The Agnostic Republican

So far, I am the only Agnostic Republican I know. I didn't vote until 2000 (and I live in Florida!), because I used to think my vote didn't count. But that year, my vote really DID count! I even e-mailed my (Republican) dad: "My vote counted. It really did." Or was miscounted, depending on if you subscribe to a conspiracy theory.

I agree with the Republican agenda of less government and more business (be it the megacorporation or the local hot dog vendor). I also agree with Republican efforts to protect citizen privacy and our country, cut welfare to those who don't "really" need it, and privatize as many government functions as humanly possible. But as a lifelong agnostic, I can't subscribe to the religious agenda. I believe Christianity (and I may make some enemies here), is only one of a long series of attempts that humanity has devised over eons to explain the human condition, provide structure for living, and divert itself from the fact that when we're dead, we're dead, just like the roach squashed under the boot. If there were a benevolent, all-loving god, 9/11 and other assorted acts of evil (Hitler, genocide in Rwanda, etc) would not have occurred. Children wouldn't get cancer and so on. I can't accept the fact that a loving god would let children die and let parents live with heartache, even if it were part of some greater plan.

However, I do believe that everyone should live within a philosophical code that allows them to exist in harmony with their society. Fortunately in America, people are free to choose that code, be it Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Wicca, etc. And all but the radical forms of these philosophies allow their followers to co-exist with their society. America stands for freedom of religion AND freedom FROM religion. Yes, "In God We Trust" is printed on our currency and witnesses swear on a Bible in court, but those are simply traditions. I really don't care what's printed on my money as long as the dollar buys the desired product or service. Additionally, most religions (with the possible exception of Wicca, which I have studied in detail) subjugate women. As a woman, that's unacceptable. We're half the human race.

So far I haven't encountered any other Agnostic Republicans. Is it an oxymoron, or can their be such a person? I think that there can. The political agenda is a buffet. Pick and choose what you like ("I'll take an extra helping of Free Enterprise, but hold the Christianity, please"). The Republican party and its agenda are far from perfect, but, as I say about democracy, it gives the most people the most opportunity for the most success.

No More Whining Students!

I've spent many a long evening "Next Blog"ging and have discovered some great blogs out there. My folder of Blog Favorites grows and grows. People write about their pets, kids, spouses, and jobs. Some people are frightfully depressed. Others disclose traumatic incidents in their past and my heart goes out to them. Some are coping with disease or that of a loved one. Some put forth their religious and/or political views, usually with taste and fervor.

The blogs I cannot stand are those of whining students. Without exception, these are high school or college students. Shame, especially, on the college students. High school is something we're almost all forced through but hopefully we can at least be mature enough to see the long-term benefit - college, technical school, a military career, etc. And if you're going to whine about college - hey, drop out and open up the slot for someone who would really appreciate it. Higher education is a privilege not all people have. Study after study shows that those with higher education do better in life. So quit your whining, hit the books, and blog about something else.

How to Give a Cat a Pill

I have a jar o' pills to give my cat (See "Cat Snot", below). I have finally figured out the EZ way to give a cat a pill. You need a plastic baby food spoon which you can get at Target or Wal-Mart. You also neeed a semi-soft food that the cat really likes, such as cooked chicken, tuna, salmon, or ham (ok, most cats don't like ham but this one does). Put a small amount of the meat on the end of the spoon along with the pill. Wedge the cat under one arm and pull his lower jaw down. Using your free hand, shove the spoon far back into the cat's mouth. You have to be quick before the cat figures out what's going on, but this works. Follow up by giving said cat a tidbit of the meat untainted by pills. That assures that he completely swallows the pill and rewards him for taking the pill. See? Easy, wasn't it?

Cat Snot

Here's something really gross - cat snot. A couple of Fridays ago, I brought Big K (aka Grey Butt, the Grey Guy, The Guy, Schnook, and Hon) home from the groomer. He immediately began sneezing. Thinking perhaps he was reacting to the perfumey cat-grooming products used, I let it go. The next day, he was clingy and on me like white on rice every time I sat or laid down on the couch. He continued sneezing throughout the week.

Eventually his nose began running. When I finally took him to the vet, the tech asked if his nose had been running. I looked in the cat carrier, and there he was, licking his snot like a 3-year old. Big K had a temp of 102, got a shot and was sent home with a jar o' pills (lucky me).

Once home, he resumed his spot on the bed. Out of his nose came a big green wad of snot. Then he sneezed and the snot flew off and was dangling from a whisker. There it was, green and gross and dangling from a whisker. I wiped it up with a tissue.

The pills must be working now. At least there's no more cat snot...
I should have saved it and taken it back to that groomer. He caught SOMETHING there.

My Bus Song

While in the park, (see previous post) I tried to cheer up the Branch by singing the "Bus" song ("The wheels on the bus go round and round..") except my version has morphed into a Noah's Ark version ("The cows on the bus go moo, moo, moo",) going through as many animals I as I can think of, including dogs, cats, bees, snakes, sheep, ducks, etc. I drew this concept from the fact that in some countries people take chickens and other small animals on the bus. Just an idea if the bus song bores you to death like it does me...

Parenting Advice from a 3-year old

The other day, Nanny A. and I were in the park with Branch and Blossom. It's a lovely park, under the trees by the lake, with a fence completely surrounding the play area. The park contains a picnic table, benches, swings, and a structure for climbing and sliding.

This park is part of our development and many parents and nannies bring children to play there. We saw a little girl there that Nanny A. knew from previous forays to the park with Branch and Blossom. While Nanny A. pushed the Blossom on the swing, I sat on the bench with the somewhat disagreeable Branch. Little Girl came up to us, holding her doll. Little Girl had blonde hair and impossibly long brown eyelashes (I actually checked to see if they were real!). Following is a transcript of our conversation.

Little Girl: I think he (Branch)'s tired.

Me: No, he just got up about an hour ago.

Little Girl: Well, he's tired. You should put him down (for a nap) again. Anyway, where's your stroller?

Me: We drove (pointing to car parked in lot a few yards away). They cry too much in the stroller.

Little Girl: Why do they cry in the stroller?

Me: I don't know.

Just what I need. Parenting advice from a 3 year-old. Yes, I desperately DO need parenting advice, like how to keep the Blossom from crying all the time. But I don't think Little Girl has the answer to that one.

Little Girl held fast to her baby doll the whole time we were at the park. She also expressed great interest in other babies brought into the park. I found this interest unusual. Maybe she will grow up to be a pediatrician or neo-natal nurse. Or parenting advisor...

The Chinese love hamburgers

Or, at least the family I married into does. The first time I grilled burgers for my MIL, she asked (as translated by my DH) if it had to be an occasion to grill hamburgers. She also ate the entire burger using chopsticks without dropping a bit.

When my brother-in-law and his family visited to participate in our wedding (2002),
I grilled burgers and brother-in-law took his little son by the hand, walked out to the patio, and inhaled a deep breath of grilling burgers. And these were BIG burgers from Sam's club. Little Son ate the entire burger, leaving not a crumb. This current visit, and again they were heartily consumed.

They also love Buffalo wings from Beef O'Brady's www.beefobradys.com and sausage gravy with biscuits, a traditional Southern dish. So much for that healthy Asian diet!