Uncle Scrooge vs Uncle Sam

Growing up, one of my sisters was fairly serious from an early age. She was playful too, but she always had a bit more awareness of the temporariness of childhood.  We were raised in a household where there was no TV viewing during the week. We were allowed to watch on Friday nights and Saturdays. In the era where every child watched Saturday morning cartoons, we all had our favorites. This sister did not. She would choose a good book over a silly cartoon every time. UNLESS, the cartoon was about Uncle Scrooge McDuck.  He who was so wealthy he had his own money building!

I think,

in the beginning, it wasn't the riches which attracted. It was that Uncle Scrooge had no patience for
Uncle Donald's  pursuit of foolish endeavors. Not to mention his poor example for nephews Huey, Dewey and Louey.  Mostly I think she liked the equation. Uncle Scrooge was the smartest and the most disciplined and had the rewards to prove it. This particular sister also loved monopoly the best of all the games; until she played Risk. World domination was vastly more satisfying than  taking over Park Place with hotels. Early on she got the equation of money, power and autonomy.

No, she did not grow up to have her very own money building. Nor, piles of money big enough to ski down.
She did however follow Scrooge's example of being informed, hard working and always in pursuit of security.
I am not sure, but I think of all the cartoon characters, Uncle Scrooge was the only one who could have been Catholic in her view. Between the Church's teachings and Uncle Scrooge's examples, she's done very well.
She shares well with others too, I have a treasured Fendi  clutch she brought from Europe with love.

I also liked Uncle Scrooge, but at some point in our youth her reasons for liking Uncle Scrooge the most seemed ...burdensome. As we matured, her focus did not alter much and neither did mine. While I am not a frivolous person there are some subjects I don't cotton too all that well. Understanding the world wide money games is at the top of the charts. I intensely loathe the world population being treated as cannon fodder while the players ..... play.  I have known for a very long time, I cannot change the game. No surprise. I hated the game of Risk too. One holiday, long after we were grown and fledged, we had so many gathered around we played in teams, There came a time when I could make a big play. I saw the play, understood the play and just did not want to take it.
" Make the play Fishy!", she hissed into my ear.
" No".
" Don't be stupid."
"No"
" ATTACK!"
Yes, I knew it was the winning decision.  Maybe it was growing up in a house with a Dad who had served in a war or maybe because I worked in hospitals and witnessed horrific injuries or maybe it was from dating a man who came home from a war looking whole but forever maimed. Whatever the reason lurking in my psyche I could not bring myself to initiate a move which, in play, would result in the death of thousands.
I put the dice down and said,
" I hate this".
So I withdrew and she prevailed.
In my family, an absence of the killer instinct is a sign of weakness. There is no question there is a kill or be killed reality  out there. Certainly all the survival of the fittest examples were presented to me when parents tried hard to encourage me to step up my toughness and deal.  Once my Dad, in frustration said, " Fishy, you have got to get a handle on this aspect of life. It is part of life.  You cannot  avoid this responsibility to look a thing in the eye and know it's truth". He had long since given up on the hope of a " killer" instinct ever showing up in my persona but  think he still had hopes of at least a "survival" instinct. 

Today I read an article by a CEO of one of America's largest energy companies. He is asking Americans to  be more informed , to research , understand and endorse the Freedom to Invest Act.  He states there is a log jam of more than one trillion dollars of  American owned company profits they are  eager to invest here at home. That is American companies wanting to invest their profits in America.  They cannot do so because in order to bring the money back to the States they would be heavily taxed by Uncle Sam. Our companies have already paid taxes on these funds in the countries in which the profits were generated.  The USA does have the 2nd highest corporate tax rate in the world. This  serves as a  severe disincentive to US companies who actually want to bring their money home.  It is estimated, had the 2009 Recovery Act adopted this policy, America would have benefited from over $565 billion of repatriated earnings, creating 2.6 million jobs and would have reduced the deficit by an average of $46 billion per year.  I agree there is some gamesmanship to these statements.  If you read history, then you know Congress did do this in 2004 and the results were huge reinvestments, job gains, funds for financing  R&D projects and increased GDP. Not too bad. 
I think Uncle Scrooge would approve.
Uncle Sam does not.
Uncle Scrooge has a money building.
Uncle Sam has a debt building.

Gulp.

Later today, I saw the president of the United States hold a conference to say it's my way or nothing. I have veto power and I will use it. He accuses others of gamesmanship with a sleight of speech beyond measure. It made me sick, to see this man mock the seriousness of our situation which he helped orchestrate. It made me sick to stand there thinking how sad it is our Executive Branch  is not as wise as a cartoon . Sicker still to know for some, it is the game which matters most. To those players, if all I believe and hold dear is to be lost to their game, well they are okay with that.  I felt sad too   hearing the network  Alpha Barbies explain to me
" what this  all means to the American family."
I know what it means.
I know how the game of Risk is played.
I still hate it.

