Thursday, February 25, 2010

Briefly ...

I didn't watch the Health Care Summit today.

I was too busy taking care of sick people.

What I did watch today, however, was highly illuminating.

I watched our Infectious Disease Specialist spinning her wheels, forced to justify her prescription for a particular antibiotic, to a beancounter/pencil pusher who didn't even know what MRSA was. Like the good Doctor doesn't have anything better to do with her time. Like taking care of sick people, or something like that.

I've watched the same scene, or a variant thereof, played out time and time again. Bureaucrats who know nothing about medicine are bullying doctors and hurting patients for the sake of their bottom line.

Here's what I do know:

Americans deserve better.

All Americans deserve better.

And, simply put, Americans need to have a little more faith in themselves. They elected the smartest guy in the room to lead this great nation, and now they need to let him do his job.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

The Lions in Winter

This is the best time of the year to visit the New York State Zoo in Watertown. The cold seems to scare off most of the usual visitors, but it brings out the friskiest of behaviours in the animals.



The Canada Lynx perched at the tippy-top of the tree, surveying its kingdom and giving me the exact same look that my Gandalf does when .. well, I don't exactly know what it is that causes cats to look at us this way, and they'll never tell, now will they?



The powerful paw of the Canada Lynx.



The mountain lion perched in the branches of its habitat as well, making the same strange chirping noises that my cat does when observing potential prey.



In my next life, I want to be a River Otter.



When they weren't frolicking in the water, they were sliding over the snow on their bellies. By land or by sea, these dudes know how to have fun!

Monday, February 15, 2010

Perhaps I should have set my sights Altius?

So, my friend Marlyne threw down the (beautifully stitched) gauntlet, and challenged me to sign up for the Yarn Harlot's Knitting Olympics. I thought I'd branch out from my usual single skein sock and/or hat habit, and add a little more colour and difficulty to my project.

I was pleasantly surprised at the ease and speed with which this mitten pattern from Lion Brand came together. By Saturday afternoon, the first mitten was done .. and despite having knit to gauge with a larger set of needles, it was too tight for my rather small hand. The imaginary gold medal seemed out of reach. I reminded myself that there's no crying in knitting, and busied myself with making dinner.

But, in a dramatic turn fit for the Olympics, my son came bounding into the kitchen, mitten on hand. "It's a perfect fit, Mom! Thanks! When will the other be finished?"

I set a personal record for completing the second mitten. The view from this imaginary podium is just spectacular!




S

Wednesday, February 03, 2010