday in the early afternoon on the grand pipe organ (one of the largest in the US) by the great-grand-student of Franz Liszt (I always jokingly referred to Tommy and Eva as being the great-grand-students of Bela Bartok, so it was fun to hear someone else refer to his training in the same fashion.) One morning trip to the daily farmer's market; had forgotten about it the first morning I was there. Walking down to Heinz Beach, located in front of what had been the dance studio where Kitty took lessons, I was surprised to see that the area of sandy beach has been shrunk to a small patch about 20' by 20'. Not being a big fan of sand, I was pleased that bathers (of which I was not one!) had a grassy "beach" on which to lay their towels and belongings.
Didn't make it down to the Hills of Palestine (which were created in reverse of the actual geographic layout; not sure why) and the Bell Tower until Wednesday evening when I was on the phone with my sister Kitty just at 6 o'clock when the carillon was chiming away with the evening program! Not the most ideal time to be trying to talk on the phone, but it was delightful, and actually that way Kitty could share in the experience!
Tuesday morning when I went for coffee (the only morning I had to, since I was able to get some ground coffee and a few other staples at the little grocery store there) there was a morning talk radio show being broadcast from in front of the refectory, and the guest was none other than political humorist Mark Russell, a Buffalo native visiting Chautauqua. Cool to see him right up close and listen to a few of his sharp observations on the current political situations. Later on he sat in front of me at one of the Civil War lectures, but left since he couldn't hear well. Saw Sandra Day O'Connor yesterday at the Thursday morning lecture by Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian Daniel Walker Howe.
One more observation on a change at Chautauqua: it is no longer "dry." The WCTU was a prominent force there since its beginnings, but apparently that 19th century cultural tenet went by the wayside in the early years of the 21st century! Was glad to hear that, since I had a nice bottle of red wine with me that hadn't gotten opened at our slumber party. Liquor isn't sold on the grounds, and can't be consumed on public grounds, but is now legal in private. It was a new experience to walk past cocktail parties on porches at the dinner hour. Anecdotally: in my teenage summers I dated a local guy there -- quite often I've seen him in the years since, but not this time. He was a Chautauqua cop in the summers after high school, and told me, back in the day, that there was liquor in private homes then. ;) Actually, that brings up one more point: I didn't see any presence of the CPD, other than a CPD SUV as I was leaving the grounds yesterday. Used to be the guys patrolled on foot (actually that should be "strolled" on foot.) Hmm. I think back in the day the only thing they ever dealt with was teenage noise and "smoochers" and probably drinking!
I was at utter peace.
I stayed in Seneca with Dad and Claire -- we went out to eat on Sunday night and took a drive out to Kennerdell Lookout. I don't know how long it's been since I was there, but it's still beautiful, and as my college boyfriend Tim said, "Look at all the trees!" The Lookout sits above a bend in the Allegheny River; from that vantage point (itself at a break in the woods) you can see ridges, in both directions, covered with trees with hardly any signs of human encroachment. It's just what the Indians of the area would have seen centuries ago.
Driving up to Chautauqua on Monday, I went along the Allegheny River, past Tionesta and Tidioute (in Forest County, PA, where there used to be -- still is? -- only one stoplight in the entire county) before cutting over to Youngsville and up through the lake plain to Chautauqua. Along the river I was immediately taken back to thinking about the Indians who lived along the river and in the forests beyond. Didn't realize until just then just how much an essential part of me was the knowledge that I grew up in a region where the Indians had once lived. Does that make sense? That sense just immediately came forth as I once again drove through the area. I have never seen the Painted Rock, however; when I am back over Labor Day weekend I will rectify that.