I SHOULD HAVE GONE

there is beauty in power

there is beauty in hope

there is beauty in  courage

there is beauty in  purpose

 

 

A 5th of July

Mermaid and I had a playdate to celebrate the fourth on the fifth. Tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains is the little town of Helen, Georgia. I have no clue how an "Alpine Village" came to be in the midst of what was once the mighty Cherokee Nation along the banks of the Chattahoochie River. But there it is. Full of streets with names like Eidelwiss, Heidelburg and Somethingstrausse. While there isn't accordion music  blaring from the lamp posts it does look more like it should be a pavilion at Epcot than an actual community where people earn their livings promoting charm and sauerkraut.


Our purpose for visiting this location was to go tubing down the river. This is not a tube down the river in the wilds undisturbed by anything but the occasional bird call experience. No.  This is summer in the  mountains vacationing families are everywhere tubing experience through the middle of town.  With lots and lots of strangers playing bumper tubes with you and the sound of human laughter as a constant backdrop.

Do you know how this works? You go to a venue, rent your green, pink, yellow or blue tube then board a bus which takes you up the mountain to a launch site. Here is where you collect your tube and where you determine if you do or do not wish for it to be lashed to another. Then you wade out into frigid waters, climb aboard your tube and prepare to have a time out for the next three hours.

At the point where you rent your tube you are asked to sign a sheet absolving the universe of any liability to this activity and you are asked by a sweet spoken local,
"stick?"
" I'm sorry what is your question"?
"Stick? $5"
" Do we need a stick?"
" Mebbe, if you get stuck on the rocks. But's it's shallow water so you can just stand up and push off".

We elected to not stick . What was the point of a relaxing float if you had to mind a long stick?

While we were waiting for the bus to go "up mountain" the people watching was entertaining. Near us there was a group of ladies, in their 60's dressed in tee shirts and  cropped pants. I appreciated their modesty for there were others who could have been the posters for America's obesity epidemic.  All of their extra pounds of flesh in full display. Very full.

Mermaid and I took the seat directly behind the driver and sort of opposite the steps into the bus. I knew I was receiving a warning to behave when a sharpish elbow
smashed into my ribs right before a woman, fully 12 months pregnant, boarded the bus wearing a bikini. Seriously, her belly button was so far out it looked like a nose in the center of her swollen abdomen. I might have made an air sucking sound but the bus was so noisy with excited children I am sure no one heard me. Mermaid wore her fiercest expression of control so I knew  to look the other way and not make her lose that slim, slim hold on politeness.  The truth is I am of an age where I am surprised when I am confronted with the nudity of strangers. Even more surprised by the subject matter and expansiveness of body art. I am also talkative about my observations so Mermaid was vigilant , keeping her elbow cocked and at the ready. I really do not think I am as bad as all that but clearly Mermaid does. I spent the entire bus ride looking out the window and letting the sounds of the eager wash over me.

Once we got to the launch site I  noticed there were a lot of babies being sent out in their tubes making me think of Moses in the rushes. Most were in life vests, a few had on helmets and all were lashed to other tubers.  This really was a throwback to my own youth when extended families gathered in one place to reinforce the bonds. Aunts and cousins, grandparents and infants were all taking to the "lazy river" ride on a hot summer's day. Older cousins or siblings were enthusiastically telling the younger ones how much they would love this trip and to stay in the tubes and to mind their sticks. All generations were represented. All age groups were eager with excitement.  There was merriment everywhere and we were no exception. We lashed our tubes together, waded out and launched.

 Mountain rivers are very cold. I think it fair to say I have body parts which have never been that cold . Never. I can't imagine this is a popular choice for honeymooners. But it is fun. In this activity there is something very liberating in the  shocking contrasts of hot sun and freezing waters and recognizing you have no control over the river. It will take you were it takes you in it's own time.

Part of this river ride is through nature but along much of the banks are rental chalets , condos or restaurants with balconies cantilevered over the waters. The residents are friendly calling out greetings and occasional advice if you are traveling backwards toward dangers.  Mostly they are up there laughing at the entertainment floating by. The tubes have a mesh middle. This does not allow for actual sitting up for adults.  You are sort of draped over the edges with your bum as the center weight. Trying to navigate from this position is apparently, a great spectator sport.   I am not sure Mermaid and I had actual conversations as every time we opened out mouths laughter came forth. Lovely. I think I was still laughing when we started picking up speed and hit rocks on our way over a drop.  I don't think you could rightly call these 'rapids' but it did become clear the entire journey would not be all floating down the river and some heads up awareness would be prudent. 

