Cathy's Grace Notes

More on Palin

I found this very interesting post on Palin, from a fellow Alaskan. Get you a cup of coffee or favorite beverage, but well worth the read to get some perspective on her from the homefront.

Thoughts on the Presidential Campaign - Race and Special Needs

When I was a little girl, my Daddy would emphasize watching certain events on television which he thought was important for me to watch because of its historical significance. He would say, "you need to watch this, this is history". Even though I didn't always get it or have the pieces put together, I would try to put it in the back of my mind that it was important. Back then, we had only a few television stations. Two were clear, the others, because of their distance always had "snow" in them.

And.. the public television station was only on until 6ish if I recall correctly and then the local television station (WCTV) was on until 11:30, with sometimes a late movie coming on (was it during the weekend????? Not sure). The National Anthem played right before the test screen.

But I digress....

Thursday evening, the nation heard the new Democratic Party's candidate Barack Obama. I remember hearing him four years ago and thinking of his potential for the future in politics. Little did we know he would be a contender for President in four years.

I do have a problem though.... and this is with identity. Perhaps none of you do, but he is being recognized as the first African American to be nominated to represent the Democratic Party for the national election. Yes, he is African American, but he is also Caucasian, as his mother. What makes one race override the other? Is it the visual clues of the color of his skin? Can't he just be a human being? 

When I complete forms in our school as a teacher, I always think that identifying children by having to complete their race on a form perpetuates racism. Sometimes I have to ask the parent, especially those who I know are distinctly different in their ethnic/racial background. One parent in particular I remember asking. One parent was "black" while the other "hispanic",  I asked her what she wanted me to write in there - she really didn't know, but she chose one over the other, I can't remember. However, now I am seeing "mixed" as a choice.

I look forward to the day we don't have to ask that question and that it really doesn't matter.

Yesterday, McCain selected Gov. Sarah Palin for his running mate. Palin, who is governor of Alaska, has five children, with her youngest being born this year.  At the age of 44, Palin gave birth to a child with Down Syndrome.

I teach students with developmental delays - they are the youngest in the school system, starting at age 3. It's mandated by Federal law that we must offer free and appropriate education for students with disabilities ages 3-21. I usually have at least one student in my class with Down Syndrome. Their abilities vary, and the impact of their disability varies greatly from child to child.

Readers, these children are delightful, and give a great deal of joy to us and their community. They also require a tremendous amount of energy and care. In addition to medical issues that arise, most of these children require interventions such as speech, physical and occupational therapy. I wonder how Palin can keep up with the pace of being a mom with a special needs child and being on a intense campaign trail.  I am not questioning her ability, I am concerned about choices and timing.

I do think these are just ponderous thoughts, and no attacks. Just thoughts looking through my eyes and my perspective.

Your thoughts?

Food Meme - Whatcha Eatin'?

Found at Terrapin Station:
This is fun, and everybody's doing it. Andrew put together a list of 100 foods he thinks any good omnivore should have tried at least once. Andrew is British, so his list doesn't include some things this Yank might believe to be must-tries.

How the Omnivore's 100 works:
1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.

2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.

3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.

4) Optional: Post a comment at Very Good Taste, linking to your results.

My theory is: I'll try anything once.

MY OMNIVORE'S 100

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile (does alligator count?)
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PBJ sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar (no cigars, thanks)
37. Clotted Cream Tea
38. Vodka Jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat's milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth $120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear (does PP jelly count?)
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV (huh?)
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads (making sure readers know this is not BREAD)
63. kaolin - (as in Kaopectate)
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost or brunost
75. Roadkill (I am sure I have, just knowing some of my friends)
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang Souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom Yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. 3 Michelin Star Tasting Menu
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

What about you?

Tuesday Update - Blips

Rain total exceeded 16 inches in my back yard. Could be more because when I dumped it in the morning, it had already reached the top.

School resumes tomorrow. This is a good thing.

Both mornings I had the opportunity to have coffee with a friend downtown when it first opened. I think I could enjoy doing that on a daily basis with friends. Or near 'bout daily.

I have a hurt foot and I don't know why.

Tonight's menu - collard soup with kielbasa and cornbread. YUM YUM YUM.

Somewhere down in the Caribbean is Hurricane Gustav. We want no repeats, please.

The sun is shining. The first time in almost a week. Thank you.

From the East Side, now the West Side, but not the Sidewalks of New York

Well, we got Fay from the East, and now, we are getting her from the west. We don't need any more rain. We are out of school today, and while out today, I saw quite a few trees down and lots of limbs and leaves. (Yep, our yard too). Here is our radar, and we are just to the east of the rain that is getting ready to drop on us.

When I got to thinking about Fay coming from the east side and then coming from the west side, I couldn't help but thinking of the song that begins "East Side, West Side" which is the "Sidewalks of New York". Of course I had to check what was on Youtube, and found a historical account of the song, giving the background and photographs from the same era.  For your viewing and listening pleasure, which really has nothing to do with the weather, but has everything to do with my ADD brain. I remember learning to play this on the piano as a child.





For those of you who can't get enough of the song, here is a recording from a 78 that I also found. I really like it.

For those of you who are buffs for listening to this type of music, there seems to be quite a few folks who are preserving these recordings digitally through Youtube. For those of you who are doing this, thank you.

Book #21 - Friendship of Women

This is August's book selection for Revgalblogpals for August and our discussion for it is tomorrow. Chittister takes women from the Bible and discusses their traits and how our friends serve in these capacities in our lives. I know that my friendships vary, and I am grateful to each and every one of them, from the ones who are friends on the lighter side to those who are friends that become the core of my very being. Or, at least, close to that. Probably my favorite section of the book is the introduction in which the author, Joan Chittister, reviews the history and meaning of friendship throughout the centuries.

I look forward to the discussion for this book. What a wonderful little book (under 100 pages!) it would be for a women's retreat or a women's study group. It's a book to read a little at a time.. to savor the words and quotes that people throughout the ages have imparted on friends.

Read it, you'll be glad you did.

Book #20 - So B. It

I would like to think I would get to 50 books this year, but at the rate I am going, it doesn't look so good. However, I am thankful for every book that I DO read!

So B. It by Sarah Weeks is a Georgia Book Award Nominee. Our media specialist recommended it as a book that I might enjoy. She said it was a quick read (it is) and so I got it on Friday, started it Saturday afternoon, and finished it up this afternoon.

Heidi is a preteen who lives with her mother who has an intellectual disability. A neighbor helps keeps things together and assists in the care of Heidi's mother and of Heidi. Heidi and her mother never really knew their last name and when asked the only thing they could get out of the mother was what sounded like So B. It, so that became the mother's name.

Heidi wants to find out more about the history of her mother, and finds some pictures that begin to unlock the mystery, but not without a long trip to where the pictures led them to find out about So B. It's past. And, of course, she finds out plenty - and probably more than she wanted to know.

It's a fast an enjoyable read in youth literature.

Sunday morning update on Tropical Storm Fay

It just keeps coming. It's pouring. down. rain. Enough already.

Fallen Tree - Tropical Storm Fay

This tree fell today during the rains of Tropical Storm Fay. It fell on our neighbor's fence.

Saturday with Tropical Fay update 6:00 pm

I have dumped the rain gauge for a second time today - total so far approximately 10 inches and counting.

Walmart was closed because it had no power (!)

Husband is on his way home after a stop at the store.

It's still raining hard. In 1994 we had this sort of rain and the flooding was devastating. Pray we don't have a repeat.