And eventually, I was there: Chautauqua! My place of ultimate peace and contentment! That beautiful Victorian community, founded to bring the enrichment of religion and culture to those who walk the grounds. At the Main Gate there's a board listing where accomodations are still available; probably there were more listings than any other week of the season since it's the last week. However, I went through about seven calls before either someone answered or there was still availability. I lucked out in getting a room in a 3 bedroom apartment at Collingwood. It hadn't been rented for the week so the owner was renting the individual rooms. The other two bedrooms were never rented, so I had the entire apartment to myself. Nice to have the amenities of kitchen and laundry at my disposal (and the TV, which I turned on only to hear news of the earthquake in Virginia.) And well-disguised beneath the genteel shabbiness of Victorian Chautauqua are modern day technological conveniences: wi-fi all over; bar-coded gate passes required for admission to the Amphitheater. I ended up losing mine the morning I left, so had to pay to get a replacement just to get out! My fault; oh, well! A minor inconvenience in the scheme of things.
As soon as I pulled up to my guesthouse (The Collingwood) to unpack, I told the owner I want to come back next year for a full week -- I'd been in Chautauqua for all of 20 minutes. The enchantment of the place is so dear. Everyone is so friendly but not intrusive. One sweet little old lady (she turned 88 on August 24) who sat in front of me for the Wednesday night performance in the Amphitheater was wearing, with great panache, a red straw hat. She turned around to ask me if her hat was in my way (it wasn't.) She proceeded to share several humorous stories -- including the fact that she and her friends are regular weekly attendees at a comedy club in Phoenix. Must be a hoot see them sitting right up front! She also pulled out of her purse several funny emails and articles (and a published book on what men know about women; it's filled with blank pages!) Humor! That's the way to live a long and healthy life!
It struck me on the second day I was there (checked in Monday evening at 7pm and left Thursday afternoon around 1pm) that what is so peaceful about the place is that there is no overt encroachment of the modern day; no neon signs or discordant "in-your-face" advertising or establishments. For a while in the '80s, Chautauqua did seem to be attempting to be a "chi chi" place, a "destination," but as I then told my sisters, underneath that you could still sense the essence of Chautauqua. I'm so happy to say that phase has passed. I wonder if other long-timers feel the same?
Though there are more cars parked around the Institute (at residences), traffic (though the use of that word seems to be wrong, in the most common sense of the word) is minimal and the pedestrian still has the blissful right of way. Bicycles are used quite a bit; though walking is much more common. No skateboards allowed, though I did see one razor scooter that seemed the most raucous mode of wheeled transport.
The Catholic presence at Chautauqua quite startled me. Chautauqua was founded as a staunchly Protestant place. It used to be there was one Mass a week on Sunday mornings with a priest from a nearby parish coming in. Now there is a Catholic House prominently situated (either near the Amphitheater or Bestor Plaza; I can't remember which), two daily Masses (at the Episcopal Chapel of the Good Shepherd), a weekly Thursday afternoon seminar (at the United Methodist Chapel) -- can't say the spirit of ecumenism hasn't extended to the Catholics! -- and a daily social hour. There is a Jewish house on the grounds as well. My mother would be so pleased at all this; I think that was the one objection she had to Chautauqua, that non-Protestants were marginalized.
I walked the grounds during my days there, revisiting almost all the places of my youth. (I never did get over to Norton Hall where we attended operas -- under duress -- and plays.) The beauty -- well, one of the beauties -- of Chautauqua was and is that it is so safe. Mom would let us have the freedom of our days to go wherever, whenever, without fear of something untoward happening. We were expected to surface for meals and the ensuing cleaning up (had to clean up our rooms too -- one of the indulgences of my stay there this time was to leave my bed unmade and my clothes strewn about,) and we did have chores, such as cleaning the bathroom. Where we generally stayed we may (or may not have! depending on the year) have a private bath and shared space in the communal kitchen of the boarding house.
