Who I Am

So I usually keep this blog light and fluffy. Easy-reading, non-confrontational. In general, the fastest way to cause tension is bringing up religion or politics. Because, let's face it, relatively few people change their opinions during an argument, or even after one. Maybe it's a matter of pride. Maybe it has something to do with the difficulty of thinking during an argument - too busy thinking up a zinging response.

Maybe that's the problem with politics today. When I first came to the UK, I remember watching a televised debate in the Houses of Parliament and being surprised at the surging emotional reactions of the politicians. The Tory leader (Conservative/Right) would be attacking the Labo(u)r leader (Center-Right-ish) and there'd be boos and cheers from the politicians in the audience. The Liberal Democrat leader would start attacking the Budget and the whole damn place would start shrieking in condemnation or in support. Occasionally they'd get almost choreographed, low, mostly-male OOOing, or YEAAAHing catapulting across the room. Almost might as well beat on their chests... except I suppose the arguments help these politicians define Who They Are. Not What They Stand For, so much, which I think is an important and unfortunate distinction.

See, I could say I vote Libertarian and some people might immediately peg me as an anarchist or something. So I don't usually say what I am - and being a student journalist pretty much reinforced that habit. Plus, why define Who You Are by a political party? Is it written somewhere that you have to agree with everything a certain party stands for? The UK's system isn't limited to a 2-party one - smaller parties can and have won political battles. Heck, they even have the Monster Raving Loony Party here - which I believe has come close to winning in certain arenas. Refreshing! (I think.)

Let's talk about health care.

There's been a lot of coverage of the U.S. system lately and the recently-passed changes. And somewhere during the mud-slinging, things got highly politicized. Now this whole health care revamp thing seems to be X vs. Y, no middle ground. You're either a SOCIALIST or an EVIL RIGHT-WINGER. No compromise. Because clearly, you cannot pick and choose what you agree with. You must stand on one side of the line or the other, and that is how you, and others, define Who You Are. You're either with us or against us, baby.

I'm sorry, but I call shenanigans on this slippery slope stuff. (And yes! I do realize that sentence is nearly alliteration.)

Just once, I'd like to see someone speak their mind without some drama llama getting the hump. I don't know if that's even possible in today's overcharged political arenas. How did we careen so far off course? Why are we not examining the facts?

In the last years of her life, a middle-aged woman was unable to entertain the idea of moving more than a few miles away because she could not change health plans. Nobody would insure a middle-aged diabetic. Her monthly prescription costs were soaring. And, despite paying high premiums--presumably for world-class health care--she passed away at the age of 57. Doctor's visits were 15 minutes long. By the last week of her life she knew she was in deep trouble but she had no clue how to fix it apart from continuing to pay the high premiums and try to schedule another appointment - preferably within the week. She died of a massive heart attack. Autopsy showed she'd had strokes and other symptoms for months which went undiagnosed despite her visits to her regular doctor.

In her 20's, a woman was able to entertain the idea of moving anywhere in the country. None of her doctor's appointments made her wait more than a week - except for the specialist appointment she got which required an EKG at the hospital. If she wanted it, she could get birth control pills without paying more than a token fee. When she gave birth at the hospital, she felt the care could have been better, and the wards were shared. She felt angry that the hospital seemed to be too busy, and probably short of staff for a proper patient/nurse ratio, but the discomfort was short-lived. She gets prescriptions for her under-16yr son free. Recently, she went to the doctor at her husband's urging to check out a suspected case of food-poisoning that had affected her and her son. The doctor prescribed anti-nausea tablets and rehydrating fluid - total cost was about $14.00 for the prescription.

The former situation occurred in the U.S. and the latter in the U.K. If you know me, you'll have realized that I'm comparing the situations of my mother and myself. And if you have an inkling of Who I Am, you'll realize that What I Stand For isn't as simple or as petty as standing on one side of the line or the other and hurling verbal grenades.

When did we lose the ability to stand up as a Person and say what's right and what's wrong? Have we lost our ability to reason for ourselves? Why do we need politicians holding our hands and shoehorning us onto false "sides"? Pitting us against each other when our own individual ethics should be screaming at us to check the facts from several independent sources and decide for ourselves instead of claiming mob mentality?

That dog don't hunt, and the emperor is naked, and I feel really good writing that down.

Blocks

When we were in CA, my godmother and godsister took us out and bought us a generous load of baby stuff, including a set of wooden blocks like the ones I used to have as a child. E really loves the blocks and will often drag one of us into his nursery (by the legs - makes for awkward walking!) and say "More down!" until we sit and play with the blocks.

Today when he woke up from his nap he wanted lots of block time. I managed to slip out and get the camera about 75% of the way through and take a short video. Keep in mind he's...

a) Only recently woken up
b) Not yet 20 months
c) Coming to the end of this period of natural playtime - nearly ready to move on to something else

You can still hear him spontaneously naming a few things (including a color, which he's getting more into these days). His pronunciation needs a bit of practice but he's doing really well. Right now he enjoys holding up the block with an M on it, shouting "M!" and then turning it upside down and shouting "DUMBLE!" which is his word for the letter W. He does similar for 6 and 9.

Here's the vid.

Spring

The UK holds Mother's Day in March, so I was surprised with a chocolate croissant and tea in bed this morning... plus a great card:


Then B and E headed outside to build the tent and tunnel that Grandpa in California sent us for Christmas....

I didn't fit down the tunnel.

But E did.


B also built a little trampoline we picked up last weekend.

Anyhow, that's all I have time for - it's time for a certain gentleman's nap, and I'm off for a hot date with a pot of tea and my notebook at a local cafe. Happy Spring.

19 Months Today

Celebrated today by going out and getting a blueberry muffin, then walking to the park. We sat on a bench and ate our treat then fed the crumbs to the ducks, swans, and geese. Then walked through the mud back home, touching every mailbox on the way, of course, and most of the trees.

The young gentleman pictured above can now recognize and say: A, E, I, O, Y, D, H, R, S, T with great consistency - and other letters some of the time. His greatest barrier at this point in time is pronunciation so I'm being conservative with that list. At this age, it's all fun and games, until someone loses an I. Sorry. I had to do that.