JACK

John Kenneth Halbert, M.M.

February 29, 1932 - June 6, 2008








National Parkinson's Foundation

SKY WATCH

Barnegat Lighthouse is another of my favorites. Oh well - I have to admit it. They are all my favorites. I tried climbing the steps inside this one once, but never made it to the top. It is in a very pretty setting, and I have spent many happy hours there from time to time. The day I took this picture was bright and sunny, and also cold and windy.


Please stop by Wiggers' World, where our host, Tom has listed all those participating in Sky Watch Friday this week. There are lots of them. Why not join us?

IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT

Wind howled and rain crashed against the windows. Thunder rumbled continuously, lightning lit up the room, and fire sirens wailed. Under these conditions, I know the TV should have been turned off. But in the midst of the pledge drive for PBS, there was a Pete Seeger special. How could I not watch that, no matter what the risk?


I love folk music - and bluegrass - and good old time country music. Old time - not the pseudo-country stuff they try to foist off on us today, sung by youngsters who haven't a clue what it's all about. (I know - I know. I'm a crabby old lady. Well, I guess I'm just a Pennsylvania hillbilly after all. Can't help it if I got here by way of Massapequa, New York. I'm still a country girl at heart.)


Pete Seeger was interrupted a little more than an hour into the program, when I lost the satellite signal, but at least it happened at an opportune moment, just as they were pausing to ask us to help fund PBS. I do hope you were able to do that, and that you had the opportunity to hear Pete's story. What a man!


To every thing - Turn! Turn! Turn!

There is a season - Turn! Turn! Turn!

And a time to every purpose under Heaven.

OUT OF TOUCH - OUT OF SORTS

Out of words - at least momentarily. I'm sure it will pass. At this moment I feel as if I have nothing much to say.


I didn't wake until 7:30 this morning, having slept soundly all night. Very unusual. I'm usually an insomniac. But I didn't hear any rain last night, and yet it obviously rained hard and/or long. I see my neighbor's boyfriend spent the night after being noticeably absent for several days. I didn't hear him arrive. And while I was sleeping, Mr. Obama officially became the Democratic candidate. Yea! That of course was no real surprise, but in these things there is always the possibility that we will be surprised.


That does give me something to talk about.


There were many women rooting for Hillary, who felt passionately that she represented them. They identified with her so strongly that they were saying if she lost out, they would refuse to vote, or would cast their ballot for McCain.


Ladies! Please! Think rationally! You're talking about the future of the country.


I do have strong feelings concerning politics myself. But would I, out of spite, take a position like a kindergartner and say, "If you won't play my way, I'm not playing!"? No! No matter which candidate I wanted to win. How could anyone contemplate giving up their right to vote because they were having a little temper tantrum about the way things went? Or deliberately vote for someone who professes a view directly opposite to theirs?



So long as I started on politics, I guess I should go a step farther and say - I am not Republican nor Democrat. The day 26 years ago, when I went to work for a local municipality where the squabbling between the two parties had reached a ridiculous level, I also went to the Election Board and registered Independent. Have never had reason to regret that. I feel the political scene in our town is a nightmare.



Point of information: Although I refer to it frequently, I do not live in Cape May City - only in Cape May County. There are no less than four municipalities with the words "Cape May" in their titles - and I don't live in any of them.


That being said, I think I will end this weird little post. Perhaps tomorrow I will be able to be more coherent.

WHAT'S WITH TUESDAYS?

OK. What is it with Tuesdays?


I started out this morning thinking I would do several errands. I was thwarted at every turn. It seems that everything from bakeries, to nurseries, to gift shops (even the Bird Observatory Gift Shop) are all closed on Tuesdays. Are they thinking that they need that day off after four-day-weekends? How many four-day-weekends are there?


I did find, almost by accident, one nursery where I could buy a new hanging basket. And then discovered that they also sell hummingbird feeders. and I did want a second one.


And on the way, I also found that Cape May Point has planted the island dividing the lanes at the beginning of Lighthouse Avenue just off Sunset Boulevard very beautifully. That was a nice discovery.
So I had a pretty ride. Until I was on the way home, and had to stop at the gas station. Half a tank of gas for $38.00! That is sad.
I'm glad I don't find it necessary to drive very much any more. I would like to just drive around as I used to, but it isn't really that necessary. So of course, I don't do it.


Now I'll just have to remember not to try to run errands on Tuesdays.

CRAYONS

We have a very dear blog friend named Caroline. She has been delighting us for quite a while
now in her gentle way, with weekly posts containing her beautifully detailed drawings, teaching us about other cultures, as well as our own. Deceptively simple little tales accompanied by few words. If you have not yet discovered her, you really should seek out her blog and explore current and past posts.

Caroline has announced that she will be excluding the internet from her house, at least for a while. That should be quite an experience for her. I know of people who make the decision to exclude TV. That makes sense to me. It's difficult for me to imagine excluding the internet. I have to think about that. I guess it makes sense. We have so quickly become almost enslaved by its presence, haven't we? In any case, that has been her decision. She now has a very demanding teaching job - lucky students! - but says she will continue weekly posts. I am looking forward to them. I do enjoy her blog so much. To steal her own words, I think she has had her "finger right on the pulse of the human experience." Even her profile has brought me pleasure, introducing me to new and wonderful people. Thank you, Caroline.