Snapped

There are things you expect to have around forever. Our old goose, for instance -- I thought she would outlive us all. A predator got her a couple of years back. And now the big old apple tree between the house and the barn. Snapped in half by the weight of yesterday's snow. Oh well.

Bon voyage

Tomorrow, my eldest and her husband become residents of Switzerland. Bon voyage ce soir.

Heels

The folks who paved our driveway left us a booklet that advises against wearing spike heels on it. Duly noted.

Priorities

28 states argue that the feds can't require people to buy health insurance, an essential link in the financing of health reforms aimed at broadening access. But the Port Authority of NY/NJ wants to charge drivers $12 to use the Holland Tunnel to pay for the construction of the new World Trade Center Tower -- essentially a private real estate deal. I care a lot that 49 million Americans have no health insurance. I couldn't care less whether anything ever gets built at Ground Zero.

Uncertainty

Why do so many of the talking heads on Fox whine these days that they deserve to be shielded from "uncertainty"? I live with lots of uncertainty. Everyone I know lives with uncertainty. Who's entitled not to? Why? I thought dealing effectively with risk was what separated the pros from the amateurs in the "free market."

Irene

Power's back, finally. We all bitched and moaned because we're comfortably middle class and entitled. Our needs are supposed to come first. Imagine if we were among those who get up every day knowing they're LAST on everyone's priority list...like those people in the 9th Ward in New Orleans, or I guess some of these people in Paterson. That would suck. Thinking of them today.

Quake

We just had a no foolin' around earthquake. In Berkeley Heights, NJ. The third floor folks in this building are evacuating. (We're not, up on 5.) Hm.