Today is Monday; I state that only because otherwise it doesn't really matter, as we are in real estate limbo.
However, today I am determined to notice the good things in life, because a little perspective is good. I mean, this is not the end of the world. It's uncomfortable, but really, we have a house! And I don't think I described it well, so here goes:
It's a pale yellow, ranch style home with a little deck out front and a slightly larger one out back. It's got a good sized front lawn and a huge, huge back yard. There are blue shutters and the front door has a beveled glass detail in it.
Inside, it's full of light, mostly because the carpet is a grey composed of tiny chips of all the other colors in the rainbow. This is clever, as it can now match with every single design scheme imaginable and will not show anything, ever.
The washer and dryer are in the main bathroom behind shutter doors with a shelf above for laundry detergent and things. I like that a lot.
There is space in the kitchen for buying one of those little kitchen islandette things on wheels; I would like one with a butcher block top and storage below. That way I can wheel it around as needed.
There are double sinks in the master bath, which is all the rage right now. For some reason, modern couples are not expected to spit into the same sink. Does standing side by side while brushing together present just too much of a strain on a marriage? Or is it that as women we are expected to have so much makeup and beauty aids that we need an entire sink plus the space around it to survive the morning rush?
It's like closet space. On HGTV, so many women seem to need to point out that they need space for their shoes. Do we all madly collect shoes now? Must we all be Sex in the City wannabe's? I love shoes, I'll admit it. But I keep it on the down low now, because it's just so damn expected.
I dislike all this extraneous junk that seems to be required of individuals now. For example, in order to be a woman I must have (check all):
lots of brand name accessories
a high paying job
a college education
an attractive guy whom I have emasculated
an eco friendly and yet powerful car
sexy work out suits in which I do either yoga or go jogging
coffee from very expensive cafes.
an highly accessorized, expensive apartment or house
Probably I just watch too much TV and am reacting to it badly. I'm sure that's it. The older I get, the more I see how what is portrayed on TV never matches up to real life and you've no idea how much that reassures me about the state of this country.
And anyway, I'm in the process of going the other way; I'm getting more and more old fashioned. I have discarded the idea of the milk cow, but I am determined to have chickens. That's how bad I am. I do think there is lots of room in the middle; not every one should go back to the farm, by all means and the next time I have an opportunity to wear my black and white stilettos, I will.
However, how about paying for things as we go? What happened to building up a life gradually? In my generation, the starter home with cheap furniture and stuff bought from Sears or garage sales are just not acceptable. We want what our parents spent their lifetimes earning; we want it right off the bat.
Oh, and since I'm in a preaching mode, how about that bow Obama gave the Emperor? I have spent a lot of time in Japan and I was shocked when I saw the picture. That is no casual bow. That is not an American business partner meeting his Japanese counterpart. That is full out, I will kiss your feet, I'm your loyal subject, I will prostrate myself to you gesture. I belive the only lower bow out there is to literally get on your hands and knees and bow with your face to the floor.
I'm fiercely proud of my country. I'm incredibly proud of my heritage, our common heritage as Americans. We have a country that has embraced individual freedoms in a way no other country has in the history of the world. Generations of Americans have given their lives and their life's work to uphold and protect it, so that it could be handed down to us.
As Americans, we are free; the sovereign power of our country resides in each American citizen. We do not bow to royalty. We are respectful, of course. But we do not prostrate ourselves before foreign kings and queens, none of whom have any authority over us. We are our own sovereign country.
If Obama was a private person, fine. Do what ever he wishes. I over-bowed once, in my eagerness to be accepted and to show that I understood Japanese custom. I just ended up looking like a fool and embarrassing my Japanese friend and I suspect this is exactly what Obama has done. But he has done it in a formal visit, representing the United States of America.
I can't believe we have another three years of this. Is it 2012 yet? Oh wait, that's when the world ends. Well, the only way I see disaster of that level happening is if Obama gets reelected; and that's about as likely as the end of the world actually happening, Mayan calendar style.
