Obscenities

The AP reports that six banks have repurchased investments the government made under TARP, paying a total of $626 million including dividends. This was reported by the Treasury Department on Dec. 29, 2010.

With the latest payments, repayments by financial institutions under the Troubled Asset Relief Program now total $235 billion, with an additional $35 billion in income from dividends, interest, and the sale of other securities. The Treasury Department released a total $389 billion under TARP, created at the height of the financial crisis in October 2008.

And now I'm reading stories about big spending going on with the fat cats in the Wall St. banking and investment industry. Like nuttin' ever happened. Cars that cost $175,000. A house rental for one month at $200,000. WTF? It's not as if they've met their financial obligations to us, the taxpayer.

Banks and financial institutions still owe the Treasury about $155 billion in bailout money. So, when's that coming? Surely before any more bonuses, right guys? Guys? GUYS?!!

And that other obscenity devoted to excess, the Oprah show and it's holiday giveaways. Please. In light of all that is wrong, broken and dying in our country right now, her giveaways just want to make me cry. Instead of fancy diamond watches and designer footwear, how about feeding the hungry and lifting the unemployed out of joblessness? Ralph Lauren Long Sleeve Cashmere Sweater and Cashmere Cable Throws? Costing $1,1000? $1,000 to customize your closet? Really? For the full list of excess, see here.

I'm with the Good Rev. Billy: JUST STOP SHOPPING. In addition to buying a lot of crap you don't need, to impress people you don't like, all this junk will end up in a land-fill you don't want in your backyard. Where will all this excess go when we are bored with it or it has become last season's style? Hint: it goes somewhere here on our tiny earth. And someday, in a community near you, it will all come back and bite us in the ass.

Little Treasures

I'll let in you in on a little secret: I 'work things out' by expressing them verbally, outwardly. Hence, I blog. I photograph things, I write poems, I journal, I sketch, once upon a time I painted. And I'm married to someone who works things out very internally. I suspect I am not the only one to have married my opposite.

This expressive self has been going on for a long time: recently my parents gave me some little books I made when I was between 8 and 10 years old. I loved making little books, and this one even has a section at the end "About the Author" I dedicated the book to my family.

I was so happy to see these little books - 4 of them in all! I don't remember making them in particular, but I do remember how I loved making books. I also remember sitting on the front porch with my colored pencils, drawing my mother's blooming iris flowers. And like most children, I loved drawing horses - I rode them, I brushed and fed them, I loved them.

Little treasures that parents save; I've saved some of my daughter's work for her to see sometime. Then she, too, can wonder at the mind and spirit that expressed these things.

Tomatoey

photo from the link above

Make mine a tomato on dill tomato bread

with oodles of tomato aioli

finished with a torrent of arugula --

and don't forget the salt and pepper.

I know. More tomato poetry. What's a girl to do? One day it's disappointment, the next it's an orgiastic vegetable experience. My spirit rises and falls on the most disparate details of life.

Idle Hands

Calling all newly retired persons....I'm bored out of my mind. Sure, I can think of lots of things to do. But actually do them? I've lost my mojo. I'm reduced to endless hours surfing the internet, watching inane movies, grocery shopping, meal prep, filling the holes in the lawn that the dogs keep digging. I asked for this. I know all the things I could do: take a class (I am), volunteer, go visit friends, read a good book (must get to library).

It's a phase, I know. I'll work my way out of it. I know. Just indulge me for today. Thank you.