The theme of the week this year was "All Men Are Created Equal," celebrating the sesquicentennial of the Civil War. There were morning lectures on emancipation (Tuesday), secession (Wednesday), and the period leading up to the Civil War (Thursday), and afternoon presentations by enactors from Williamsburg. Concerts on Monday and Tuesday night in the Amphitheater (with the delightful opportunity to listen to the symphony orchestra practice on Tuesday afternoon -- I enjoy warm-ups and practices just as much as the actual concert); an organ concert on Wednesday in the early afternoon on the grand pipe organ (one of the largest in the US) by the great-grand-student of Franz Liszt (I always jokingly referred to Tommy and Eva as being the great-grand-students of Bela Bartok, so it was fun to hear someone else refer to his training in the same fashion.) One morning trip to the daily farmer's market; had forgotten about it the first morning I was there. Walking down to Heinz Beach, located in front of what had been the dance studio where Kitty took lessons, I was surprised to see that the area of sandy beach has been shrunk to a small patch about 20' by 20'. Not being a big fan of sand, I was pleased that bathers (of which I was not one!) had a grassy "beach" on which to lay their towels and belongings.
Didn't make it down to the Hills of Palestine (which were created in reverse of the actual geographic layout; not sure why) and the Bell Tower until Wednesday evening when I was on the phone with my sister Kitty just at 6 o'clock when the carillon was chiming away with the evening program! Not the most ideal time to be trying to talk on the phone, but it was delightful, and actually that way Kitty could share in the experience!
Tuesday morning when I went for coffee (the only morning I had to, since I was able to get some ground coffee and a few other staples at the little grocery store there) there was a morning talk radio show being broadcast from in front of the refectory, and the guest was none other than political humorist Mark Russell, a Buffalo native visiting Chautauqua. Cool to see him right up close and listen to a few of his sharp observations on the current political situations. Later on he sat in front of me at one of the Civil War lectures, but left since he couldn't hear well. Saw Sandra Day O'Connor yesterday at the Thursday morning lecture by Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian Daniel Walker Howe.
One more observation on a change at Chautauqua: it is no longer "dry." The WCTU was a prominent force there since its beginnings, but apparently that 19th century cultural tenet went by the wayside in the early years of the 21st century! Was glad to hear that, since I had a nice bottle of red wine with me that hadn't gotten opened at our slumber party. Liquor isn't sold on the grounds, and can't be consumed on public grounds, but is now legal in private. It was a new experience to walk past cocktail parties on porches at the dinner hour. Anecdotally: in my teenage summers I dated a local guy there -- quite often I've seen him in the years since, but not this time. He was a Chautauqua cop in the summers after high school, and told me, back in the day, that there was liquor in private homes then. ;) Actually, that brings up one more point: I didn't see any presence of the CPD, other than a CPD SUV as I was leaving the grounds yesterday. Used to be the guys patrolled on foot (actually that should be "strolled" on foot.) Hmm. I think back in the day the only thing they ever dealt with was teenage noise and "smoochers" and probably drinking!
I was at utter peace.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Where were you in 2011
Stop for a moment. Look around you and make a note of this time and place, because years from now you will want to remember where you were when 2011 happened.
Moving along the path of human events, we have reached a fork in the road, a turning point in history. We don’t know what lies ahead.
As this is written, the United States has — most reluctantly — entered another war in the Middle East, ostensibly to prevent a dictator, Libya’s Moammar Gadhafi, from slaughtering his people. But, it’s not just Libya. The entire Middle East is boiling.
Meanwhile, Japan, the world’s third-largest economy, has taken a punch in the gut with a natural disaster of inconceivable proportions and a nuclear crisis whose ultimate outcome remains unclear. If we had heard a month ago a story of fires in multiple nuclear reactors, mass evacuations, water too radioactive to drink in one of the world’s largest cities, radioactive vegetables and people killed by the tens of thousands in a massive earthquake and a giant tsunami, we would have thought it was a really bad movie. But this is reality.
The nuclear disaster in Japan only makes what happens in the Middle East more critical, because it highlights how unprepared the world is to withstand shocks to the oil supply.
If any part of the world underwent the kind of transformative and unpredictable upheaval we see now in the Middle East, it would count as a major development.
