Stepping up on my soapbox
As I listen to the Senate hearings and the news every day concerning British Petroleum I am deeply affected.
The Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded off the Gulf coast one month ago killing 11 people injuring many more. Why? One conclusion was a failed shut off valve known to be down before the explosion and there will be many more discoveries before it’s all over.
The original claim from BP was that only 5000 gallons a day were being released under the Gulf. My jaw dropped at this statement from CBS news report “… the video footage of the blown-out well has thrown intense scrutiny on those estimates. Steve Wereley, a mechanical engineer at Purdue University in Indiana, told The Associated Press that he is sticking with his estimate that 3.9 million gallons a day is spewing from two leaks….” BP states that the estimate is possibly overestimated and believes only 2.9 million is flowing from the pipeline. Oh, I feel so much better now! What a joke and have you seen the underwater videos that BP has reluctantly released?
With all the technology, science, and manpower why can’t we stop it? Why do we go blindly in search of resources knowing that disasters are possible but no tried and true contingencies in place to solve them if they do? Greed, power and the simple fact that nothing else matters to them. The livelihood of the fisherman whose sole income as well as the wildlife could be affected in worst case scenario for the next 5-10 years before recovery. The Gulf waters and floor that harbors corals, oyster beds, and feeding grounds poisoned. The beautiful and fragile marshes that are nesting and breeding grounds for so many marine and bird species are now at high risk. Today the pictures provided on the news of thick, orange-black, toxic oil beginning to seep into grassy marsh areas. The coastal marshes act as a filtration system as well for the Gulf. The grasses already starting to die from the latex-like coated toxins in Louisiana as it slowly drifts east along the coast. Now they believe the oil is entering the loop current drawing it down and around Florida’s coast and up the Atlantic coast who knows how far and what lies in its wake. I feel utterly helpless deeply despaired knowing the loss of marine life that is to come. Hurricane season opens in 2 weeks what then? Today it was reported that the oil has now entered the mouth of the Mississippi River.
I am angry that some of us choose not to stand up and speak out against such important issues. Instead we watch shaking our heads thinking what a shame yet we contribute nothing to the solution. Speak out! “We the People..” I’m speaking out as I stand on my little soapbox tapping out these words. We can make a difference in this world by standing strong together. Speaking of advocating alternative power resources such as wind and solar attempting to eliminate to some degree our dependency on oil. We can take small steps individually in our homes to conserve energy and can be as simple as replacing your light bulbs with “green” bulbs saving energy as well hundreds of dollars in the long run. Take a stand to save the eco-system that balances our very existence.
I have lived along this magnificent coastline all my life swimming, fishing, and playing in the sun on the beaches. My neighbors and I have endured many devastating hurricanes in the past as recent as Ike and Rita. We rebuild and start again drawing on our strength and power to help each other in the face of disaster. We survive. I am not a scientist or engineer, just someone that loves my little part of the world. I care deeply about the planet and the life it holds.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
It All Started With Wednesday
My perception of today, Tuesday, is that it feels like Wednesday. At least that is what I keep putting on paperwork, email and everything I type since opening my office today.
I could suggest that I am having a “golden moment” as I prefer over “senior moment” however, I am not now or ever will consider myself a “senior” in this lifetime. Yes, if you need a moment to reread this statement I will pause for you…stop laughing.
The concept of becoming a senior citizen is grossly overstated and highly debatable in one’s own mind. The old adage’s that “you are only as old as you feel" and "age is just a number” in my opinion holds true. It is only until my body decides to rebel, blatantly disrupting the magic moment of positive affirmation that I briefly entertain possible cause and effect. Feeling no less inadequate, remembering the empowerment of denial is alive and well and I know how to use it.
I am very outgoing, adventuresome and a bit of a risk taker to some degree and no, I am not advertising dating services...chill. There is no rule in life’s handbook that says one must act one’s age at least in my own personal copy of it. I can be a grown up when I need to be with responsibility and all that adult stuff, however, it is just too boring and exhausting to maintain that level 24/7. My goal in life is to “experience life” whatever the heck that means. There have been remarks over the years that I look much younger than I am only fuels my excuses to dig my heels in and scoff at the numbers legally attached to me.
Friends find me witty, free-spirited and have suggested a bit disturbed on occasion over the years. My daughter may strongly concur with this statement although your kids always think their parents are little crazy and disillusioned. C’mon, how many fun loving friends do you know that when they were we will say…close to 50 give or take…danced on the bar at Coyote Ugly in Austin, sober? I'm not suggesting that it was me or anything it could have been anyone. I'm just saying. The person in question was told that if they ever wanted a job I...I mean “they”… would be more than welcome anytime. I will forever remain young at least in my own mind.
Time to go now…TGIF! Wait…no it’s Wednesday…right?