 Also along the route are places where you can climb out and take a hike, or go for lunch or stop to collect a river rock or two. This station for 'lost soles' was one of Mermaid's favorites. Clearly flops are not the best footwear for this activity. While this certainly does not qualify as 'natural art ' something about the rhythm and the colorfulness reminded me of Klimt's art. 

We were maybe half way in our journey when we became fully aware of why you need a stick if you did not want to become trapped. Or worse. Shortly after watching Moses float past sound asleep, I went whirling around  and down by some rocks and wham my tail bone slammed into a big sharp rock. Suddenly I heard that dreadful sound old people make when you move their parts for them. That awful, keening, oh. oh, oh!  I had a frozen moment when I thought "Mama?" Still laughing Mermaid said, " Mom are you okay? You were making that wailing sound just  like Meems".

" Yep I heard it too. Call the exorcist, I've been posessed."


Eventually we figured out we were in a bad position. And there was no stick to pole ourselves out of the badlands. One of us would need to get out and  unwedge us.  It's not easy to stand on slippery, unevern boulders in a rapids. It is also foolish. We  had heard some folks say there had been storms in the mountains so the water level was high. It was one of the reasons for not needing a stick. Right. 'Swollen river' also translates to' faster current'. We managed to get  unstuck without getting in trouble but not far beyond I started maneuvering to get us over to the shallows.
" Mom, what are you doing?"
" Help get us over to the edge, we need a stick"
"You can't do that Mom, that is private property".

" We need a stick, I can't go slamming into these rocks"


I am eternally grateful there was no video of my attempted tubular exit. I thought I could get over into the shallows and just stand up. Not so. I will say my ungraceful exit  was maybe the pinnacle of comic entertainment in Mermaid's day.  She tended the tubes while I scavenged us a stick. On my way back she started to frown,
" Mom, are you okay, you are walking funny."
"Nope"
"Are you  hurt?"
"Yep"
"What happened?"
" I think my tail bone broke smashing into that rock".
" seriously?"
"yep"
"What should we do?"
" I'm going to put my butt back in the cold water to keep the swelling to a minimum and use this stick".
Mermaid starting laughing really hard. Eventually she reached a point where she could get enough air to speak,
" Mama three cheeks?"
" Shut up and take this stick"

About 2 hours into our journey we heard the first rumbles. We could see patches of sky between the trees some was clear blue,  other areas were darkening. We thought the predicted afternoon rains were maybe starting to show up early but seemed to be pretty far away. But the rumbling got closer,  more frequent and the temperature dropped . I cautioned Mermaid we would be getting out of the river  if there was any lightening.
A man near us said, it wasn't far til the exit, it's just up here around this bend. Right. Rivers have lots of bends and unless you are a local it is hard to discern one from another. We made it around that bend a few more while the sky darkened and  rumbled. Most everyone was still laughing and floating but as we were sticking our way past boulders I saw lightening.
"That's it kiddo, we are out of here"
" That's cloud to cloud not cloud to ground, we're good".
" We're out of here"

" Really Mom, look, even the babies and old folks are not worried"

Think Lucy and Ethel lashed together in bright pink tubes paddling and kicking in opposite directions.
It was so damn funny even we were laughing.
" Mom. we ca';t get out here these are not public grounds"
" We're getting out"
" No!  Mom, are you really going to make me walk through town in this bikini?"
" Yes. In case I failed to mention, we Fishy's don't play with lightening"
Eventually the current came to my rescue and delivered us to the town side of the river.
A man floating by said to me,
 " Lady, you don't have to get out these  tubes are rubber".
"No sir, these tubes are plastic and lots of your body parts are in the water and that is lightening" My statement was punctuated by the skies opening up.

We were not the only family to leave our tubes to the currents, climb the bank and start the trek back to our starting points. It was quite the parade we people in squelchy shoes, adhered  clothing and debris matted hair .
Children driving by in cars had their noses pressed to the glass. Teen boys had commentary. 

It wasn't long before Mermaid started laughing really, really hard.
 I gave her my raised eyebrow quizzical look. Eventually she said,
" I have a mother who can break her ass floating in water".
Talent.

This morning I sent her this text message:
"Do blue butts out rank blue bloods?"

God Bless America

God Bless America
land that I love
stand beside her
and guide her
with the Light
from above
From the mountains
to the prairies
to the oceans
white with foam
God bless America
my home
sweet home

Haiku Monday: Short

Yum!

Southern style short ribs
pan seared in bacon drippin's
braised in  home brew'd ale 

 Easy Rider:


Riding the short bus
to Sesame Street at Main
is simple exclaimed .

