What to Say, What to Say

OK, I'm back and I still don't have any bright ideas, so this will probably seem a bit random, to say the least. Nothing much happened in the last two weeks, except that August finally wound down, and for that alone, I am thankful.

Here it is, Labor Day. It is a holiday dedicated to American workers, but this year, maybe it should be dedicated to out of work workers who, in the past several years have been laid off, let go, downsized and talked into taking early retirement. The companies who let most of these workers go have new workers, in Mexico and other countries, where they don't have to offer decent salaries and/or such benefits as healthcare, pension plans, and other perks that American workers have come to expect as part of their compensation.

So, who is celebrating Labor Day this year? Right! Big corporations, for sure. Pharmaceutical companies and health insurers. The rest of us are trying to celebrate as usual, but we're having trouble finding good reasons for it. So, I thought I might be able to help a bit.

Betty's reasons for celebrating Labor Day and predictions for the coming months:

1. School has started, or will start tomorrow, and it will be safe to walk down the sidewalks without getting run over by all manner of kiddie vehicles that aren't allowed on the streets.

2. There will probably be picnics going on all over the neighborhood.

3. We can look forward to balloon races here next weekend.

4. Labor Day marks the start of the holiday season, during which we can attend county fairs and goat ropin's, lots of garage sales and craft fairs. It's the season when women all over the country know where their husbands are from Friday night until Monday morning. On the couch, watching FOOTBALL!

5. This year, we are fortunate enough to look forward to election day in November, at which time the Democrats are expected to pay the price for their betrayal of the President and their general wussiness. They'll get just what they deserve - a bunch of radical, right-wing wackos who don't have a clue about governance, and only think they are going to be allowed to have their radical ways by the Republicans already in office. Won't they be surprised when the realize they don't have the support for their agenda that they expected to have! Those good old boys in the GOP won't have any use for the BillyBobs and Bubbas that they helped to elect after the election.

6. There may well be an uptick in hiring at the first of the year, by those companies who have been holding back until after the elections. The banks will finally start loaning money and the states that accepted stimulus money will start using the money for its intended purpose - infrastructure. Or, at least they will use the funds that haven't already been pocketed by their CEOs, governors, attorneys general, etc., etc.

7. With any luck, by this time next year, Seniors can expect an increase in their Social Security benefits. They may not be too noticeable, what with their healthcare premiums having gone up this year and probably again next year. But, at least we'll feel like we're catching up, even if we aren't. This is going to be possible only if the Republicans haven't managed to abolish Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and Part D (the prescription plan) and have replaced it with their idea of privatization, by investing your payroll taxes in the stock market - and won't that be fun?.

8. And, lastly, people, and possibly most importantly, it's time to put away your white shoes.

Stay tuned.

It's All About Meme

Leon, at The Ancient One, Blessed Be He, has tagged me for the "Six Quirky Things About Me" meme. This, of course, means that he will have to be looking over his shoulder from now on, waiting for me to tag him. When you least expect it, Leon, expect it.

Here goes:

1. I always wake up on my right side. I can't go to sleep on my left side, but I have to start out that way, or I can't go to sleep at all. It's a nightly ritual. First, on the left side, then, flip over to the right. Flip back and forth a time or two more and, finally, off to sleep. I don't call myself an old dog for nuthin!

2. I have lots of conspiracy theories, starting with the Kennedy assassination. (Oswald wasn't alone. There was another guy on the grassy knoll.) I had a theory about Deep Throat, too, and wasn't finding out who he actually was a big letdown?

3. I have phobias. I don't like to get out of the house. I can do it, I just don't want to. I can't bring myself to drive on the highway alone, but love to travel. I don't like crowds. I had an anxiety attack in the "Tube" in London. That was lots of fun for my daughter and our other companions.

4. I'm shy. Over the years, I've learned to cover it somewhat. But, I can talk to strangers more easily than mere acquaintances.

5. My sun sign is Aries and my ascendant is Libra, which makes me a mass of contradictions. I almost believe this Astrology stuff.

6. I'm psychic and my grandmother was moreso. Premonitions usually come to me in dreams, as they did hers. For instance, while she lived in Florida and I was in Little Rock, 16 years old, we both had dreams predicting my father's death - on the same night, we later discovered. The prediction played out exactly the way my dream predicted. Also, once, I shook hands with a friend I hadn't seen in a long time, and got the feeling that he was dying. Later that day, his wife confided that he had acute Leukemia and only had a few months to live. I have had lots of more innocuous dreams, but those are the most scary ones I've had. People who know about this trait always get around to telling me I'd better not be dreaming about them!

There you go, Leon. I'm not tagging anyone, but if anyone wants to do this meme, feel free to do it and blame me.