But when the turmoil happens in that politically radioactive region, all our lives could feel the effects. The Middle East is the source of two exceedingly powerful exports. One is oil, whose every change in supply sends jolts through the global economy. The other is ideology.
Many believe the Middle East rose to prominence only because of its oil riches. But the region triggered major global ideas and events long before oil was found. It brought the world monotheism, Christianity, Islam. It was at the center of the Crusades, the Ottoman Empire, Arab-Israeli wars and the rise of militant Islam. The Middle East has shown its ability to change the world.
We don’t know where all this will take us. Years from now we may look back and say 2011 was the year when democracy took hold in the Middle East; the year when the region stopped exporting extremism and became an example of peace, democracy, and reconciliation. We might mark it as the year when successful Arab uprisings sent a wave of democratic change to other parts of the world, helping bringing freedom to Burma and China and Cuba. We may well see the revolutions reach other corners of the world. Facebook does.
But a happy outcome is far from assured.
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague warned that if things go wrong in the Middle East, the world “would have financial consequences that would make the last three years seem the mere prelude to much greater difficulties.”
On the shores of the Persian Gulf, in Bahrain, Saudi troops have marched in against an uprising by the majority Shiites against the ruling Sunni monarchy. Iran watches closely. It has claimed Bahrain is its territory. Tehran has hinted it could intervene to help fellow Shiites. A clash between Iran and Saudi Arabia would send the world economy into a tailspin. It could also become a much wider Sunni-Shia confrontation. In nearby Yemen, at the entrance to the Persian Gulf, the U.S.-friendly president looks set to lose power. Yemen is a hotbed of radical Islamist fervor. It is the most likely country to become another Afghanistan, but its location makes it more dangerous than 1990s Afghanistan, where the Taliban allowed al Qaeda to hatch the 9/11 attacks.
At this extraordinarily important moment in history, another enormous change is taking place. The United States appears set to relinquish its role of global leadership. The post-American world, as Fareed Zakaria termed it, may just begin in 2011. President Obama agreed to take action in Libya only after France and Britain prodded him. And even now the mission, and American enthusiasm, remains hazy.
In the end, it could turn out the way we wish, with freedom and democracy for all. We don’t know. But whatever happens, you will remember 2011.
Moving along the path of human events, we have reached a fork in the road, a turning point in history. We don’t know what lies ahead.
As this is written, the United States has — most reluctantly — entered another war in the Middle East, ostensibly to prevent a dictator, Libya’s Moammar Gadhafi, from slaughtering his people. But, it’s not just Libya. The entire Middle East is boiling.
Meanwhile, Japan, the world’s third-largest economy, has taken a punch in the gut with a natural disaster of inconceivable proportions and a nuclear crisis whose ultimate outcome remains unclear. If we had heard a month ago a story of fires in multiple nuclear reactors, mass evacuations, water too radioactive to drink in one of the world’s largest cities, radioactive vegetables and people killed by the tens of thousands in a massive earthquake and a giant tsunami, we would have thought it was a really bad movie. But this is reality.
The nuclear disaster in Japan only makes what happens in the Middle East more critical, because it highlights how unprepared the world is to withstand shocks to the oil supply.
If any part of the world underwent the kind of transformative and unpredictable upheaval we see now in the Middle East, it would count as a major development.
But when the turmoil happens in that politically radioactive region, all our lives could feel the effects. The Middle East is the source of two exceedingly powerful exports. One is oil, whose every change in supply sends jolts through the global economy. The other is ideology.
Many believe the Middle East rose to prominence only because of its oil riches. But the region triggered major global ideas and events long before oil was found. It brought the world monotheism, Christianity, Islam. It was at the center of the Crusades, the Ottoman Empire, Arab-Israeli wars and the rise of militant Islam. The Middle East has shown its ability to change the world.
We don’t know where all this will take us. Years from now we may look back and say 2011 was the year when democracy took hold in the Middle East; the year when the region stopped exporting extremism and became an example of peace, democracy, and reconciliation. We might mark it as the year when successful Arab uprisings sent a wave of democratic change to other parts of the world, helping bringing freedom to Burma and China and Cuba. We may well see the revolutions reach other corners of the world. Facebook does.
