This will be a bit of a slog so if you're looking for short and sweet this isn't the blog for you.

The US is on the verge of instituting legislation to legalize pot. It has been a long time coming for a botanical that should never have been illegal in the first place. But that's an old and tired argument so I'll leave it for now.

What is pertinent to the coming legislation and eventual farming and marketing of this plant and it's relative, hemp, is that regulations be put in place Before the process begins on a huge scale. Because you know it will be done on a huge scale. Why the regs before? Because otherwise we are going to find ourselves in an even bigger environmental disaster than we find ourselves with the corn/ethanol 'solution' to petroleum enhancement.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-57611891/making-corn-based-ethanol-badly-hurting-environment-ap/

It is absolutely necessary to vet this process before it gets going because cleaning up after rarely works well if at all. It may have to be done state by state rather than on a federal level, but it has to be done.

So when you are advocating for legalization [ as I will be] please also advocate for the regulations to keep the land safe and the product safe also. We are losing so much environmentally that could be safeguarded and utilized in much more responsible ways if we'd simply take the time and effort to let those we have put in charge know that it matters.

I'm sitting in the living room and contemplating making baskets out of boxes [which are at a premium around here]. Why am I doing this? Because taking all the cardboard to the recycler , especially on Sat., is becoming tiresome.  So here I am thinking of designs and whether or not I can actually do this and I hear what sounds like Mahalia Jackson singing very, very softly in the background. Huh?

Then I realize it's the cat. She isn't happy with just the crunchy food for dinner and is complaining about it in a low register. Why? Because she got a bath a couple of days ago and hasn't quite gotten over it yet so the complaining is low key as opposed to strident.

But it took me some minutes to realize it was the cat and in those minutes I thought about all the things it could be.  Mahalia Jackson...ardent gospel singer. I knew it wasn't my neighbor listening to her.  He primarily listens to Jazz and African folk music. How do I know this? Because he plays it loud enough for the neighbors. I like jazz and I like the African music so it's not that big a deal for me but I do wonder on occasion about the country music lovers around and about. * grin *

Then I considered that maybe MJ was singing from up above. You know, the music of well, wherever it is you go when you leave here. The choir of one at St. Peter's gate. I decided that was unlikely.

It also occurred to me that the pellet stove might be getting musical. That also seemed unlikely but an interesting thought.

So that's what's occupying my evening so far. Hope yours is going well.

http://youtu.be/YGQWPq8Mrog

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/10/24/21117142-shackled-and-pregnant-wis-case-challenges-fetal-protection-law?lite

I found this article interesting.  I went through a situation that was similar in some ways with my first pregnancy.  It wasn't about recreational drug use but about prescriptions I was taking for epilepsy.  I wouldn't take them.  I knew how toxic they were and I didn't have an extreme seizure disorder. I refused to subject my child to the effects of the drugs. Because of this I had a hard time finding a physician to treat me prenatally. I did finally find one __ a good one. Also an interesting story. :)  However
What this young woman has gone through raises some interesting and important questions.
It is true there are addicted babies being born all the time. It is a tragedy, to say the least, but is what the authorities did here the answer?  And in her case I would have to say no.
But that's my opinion...what's yours?

What the  government shutdown accomplished in Smalltown, USA

Front Royal, Va. is a small community an hour or outside of the Washington metro area.  Here we have a mostly rural lifestyle [a few stores but all in all just your small town].  This is where the entrance to Skyline Drive [Shenandoah Nat'l Park] is located and several access points to the Appalachian Trail. We also have the confluence of the north and south forks of the Shenandoah river, very popular with the canoeists.

 The county also houses the Smithsonian Conservation Center for the Smithsonian Institution. Here they raise many of the species for various zoos, most of whom are considered endangered.

During the government shutdown our county lost it's main celebration of the year, The Festival of Leaves. Most of the vendors/stores and services depend heavily upon this festival and the few weeks a year when the leaves change to finance their bottom line. The park was closed as was the Smithsonian. The Smithsonian depends on donations most of which are solicited during their own festival held in conjunction with that of the county. It all takes place during mid-October. There was no reason to celebrate this year.

The financial hit to the county was substantial...on a par with loss from a natural disaster but w/o the ability to petition for funds to compensate the losses incurred.  If I were an attorney I would consider suing the government. This will all have a major impact on the people and businesses here.

Previous Festival photo

And that is just the tip of the iceberg.

All of this loss will have repercussions at the national level as it impacts any of the national businesses who rely on shoppers from areas just like this one. All across the country small towns have suffered. Big towns and cities, too but I think the real damage has been done to the small communities which house homes and businesses that will not recover from all the government grandstanding.

The Smithsonian Conservation Center.

Then there are the International repercussions. But that's for another diatribe.

Today I am going to clear the dining table.  Why? Good question as it instantly attracts more stuff to fill the vacancy left behind by the old stuff.  It's nearly magnetic in it's ability to attract said stuff. And it's not just your usual assortment of stuff__it's also tools [from the constant renovating going on around here], animal supplies [which are supposed to be in cupboards but still end up on the table], food of many varieties [well, I guess food is actually close to it's home as it sits on the table. This is food in bags and other containers least you find yourselves wondering about half eaten pizza, etc. It's not quite frat house messy]. There's more. Much more. Where does all this stuff come from? I found keys the last time I did this and I have no idea what they go to... just a small ring of keys. I need to wash the table felt cover __ * looks at table. Grimaces *  I thought about posting a sign:

But I figure it would backfire and become even more magnetic, attracting even more stuff:

Besides, who'd see the sign buried under all the stuff  :/

However, no matter all the arguments I find myself using to try to weasel out of the task  * sigh *  it must be done.

Oh, and laundry.

