Thanks for the uplifting and good fun it has been to read these posts. Its afternoon here in Kansas. Crops look good, around the area, my garden, with only cucumbers and tomatoes are doing well; too much rain–the potatoes rotted. Went to the parent meeting for high school football. My oldest is a junior, was a starter last year, did well, and is four inches taller and 35 pounds heavier. My youngest is 11, the middle one, my daughter, is 13. So, I have a grade schooler, a middle schooler, and a high schooler. (I am 58.) We are a small town community, and it was gratifying to see how many parents turned out, and the sense of community that has developed as we have all watched our kids grow. My wife was killed five years ago this September, and the mother and youngest sister of one of my oldest son’s classmates were killed in a horrible car-train accident last year. The support we all have received from the community and school has been most gratifying, even if I am (seemingly) the only far left of center liberal in the county.

And I feel that the bites and scratches and nips on my arms are part of the cat contract which pretty much says he can anything he wants to me (within reason – I don’t let him climb my legs)

Been sitting, cogitating. Violence is up in and around Baghdad. Put my chain of thought into the United States as empire mode and how it is destroying so much. How we’ll now hear what a bad idea pulling troops out of the cities was, ignoring the fact that a violent power struggle is going to occur no matter what. I am somewhat surprised that it has started so soon after the troop redeployment, but I understand the need of the opposition to show Maliki as weak as soon as possible. That personnel from the Iraki security forces have apparently been involved in some of the suicide bombings doesn’t help.

Also, listening to the Women’s Show on WMNF this morning a discussion of the health care bills, which contain numerous restrictions on abortion. NOW has more info.