I could suggest that I am having a “golden moment” as I prefer over “senior moment” however, I am not now or ever will consider myself a “senior” in this lifetime. Yes, if you need a moment to reread this statement I will pause for you…stop laughing.
The concept of becoming a senior citizen is grossly overstated and highly debatable in one’s own mind. The old adage’s that “you are only as old as you feel" and "age is just a number” in my opinion holds true. It is only until my body decides to rebel, blatantly disrupting the magic moment of positive affirmation that I briefly entertain possible cause and effect. Feeling no less inadequate, remembering the empowerment of denial is alive and well and I know how to use it.
I am very outgoing, adventuresome and a bit of a risk taker to some degree and no, I am not advertising dating services...chill. There is no rule in life’s handbook that says one must act one’s age at least in my own personal copy of it. I can be a grown up when I need to be with responsibility and all that adult stuff, however, it is just too boring and exhausting to maintain that level 24/7. My goal in life is to “experience life” whatever the heck that means. There have been remarks over the years that I look much younger than I am only fuels my excuses to dig my heels in and scoff at the numbers legally attached to me.
Friends find me witty, free-spirited and have suggested a bit disturbed on occasion over the years. My daughter may strongly concur with this statement although your kids always think their parents are little crazy and disillusioned. C’mon, how many fun loving friends do you know that when they were we will say…close to 50 give or take…danced on the bar at Coyote Ugly in Austin, sober? I'm not suggesting that it was me or anything it could have been anyone. I'm just saying. The person in question was told that if they ever wanted a job I...I mean “they”… would be more than welcome anytime. I will forever remain young at least in my own mind.
Time to go now…TGIF! Wait…no it’s Wednesday…right?
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Daughters and Creative Inspirations
One of the most popular social networks in cyberspace is Facebook.com which along with millions of other folks I share information with my family and friends. It is for the most part full of very intricate joyful encounters connecting with my old high schoolmates and others I meet along life’s journey. So it is not surprising that my daughter and I keep in close contact using this medium on an everyday basis.
Since my epiphany to embark on this new adventure in blogging, I have struggled on what the subject of my first blog would be. Searching for that first time experience in this cyber world of public information and how to set limits with personal information. Well, my daughter in her infinite wisdom and advice has given me my first subject, indirectly. You see, I innocently inquired about how to start and write a blog after reading hers.
Upon opening my Facebook this morning the first thing I notice my sweet daughter has tagged my page with a link to her “new blog” for the day. Oh how nice, I think and eagerly click on the link to take me to what I know is going to be a joy to read. As I begin to read I am smiling because she is so witty and good with words. Reading on, my smile turns into a weird laugh and I think how clever of her to create from an ordinary conversation with her Mom. In my mind, thoughts by this time are where in the world she got this out of our conversation. All the while a healthy dose of “Oh no she didn’t” is running amuck in my head. Politely giggling my way to end of this master piece of creative writing I secretly begin to ponder my response. Luckily for her she printed a disclosure of embellishment in .2 italic fonts and in faded black text hardly discernable.
Perhaps I made a few comments and asked a few too many irrelevant questions concerning her previous blog however, I was just curious about what makes make my daughter tick. After all it is a blog of personal views and information strictly at the discretion of the author.
I am so proud at this moment to have learned that I can be such an inspiration to my child’s creative writing skills. I love you my daughter and you have and will always be my inspiration.
Since my epiphany to embark on this new adventure in blogging, I have struggled on what the subject of my first blog would be. Searching for that first time experience in this cyber world of public information and how to set limits with personal information. Well, my daughter in her infinite wisdom and advice has given me my first subject, indirectly. You see, I innocently inquired about how to start and write a blog after reading hers.
Upon opening my Facebook this morning the first thing I notice my sweet daughter has tagged my page with a link to her “new blog” for the day. Oh how nice, I think and eagerly click on the link to take me to what I know is going to be a joy to read. As I begin to read I am smiling because she is so witty and good with words. Reading on, my smile turns into a weird laugh and I think how clever of her to create from an ordinary conversation with her Mom. In my mind, thoughts by this time are where in the world she got this out of our conversation. All the while a healthy dose of “Oh no she didn’t” is running amuck in my head. Politely giggling my way to end of this master piece of creative writing I secretly begin to ponder my response. Luckily for her she printed a disclosure of embellishment in .2 italic fonts and in faded black text hardly discernable.
Perhaps I made a few comments and asked a few too many irrelevant questions concerning her previous blog however, I was just curious about what makes make my daughter tick. After all it is a blog of personal views and information strictly at the discretion of the author.
I am so proud at this moment to have learned that I can be such an inspiration to my child’s creative writing skills. I love you my daughter and you have and will always be my inspiration.
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