Sometimes I wonder what it is I do around here  * looks around *.  I distinctly remember cleaning recently  * looks around some more * but from the looks of things it all needs doing again.  There oughta be a rule. Clean something and it stays that way. Yes. I like that rule. Let's implement that.

It has been an interesting few days.  I mean this in the 'May you have an interesting life' context.

I think I'll make this chronological instead of import.

Last week I went to see the orthopedist about my right shoulder.  The rheumatologist has been giving me cortisone injections in the bursa [ for bursitis] over the last few months but it wasn't improving and the last shot caused a great deal of pain. No more cortisone. Anyway, she was on vacation when I felt a Pop! in my shoulder and could no longer lift my right arm.  This is inconvenient. It's my dominant hand. Anyway, after having an MRI it was discovered that my entire rotator cuff is basically gone. The pop was the last remaining tissue holding it all together. To top that off it is unlikely that I will be eligible for shoulder replacement or any kind of reconstruction as the RA I have will just destroy the new joint.  So I am now listed as having a partially paralyzed right arm. This as opposed to completely paralyzed.  Lovely.

Over the w/e Sari, our tortoiseshell cat, died. I blame myself completely. She had been showing signs of illness  but I was so preoccupied with my own troubles that I waited too long to get her to the vet. In all honesty I didn't think it was that severe but when I brought her outside Fri. morning she just laid down in the sun and wouldn't eat her breakfast. When I went back a few minutes later she was gone. I mean she had wandered off. She never came back. Matt found her body in the tall grass at the edge of the yard yesterday evening. He buried her at the edge of the woods.  I am eaten with guilt. If I hadn't been so short sided and self-centered she may have made it through. I will never know.

Then one of Matt's friends started a whole melodrama and dragged Matt into it. Oh, not directly but by inference in dealings that had nothing at all to do with Matt and everything to do with this friend and his lack of any kind of judgement. Now things have become tense . Matt made a stand and told this person to stay away from him and the house. Never come and darken our door again kind of thing. It's sad as he and Matt have been friends since grade school.

Then last night my front tooth [a cap] fell off. Charming. Now I have to go looking for a dentist. I hate going to the dentist [who doesn't] but especially one I've never been to before as my old one has moved away. So I picked one out of the phone book. This one had the most positive reviews in the area so we'll see. Once again it's the RA. It's affecting all my systems including my teeth, hair, nails and skin not just the joints and connective tissue. If this dentist turns out to be any good he'll probably be seeing much more of me.  * sigh *  In the meantime I am gap-toothed. Oh, and partially paralyzed. And grumpy. And riddled with guilt. I may be approaching the 'old pirate' time of life. I could trade in my cane and use one of Matt's decorative swords instead. Tie on a bandanna and Whoosh! Madame Snarly on your starboard deck, Mateys.

So on a positive note ___ wait, I'll come up with something.  Oh, yes. The pellets for our heating system are here and loaded in the basement.  This is a very good thing as all the prognostications are for a cold, cold winter here. But then again it was supposed to be a bad hurricane season and so far [knock on wood] that hasn't happened.

I hope your last few days have gone better.  And here's to a beautiful and uneventful, at least in the negative way, Fall __ or maybe I should use the word Autumn.

Warning! Spirit woowoo is mentioned. Run if you are inclined or stick around because it is [mostly] innocuous.

This morning I went about my daily routine which includes jumping onto the computer while I jump onto the exercise bike. I got everything set up__ bike alongside bed with pillow as platform for mouse, wallmount screen turned just so, coffee on drafting table on other side of bike [small space, yes], keyboard within reach, everything set but no mouse. I had just had it 2 seconds before.

I looked everywhere. Places I hadn't even gone yesterday. I got on the floor and looked under the desk. I looked in the closet. I went into the kitchen and looked in the freezer. I haven't been in the freezer for at least 24 hrs. In short, I looked everywhere including the dog's bed. Well, I didn't check Matt's room but he'd already left for work before all of this started so what was the point in that?

I was approaching meltdown.

In case I haven't mentioned it, I've been having approaches to meltdown, immanent meltdown or just plain hysterical meltdowns rather often lately. They're not particularly fun and rather alarming for Matt. Mostly I think they're med related and I'm going to be asking for another change here when I can get an appointment but onward with the story.

In order to try and circumnavigate these little bouts I've increased my exercise routines, started meditating more and am really trying to be cognizant of behavior control before I start to fall apart because I can't do something the way I used to be able to.

I made it about halfway before I tore the bed apart.

Oh, not literally. But I pulled the blanket off and shook it, tossed it aside. Same thing with the top sheet. And again with the body pillow. Gave the evil eye to the two bed pillows and threw them in the pile on the floor.  And there before me was the naked bottom sheet with a keyboard and screen remote__and no mouse. At this point I figured I could do a few different things. All I had to do was pick one.

I decided to laugh. Not chuckle, laugh. Out loud. Really loud. Rollicking, rolling laughter. [Yes, I am aware that could be construed as hysterical behavior] I simply have gotten tired of crying__and railing__and ranting. So I laughed. Then I asked those you cannot see but who are always there [I refer to them as spirit guides] what it was they wanted? What was I supposed to learn from losing the mouse? What Message were they imparting? Because it had to be them. There couldn't possibly be any other explanation. None. I wouldn't, couldn't accept one anyway because I had looked for the *(&^&%^*&(*_) mouse in every conceivable place and some really inconceivable ones and it had simply disappeared.

And as I stood laughing I happened to look down at the foot of the newly made bed and right in front of me was the mouse. On top of the blanket just all bright and sparkly.

Very funny guys.

What was it they were trying to say? Well it didn't show up until I started to laugh so the message I got from the entire ordeal was

Lighten Up