Gene:


Contestants enter
hoping to make the short list
for organ transplants
 

Virtual trumps Real

During lunch, my friend Gee suggested I get in  touch with Daniel Website Developer. We had been discussing the particulars of what works and does not work well on websites from the view point of both users and hosts. 


Gee is a contractor with a franchise business primarily focused on outdoor living spaces. Decks, porches, sunrooms, pergolas, trellises, gazebos are his forte`. The parent company is the source of the engineering and architectural documents  by which permits are pulled and projects constructed. 
It works well.

Daniel Web Designer is this regions associate for a Virginia based company which specializes in websites for construction  and construction related businesses. Gee shared a story of one franchisee who was failing.  Daniel and company did a website for this franchisee to supplement the national website. A local focus of SEO ans SEM.

 In a month the franchisee had to call Daniel and ask him to dial it back a bit as he had way more contact than desired. A bit of fine tuning and now  the former failing franchisee is a top dog. 


I reviewed many websites designed by DWD before filling in the online contact information. In a day or two Daniel responded with a one line query, 
" What is your budget?"
Hmmmmm. I responded with this question,
" Would it be possible to set an appointment to review your services and the concurrent costs?"
" You mean like a face to face?"
" Yes "
" We could. But why? All the data you need is on our website with a sign up page"
" I like to meet the people I hope to trust with my business".
" Is this necessary?"
" No. Thank you for your time".
" Did you just blow me off ?"
" Declined your offer? Yes."
" What's that about?"
" Communications."

A week went by then I received an e-mail from Daniel,
" Hey Fishy! I think I am going to be in town this week, you want to meet somewhere?"
" Okay" 
" How about Tuesday at 9am, my office?"
" Okay"
Later that same day I received this e-mail,
" Fishy, if your only day to meet is Tuesday it will have to be at 1pm @ WebNerds"
Wow, did he want a business meeting or a free lunch?

  I went. He was late and called to tell me his order and would I have it on the table for him when he arrived?  Really?


He came in his cool little eco car barely larger than his   computer bag. He was friendly, enthusiastic, starving. But before he picked up a fork he unpacked, plugged in and        booted his computer.  He asked if the coffee was the bold roast? No the coffee container was empty awaiting his selection. He returned from the coffee bar with a steaming cup to say,
" What is the purpose of decaf?"

No point in answering that so I just smiled while he organized his thoughts.
" You know my wife did not believe me when I said I had a f2f with an interior designer".  
" Why was that?"
" Well my wife says only idiots use designers. I mean, she has a point, what is your purpose?"

Speaking of idiots, I wondered if in this day and age it is okay to have zero social skills as long as you have nerd skills for hire. The idiot was me, sitting there being insulted while Daniel scarfed down a lunch I provided.  What I actually said is,
" How about I outline my website criteria while you inhale that sandwich?"
Which  I did. In the course of the conversation I got a few head shakes indicating no, he had not taken a look at any of the websites I had referenced as being an example of what FishyDesigns needs. So I pulled them up on his laptop while he munched and I talked. 

For a while there, he looked marginally interested.

He took a giant slug of caffeine and began telling me about the absolute importance of SEO ans SEM , meta data, web crawlers and  the variable search algorithms. He carefullly 
explained to me it was a numbers game. As he talked he pulled up a screen showing the graphs of  the effects of properly keyed and buried meta words. He said in the beginning I should maybe have a landing page  with a
contact form and establish a budget for right bar ads.


I asked to see examples and pointed out to him all the reasons that sort of approach was alien to my needs.  That I had a fairly specific target market in mind  and his recommendation  was a scatter shot when what I needed was a sniper shot.  He looked confused  but typed in another example and set about persuading me to his view point.

"Look Mrs. Fishy you will like this, once we get you up to blank hits per 24 we can do links and ads and expansions on even that. Here's how it all works. It's about numbers! We imbed algorithms for your site which generates thousands of clicks. The more clicks the more successful the website. The more successful the website the more you can sell links and apps and ads for your website, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter sites. If you can write, a daily blog is the way to really soup the numbers. If you are  serious about this and can program a tweet every 15 linking back to the blog and target  mentions for ads you want to host then you could get somewhere "


I looked him in the eye and said,
" Let me answer one of your earlier questions.
My purpose  here was not to generate a hit seeking engine for ad sales.
My goals are a lot more real and a lot less virtual"

" What does that mean?"  
" It means the thing I most want to hit is you".
" For real?"

Summer Soltice

Blessings on your first day of Summer.  

Mermaid is coming home today.

We will take the boat out to the Big Water where we will picnic, 

swim with our pups and,

enjoy the gifts of the day.   

Oh Joy!