But a happy outcome is far from assured.
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague warned that if things go wrong in the Middle East, the world “would have financial consequences that would make the last three years seem the mere prelude to much greater difficulties.”
On the shores of the Persian Gulf, in Bahrain, Saudi troops have marched in against an uprising by the majority Shiites against the ruling Sunni monarchy. Iran watches closely. It has claimed Bahrain is its territory. Tehran has hinted it could intervene to help fellow Shiites. A clash between Iran and Saudi Arabia would send the world economy into a tailspin. It could also become a much wider Sunni-Shia confrontation. In nearby Yemen, at the entrance to the Persian Gulf, the U.S.-friendly president looks set to lose power. Yemen is a hotbed of radical Islamist fervor. It is the most likely country to become another Afghanistan, but its location makes it more dangerous than 1990s Afghanistan, where the Taliban allowed al Qaeda to hatch the 9/11 attacks.
At this extraordinarily important moment in history, another enormous change is taking place. The United States appears set to relinquish its role of global leadership. The post-American world, as Fareed Zakaria termed it, may just begin in 2011. President Obama agreed to take action in Libya only after France and Britain prodded him. And even now the mission, and American enthusiasm, remains hazy.
In the end, it could turn out the way we wish, with freedom and democracy for all. We don’t know. But whatever happens, you will remember 2011.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Reluctant Organization
I do believe yesterday the final Christmas decorations came down. Now, however, I have spent the weekend trying to efficiently combine and store the decorations. My idea is to put them together by location and store them in LIFO order (last in, first out.) However, I find myself ridiculously tied to the original boxes things came in or were stored in.
Having more or less completed the task (final clean up still to be done, but that'll be another day) I'm not sure I've accomplished much more than replacing cardboard boxes that have served the purpose for lo these many years with plastic, see-through tubs that still have boxes of decorations in them. And I'm not sure I've conserved any space; there are many things that have been stored in cupboards where they are used for decorating or put in tubs in the basement. AND I put a bunch of stuff in a 3' x 3' box for the flea market. Yet, the Christmas closet is filled to the gills. What's wrong with this picture!!!
Having more or less completed the task (final clean up still to be done, but that'll be another day) I'm not sure I've accomplished much more than replacing cardboard boxes that have served the purpose for lo these many years with plastic, see-through tubs that still have boxes of decorations in them. And I'm not sure I've conserved any space; there are many things that have been stored in cupboards where they are used for decorating or put in tubs in the basement. AND I put a bunch of stuff in a 3' x 3' box for the flea market. Yet, the Christmas closet is filled to the gills. What's wrong with this picture!!!
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Home Alone
It's a dreary gray Saturday, and the rain has changed to snow. Tom went up to Lansing for a meeting, and is staying to have dinner with Tommy. Glad they've connected, but don't like being home alone for most of the day on Saturday. If it's during the week, no problem; I love having the house to myself. But for some reason Saturdays are a different matter. Maybe if it were sunny it'd be a different matter.
Met with Leslie Knecht Driver today to engage her decorating services for some things. Our family room is, as Tom is wont to call it, "a bowling alley" from front door and foyer to the fireplace. Simple suggestions that will make a world of difference, from changing lamp shades and moving some pictures very slightly to changing out a rectangular coffee table (oak and granite; I really like it but she's got the eye) for a large round one and adding an area rug to soften the bowling alley effect. The coffee table will replace the kids' train table in the basement that I got at a Mom2Mom sale a couple of years ago for my distant future grandbabies. Tom should be pleased about that; he's not thrilled I got it in the first place, and doesn't like using it as a coffee table -- works for me (especially since the top flips from a kiddie town scene to a plain white top) but oh well. Not sure where it will go; maybe the flea market, or "on loan" to someone if anyone is interested. Will change out a kitchen chandelier and the dining room one; have always disliked both. Will put the one of the very first pieces of real furniture I purchased back in the late '70s-early '80s -- a champagne colored wing chair with ottoman -- in the parish flea market this summer. Tom will be pleased with that too! We have a surfeit of furniture, and the second piano from his folks this past summer has usurped its place in the family room so it's stuck in the living room where it's rather out of place.
