TV Turf

December 30, 2015

On NBC’s “Chicago Fire” the firefighters deal with all kinds of emergencies, from rescuing people in burning buildings to removing a tanker of explosive gas from the highway before it goes up. They also rescue people who are trapped in their cars after wrecks.

So I was amused to see an episode of CBS’s “Code Black” in which the doctors of hospitals from all over the LA gather to work at a massive traffic accident. They work to the point of exhaustion, fetching and carrying patients, doing triage, all these doctors, all with no support. Two of the doctors face an agonizing decision about whether to work on Patient A, in the triage tent, or spend valuable time trying to get Patient B out of her wrecked car so they can save her. In the end, having spent lots of time that they don’t have, they jury-rig some improbable method and get the woman out of the car.

Not a firefighter in sight.

Do firefighters not help out in LA, or just not on doctor shows?

Holiday Cheer

December 24, 2015

I can't decide which is the worse day for driving: New Year's Eve, with the drunk drivers;

Or Christmas Eve, with people frantically trying to do last minute shopping/errands, and driving like maniacs.

Stay safe, and have a Blessed Christmas.

Just Say No (Part II)

December 1, 2015

Someone told me yesterday that she had a former friend who responded to invitations with, “I can’t, but maybe another time.” She’d ask again, but nothing ever came of it. Finally she got the picture.

She said she wished the person had just left it at “No,” and not tacked on the “maybe another time,” part.

I agree. It’s mean to lead people up the garden path. You may think you’re being nice, but if you sound sincere when you say, “Maybe another time,” someone will believe you. (I used to, myself. Eventually I caught on, but it took a while.)***

So don’t say “Maybe another time,” if you don’t mean it. Just Say No.

***The nice thing about this story was finding out that I'm not the only one who can't take hints. It made me feel somewhat less silly.

At Least Use the Right Excuse!

November 24, 2015

The boy whose clock got him arrested at an Irving, Texas school is now suing the school district and the city for $15 million.

One of the reasons cited: his “reputation in the global community is permanently scarred.”

Scarred how? By the online support he received, by the offers to visit the White House, the United Nations, Google’s Science Fair and Facebook headquarters?

I can think of several reasons for suing (though not for $15 million). But not that one.

If you’re going for the sympathy vote in order to cash in, at least make it sound plausible.

You Can't Hide from the Fundraisers

November 25, 2015

If you ever need to track somebody down, start with their college alumni office. My doctor, my credit card companies, and my insurance company still send things to my Idaho address;

but my college has tracked me through two moves in Missouri—and I just moved in to the second place a month ago!

Define "Independent"

November 18, 2015

A few weeks ago I saw a cartoon on Facebook about a woman who wanted to be pampered by someone, but saying, “Oh, yeah, I forgot, I’m a Strong, Independent Woman.” And shortly after that I was reading a book where the protagonist gives herself a hard time for being happy about having a date with a guy she’s interested in, because she’s a Strong, Independent Woman.

What the hey? To me being Strong and Independent means not sponging on somebody, or not letting them run your life. It doesn’t mean you can’t have a life partner, or someone who’s nice to you—or a date.

If we were all meant to be completely independent, we wouldn’t have hormones.

Is The Commercialism Not Religious Enough?

November 11, 2015

Starbucks is taking a hit because it made red cups for the holidays, with no Christmas imagery on them. Some people think it’s part of the “War on Christmas.”

The weird thing is, the stuff that’s supposed to be part of the War on Christmas is the same sort of commercialism that people scream is taking the meaning out of Christmas.

So what makes it a war on Christmas: Making it commercial instead of religious, or not making the commercialism religious enough?

(FYI: If Starbucks puts little green men on its cups in December; if Target decorates in black and white, with no red or green in sight; if another store has Hawaiian vacation scenes instead of elves or Mangers…You can still celebrate Christmas any way you want to. You know that, right?)

Ted Forth, Rejoice!

November 7, 2015

Readers of the comic strip “Sally Forth” will know that Sally’s husband, Ted, dreams of a world where he can travel by Jetpack.

Apparently, now he can. I just saw a video of two men in Dubai flanking a plane, using their jetpacks. I can’t wait to see Ted’s reaction in upcoming strips.

Just Say No

November 6, 2015

I have a hard time getting people to say, “No.”

“Really?” you say. “Tough problem!”

But seriously, here are just a few of the questions people haven’t responded to in the past:

·         Do you do alterations?

·         Would you like to come downtown with my friends and me?

·         Can you click on this link and see if it allows people besides me to edit it?

·         We’re hosting Thanksgiving. Can you and your family come?

People simply ignore the questions—even when they’re part of a longer e-mail exchange (so they can’t pretend they didn’t get the message). In all these cases, a simple sentence will suffice: “No.” If you want to spiff it up or soften the answer, “No, thanks for asking.”

I wonder if people don’t respond because they’re afraid they’ll hurt my feelings (they won’t), or because they’re used to other people badgering them if they say no. (I won’t.) Or if they think that they have to give reasons, and can’t think of something that doesn’t sound totally lame.

It’s not necessary to give reasons. You don’t have to tell the truth: “I’d rather have bamboo slivers inserted under my fingernails than hang out with you and your friends.” Or, “Too much family at Thanksgiving gives me indigestion.” You don’t have to lie: “Sorry, that’s the ONLY night I can wash my dog!” You don’t owe people explanations—but you do owe them the courtesy of a response.

So, right in time for the holidays, here is your quick How-to Guide on avoiding things you don’t want to do:

Just. Say. No.

Decisions, Decisions...

November 6, 2015

After a hellacious day, one final decision: Robert B. Parker, or Spider Robinson? 

Too bad I can’t hold a book in each hand and read from both.

What's Nice about St. Louis

October 8, 2015

OK, now I feel bad. In my last post (“Finding the Right Gimmick”) I mentioned that St. Louis has a LOT of shootings. But actually, there’s quite a bit nice about this area.

·         The Muny has fantastic musicals in the summer.

·         Most of the museums are free, along with the Zoo.

·         Nice parks. I’ve spent many happy hours in parks and museums since I got here.

·         The library system is a little short on books written prior to 1980 (which drives me crazy!), BUT: It offers free classes, movies, all kinds of activities for any age, and free online tutorials from the LYNDA system about any computer knowledge you could possibly need. I could find something to do at the library every day, from Yoga classes to cooking classes, with plenty of business help as well. In fact, I’m a St. Louis library junkie.

And that’s just the stuff I’ve done so far. Am still exploring, and still enjoying myself.