Good listen

I had some time to wait before the girls finished up at school, so I listened to "Rubber Soul."

I forgot how good the album is. It has strong lyrics, such as in "Norwegian Wood (This Bird has Flown)," "Nowhere Man," "In My Life" and "If I Needed Someone."

The bass lines throughout many of the songs are impressive. Some are blatant, like in "Think For Youself." Others are way more subtle, such as in "Michelle" and "Girl."

Even the throw-aways like "What Goes On" have something special. In that song, you can John Lennon bantering with Ringo.

Books and politics

I have some time off this week and I'm spending it at home. The kids are in school and we have no money to travel, so here I sit.

Not that it matters. We're all a bit under the weather. Jayne is home sick today with nausea; Jayne's mom is in bed with a cold; the kids have the sniffles (but they can still go to school!); and I'm recovering from a nasty cold.

Of books and politics

I picked up a biography of John Reed for my holiday pleasure. That's his picture at the top of the blog. He's a reason I went into journalism and studied Russian. Look where it got him! And me!

Jayne and I were discussing the presidential election the other day and the topic of undecided voters came up. We disagree on this, but I can't believe someone could be undecided. These two candidates have been in the news for months and John McCain was part of the Keating debacle and the last two presidential races, so how can anyone not know where they stand?

I guess I classify undecided voters as typically American. They're like shoppers: They are not loyal to any brand or store and just want what benefits them in the short term. Thus, instead of buying from Sears, they're waiting to see if Target or Walmart has a better deal, then on Nov. 4 they lay their money (or their credit cards) down.

My last pithy political statement: Why does the media paint women voters as fickle and superficial? The talk of the impact of Palin on Clinton supporters is beyond logic. Let's see: Support a liberal Democrat who backs abortion rights and universal health care, or someone who does not back abortion rights or universal health care. Hmmmm.

Consider the following, then: If a man votes for a man, not a party or ideals, but because he is a man, he is a bigot, a sexist. If a woman votes for a woman, not a party or ideals, but because she is a woman, she is an independent, a voter to be sought after.

Thought: From "Airplane!": There's a sale at Penny's!

Et al

Five things to note because my time on the computer is short:

-- Kids enjoying school: Elspeth playing trumpet because it's cheaper than the French horn; Alyssa playing soccer because it's cheaper than another dance class.

-- New boss started: First week went well. She wants to make sure I spend enough time with my family! First time in 17 years at The Sentinel a supervisor has said that.

-- Jayne busy: Scouts starting and the university back to full swing after summer slow-down. She's in Kalamazoo this afternoon for Scouts after we spent the morning at a soccer game.

-- Jayne's mom: Huge help. She's taking the kids to soccer practices and dance lessons as well as getting them from school.

-- Reading: Finished re-reading "Ring and the Book" with focus on the pope's chapter. Interesting thought process of one man condemning another to death. Reading some local history by Kit Lane. I wish she indexed her books!

Back to school

The girls finished their first week of school. Hurray!

We already had to go to a meeting at the middle school about the sixth-grade "team-building" trip. It's three days up north at a YMCA camp -- for at least $70. It's supposed to bond all the kids as a group.

This coming week we have three nights of meetings -- one is for the middle school band for Elspeth. More money. Who said kids get a free public education?

For Elspeth, this will be a tough few weeks. Her best friend Maggie is moving this weekend to Manistee, a few hours away from here. Maggie's mom got a job at the school district there. When they told us a few weeks ago, Elspeth just sobbed.

Other

I hear my sister in the Houston area is doing OK in the hurricane. They did not evacuate but stuck it out.

Work is reaching new levels of pettiness and stupidity -- the new boss doesn't start until Tuesday. See what happens when you let the lunatics run the asylum?