Here Comes the Sun...

The sun is in the perfect spot on the horizon and the light is pouring into my office. Sure beats a SAD light box, not quite as good as Hawaii. It almost seems to radiate enough heat to go sit outside in but I know better.

Our president-elect has been making the rounds in the last couple weeks. Most recently, splashing the airways with his Surgeon General nominee. While the media seems thrilled with opining over the choice, I can help but wonder about the real tasks of the administration ahead.

We love a sunny outlook in this country. Perhaps because we were weaned on Bambi losing mom, but when anyone even begins to tell a happy tale, we are quick to believe.

I love the sun. I don’t particularly like reading about the bombing in Gaza, children found huddled with their dead mothers. Or the reality that one out of every seven homeowners will be foreclosed on this coming year. Or how billions upon billions of dollars are needed to move our public school systems forward in order to remain competitive with the rest of the world.

I know I have to. I am in the sun. So many are not.

I hope Obama stays clear of the media drama. That he stay focused on the war, the economy and education and not the pictures of his “abs” from the beach or his choice of an appointment to a relatively minor post.

The LGBT community has been disrespected- see Rick Warren’s part in the inauguration events next to our, um, marching band- and passed over in this administration already. I’m not surprised. He said “gay” a lot in his campaign speeches which was great but the actual embrace, a real seat at the table, is still a far away dream.

To be honest, if he gets the war, Gaza and the economy right? I’m happy to let him slide until he builds the credibility to go ahead and make a few things happen- like the end of DOMA, DADT and a fully inclusive ENDA. If you’ve fixed those things, some civil rights should be a piece of cake.

Let’s not forget, rights are free to give. They don’t increase the budget. Leaves the country with good feeling, no raised tax ceiling.

This is Obama’s moment in the sun. He may never again reach such high levels of popularity. Please, for the country’s sake, may he not be blinded by it. I don’t mind a somewhat goofy choice for Surgeon General and as long as the General in Regional Command is dedicated to leaving Iraq.

I hope he uses the power of words carefully, especially when talking about the economy. A single Hank Paulson speech can tank the markets for weeks. What we need is economic stability, not the current panic driven roller coaster.

Mostly? Let’s all stay focused on the real issues of the day and not be suckered by some of the ratings-driven, sexed up nonsense the mainstream media throws at us.



Because just like now, as the sun is slipping down behind the house next door, the sun will go away. I hope we have the real change we need when it does.

Bird Diplomacy

For the last few weeks, I have been watching a particular bird- a Robin- fight with himself. Over and over, I watch this bird fling himself into the window reflection- although not very hard- bounce off, flutter a way briefly, only to go for it again.

And again. And again.

I asked Jake to make a scary picture. He did.

The bird went to the other window.

I asked Jake to make two more.



Doesn’t matter. The bird still sits in the crook of the Japanese maple tree, takes aim, and boom.

I have a few observations about this bird. For one, the bird is stubborn. It refuses to “lose” to a superior foe. After about an hour of bouncing, he leaves for the day. Does he learn? Nope. The very next day, he comes back, and tries again.

Clearly, he is right. He will win this battle, a battle he is fighting the same way over and over again. It’s arrogant and without thought or examination.

The bird has no sense of its pattern and how it might actually bring danger to it. Its repeated attempts at being right have left behind oily stains on the windows not to mention a pile of bird poop under the maple tree. It is easy prey.

I have contemplated a slingshot. The PETA people can feel free to complain but the pile of poop is actually on my new deck and I’m sorry, a plain ol’ robin isn’t going to win over a brand new deck.

The oblivious disregard for it’s own safety because it is going to get that bird one-way or another, is probably linked to natural selection. You know the female robins are all saying, That dumb bastard is still slamming into that window.

We’re over here waiting to have some babies and he’s just doing the same damn stupid thing, over and over again.

Not to mention Jake’s pictures are fairly fierce.

It’s almost 3PM. Like clockwork, he’s back.

I’ve had more than one human male see the behavior and say, well, anything to get laid.

That’s not it. Not at all. It’s about stubborn arrogance. It’s about the inability to see past itself or to learn from repeated failure. It’s about hopeless dreams of conquest.

Reminds me of a lot of men I know.

It also makes me think of the Iraq war and the ridiculous rhetoric that is spoken about “winning” war that cannot be won and “stabilizing” a region that has been unstable since the dawn of time.

Just as fruitless and pointless as the bird that just did his first daily attack on the window.

Only the cost is so much higher.