I think the whole process will be fun.
Think next weekend I'll put the winter decorations (snowmen and pine trees mostly) away. It's time to THINK SPRING!!!!
But for now, guess I'll go back to working on family finances. (Or maybe take that chair to the basement myself first.)
Met with Leslie Knecht Driver today to engage her decorating services for some things. Our family room is, as Tom is wont to call it, "a bowling alley" from front door and foyer to the fireplace. Simple suggestions that will make a world of difference, from changing lamp shades and moving some pictures very slightly to changing out a rectangular coffee table (oak and granite; I really like it but she's got the eye) for a large round one and adding an area rug to soften the bowling alley effect. The coffee table will replace the kids' train table in the basement that I got at a Mom2Mom sale a couple of years ago for my distant future grandbabies. Tom should be pleased about that; he's not thrilled I got it in the first place, and doesn't like using it as a coffee table -- works for me (especially since the top flips from a kiddie town scene to a plain white top) but oh well. Not sure where it will go; maybe the flea market, or "on loan" to someone if anyone is interested. Will change out a kitchen chandelier and the dining room one; have always disliked both. Will put the one of the very first pieces of real furniture I purchased back in the late '70s-early '80s -- a champagne colored wing chair with ottoman -- in the parish flea market this summer. Tom will be pleased with that too! We have a surfeit of furniture, and the second piano from his folks this past summer has usurped its place in the family room so it's stuck in the living room where it's rather out of place.
I think the whole process will be fun.
Think next weekend I'll put the winter decorations (snowmen and pine trees mostly) away. It's time to THINK SPRING!!!!
But for now, guess I'll go back to working on family finances. (Or maybe take that chair to the basement myself first.)
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
On the 45th Day of Christmas ... my decorations are still up ...
On the night of January 17 I began to sneeze repeatedly and repeatedly. And now, on the evening of February 8, I'm still hacking away and feeling fatigued. For a few short days in there I actually thought I was getting over the flu -- I was back at my desk on January 24, and back in my bed on the afternoon of Feb. 3. Had worked late on Feb. 2, and about 7:15 felt like I hit a brick wall. Went home, coughed all evening and was wiped out. Had to finish an annual report for work the next morning, but went home when that was accomplished. Could barely crawl out of bed the next day, and was truly too sick to go to the doctor. Finally made it on Feb. 7, got antibiotics, and VIOLA!!! (yes, I know it's supposed to be Voila! but some of us in the Megnin family say VIOLA!) Drugs are wonderful things -- am still tired and coughing, but feeling so far ahead of where I was yesterday it's not funny. So maybe for the rest of the evenings this week I'll get after the remaining decorations.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Birthday Bonanza
Yesterday I began my 58th (!) year, having completed 57 years on this mortal coil. The day started out with a text message from my brother Bob; such a nice beginning to my 2011 "day of note." Tom is down with the flu, and he croaked out, "Happy Birthday. I know this is tacky, but I ordered a cake for you from Country Market; would you pick it up, please?" So much for dinner out, but no matter. I decided in the morning rather than be on the receiving end, I should celebrate by giving. Not that there was all that much opportunity, but still, it's a better perspective to have on one's birthday.
Went to morning Mass. My "birthday twin" Mimi (who turned 80-something) and I were remembered in the intentions, and seranaded by the congregation at the end of Mass. In turn, the three of us ladies in the office put candles in a doughnut and sang to Mimi when she and the ladies were finished stuffing the flyers into the bulletins. Dad & Claire called and sang Happy Birthday and chatted for a bit. Dolores stopped by with a card and carnations. Elizabeth came in with popcorn toppings, popcorn, and a carrot cupcake. Cindy gave me a bottle of wine and bought my lunch. Julie brought me a potted hyacinth. Throughout the day there were greetings on Facebook, in my email, and more text messages.
When I picked up the birthday cake, I also got a steak and some snow peas, and fixed a nice dinner for Tom and me, complemented with the wine from Cindy. The mail brought some cards and a package from Eva. I got some more birthday calls, and talked for quite a while with Eva. Tom and I ended the evening with cake.
It was low-key and wonderful, all around. I truly, truly am blessed by good fortune and blessings, and all good gifts of friends and family and people who care.
I really want to thank you, Lord. Amen.
Went to morning Mass. My "birthday twin" Mimi (who turned 80-something) and I were remembered in the intentions, and seranaded by the congregation at the end of Mass. In turn, the three of us ladies in the office put candles in a doughnut and sang to Mimi when she and the ladies were finished stuffing the flyers into the bulletins. Dad & Claire called and sang Happy Birthday and chatted for a bit. Dolores stopped by with a card and carnations. Elizabeth came in with popcorn toppings, popcorn, and a carrot cupcake. Cindy gave me a bottle of wine and bought my lunch. Julie brought me a potted hyacinth. Throughout the day there were greetings on Facebook, in my email, and more text messages.
When I picked up the birthday cake, I also got a steak and some snow peas, and fixed a nice dinner for Tom and me, complemented with the wine from Cindy. The mail brought some cards and a package from Eva. I got some more birthday calls, and talked for quite a while with Eva. Tom and I ended the evening with cake.
It was low-key and wonderful, all around. I truly, truly am blessed by good fortune and blessings, and all good gifts of friends and family and people who care.
I really want to thank you, Lord. Amen.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Wow! No longer a walking zombie!
It's amazing how you can wake up after days of being ill and realize you actually feel like a member of the human race again! Yay hooray! However, I continue to have a pretty bad headache in the a.m. Wonder if it's dust -- a horrifying amount of dust has accumulated on the carpeting under the bed. Am in the guest room (didn't want to share the bugs with Tom once he got home). Definitely something to be said for hardwood floors -- when our ship comes in I'm going to recommend we put hardwood floors down instead of wall-to-wall carpeting.
The guest room is next to Eva's room, and for the second morning in a row a musical alarm has gone off in her room. There are Christmas boxes all over in there (guess what my project for the week was going to be!) and when I went in I couldn't find the alarm. It must have been going off every morning since Christmas at 8 o'clock, the last time she slept in her bed and the time to get up to begin our annual Christmas ritual of being up, opening gifts, having breakfast and being out the door by 10 for the trek to PA.
The guest room is next to Eva's room, and for the second morning in a row a musical alarm has gone off in her room. There are Christmas boxes all over in there (guess what my project for the week was going to be!) and when I went in I couldn't find the alarm. It must have been going off every morning since Christmas at 8 o'clock, the last time she slept in her bed and the time to get up to begin our annual Christmas ritual of being up, opening gifts, having breakfast and being out the door by 10 for the trek to PA.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Sick in Bed
I guess the tree falling over was a blessing in disguise, otherwise it would still be up. As it is, the decorations are laying on tables in the kitchen and family room.
Around 4:00-4:30 on Monday I had a sniffle that I could tell was not an allergy sniffle -- how is that? but I can tell. Got home and felt myself sliding downhill. Elizabeth came over for sewing, but after an hour of me sneezing an incredible amount, she offered to go home, and I readily agreed. To bed immediately thereafter, and have been there since. Lord, I hate being sick!
Around 4:00-4:30 on Monday I had a sniffle that I could tell was not an allergy sniffle -- how is that? but I can tell. Got home and felt myself sliding downhill. Elizabeth came over for sewing, but after an hour of me sneezing an incredible amount, she offered to go home, and I readily agreed. To bed immediately thereafter, and have been there since. Lord, I hate being sick!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)