I suppose I could get rid of the cat,
so I don’t have her jumping on my lap
every time I attempt to use the computer,
but unfortunately she seems to think
that this is her house, and I belong to her.
I suppose I could just turn off the TV
but then I wouldn’t know what terrible
things the republicans are doing, or
what President Obama and Cabinet and
Rahm Emanual and all the rest of them
are doing to make them laughing stocks.
(Oh, right, they’re doing that to themselves!)
I suppose I could (and usually do)
just say ‘uh huh’ over and over to
the poor women who are making coffee
and tea and cleaning my apartment,
as they discuss all their woes with me,
or at least as they think they are doing so.
Can I disappoint all these people, pets,
and even politicians who natter on on TV?
No, so I guess I shall just sit here and look
terribly happy and interested and keep
stopping my typing long enough to pat cat
every time she meows to remind me to --
simply proving I can watch, listen and pat
and still get a poem written once in a while.
©2008 Peggy Cartwright
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Who I support, and why....
“Find a Charity You Can Trust” (Charity Navigator)
This website is a fascinating one. They have a pretty complete list of all charities, with ratings, info about their work, and, best, info on how much they spend on fundraising, and how much goes out to the people they say they are helping. Unfortunately a couple of organizations that say they are helping veterans -- are not! I give my money to “Vietnam Veterans Against the War,” a group my guy works with (he’s a Vietnam Vet). & I'm a pacifist.
My ‘fop favorite’ charities, to whom I give money as often as possible, and spread the word about what they do are listed below. I heard about a food with a silly name from seeing a documentary by chance on PBS, and it was so impressive that I checked on the charity immediately. It was 'Doctors Without Borders' developing ‘Plumpinut’ to save starving children. I immediately put them on a monthly withdrawal from my bank. I had sent them small amounts of money once in awhile, but now they are my favorite charity -- and I love the doctors and nurses who volunteer to go off to some of the worst war zones in the world to work and save lives.
The Episcopalians are impressive in their work also -- and they work not only helping the poor and ill people across the world, but also attempt to battle poverty in our country. They further do not ask if you believe in god before they help you, as they are there to battle poverty, not to convert people. I know that they work with the homeless here a lot.
There are many easy ways to help out in this world. I have a friend who orders an extra sandwich when she is out eating lunch -- then gives it to the first person she sees who looks like they need a meal (or to someone who asks her for money). She is saintly, but so quietly that few know how much she does for others.
At a memorial for a very wealthy man, his wife gave each of us a handful of money to give to the first person we saw who looked like they needed it. Another man gave dollar coins to each of us at a meeting and told us to give them to people and tell them to use it in some way to make money, then give twice as much to another person if and when they could.
Then there is CREDO, the long distance phone company to which I belong. They give 2% of their profits to a large group of charities. Their customers are asked to ‘round up’ their payment each month. i.e., if you are billed for $24.02, you round up to $25 or $30 if you can afford it that month. Then, once a year they send a list of charities, and you can pick the one you want your share of the money they have collected to go. You can even divide it and give to up to 4 different charities. A good company.
I hope that someone who has never considered giving to others, except perhaps in a very small way, reads this and then considers what he/she can do to perhaps change or save a life. I am very pleased that our new president has asked us to do what we can to help others.
Here are the descriptions of the two charities I like best:
Doctors Without Borders, USA (DWB-USA) was founded in 1990 in New York City to raise funds, create awareness, recruit field staff, and advocate with the United Nations and US government on humanitarian concerns. It assists victims of disasters and conflicts worldwide by supporting relief projects conducted primarily by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) affiliates. MSF is an international independent medical humanitarian organization that provides aid in nearly 60 countries to people whose survival is threatened by violence, negligence, or catastrophe, primarily due to armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, exclusion from health care, or natural disasters. In 2007, MSF-USA raised $152.1 million and sent 200 aid workers to work overseas.
from: http://www.charitynavigator.org/
Episcopal Relief & Development is the international relief and development agency of the Episcopal Church of the United States, guided by the Episcopal Church's principles of compassion, dignity and generosity as we work to heal a hurting world. Episcopal Relief & Development reached more than 2 million people in over 40 countries last year. Rather than impose one size fits all solutions, Episcopal Relief & Development supports local, long-term initiatives that address poverty, hunger, disease, economic development and disaster response where the need is greatest. Our partnership with the worldwide Church creates opportunities to serve communities in some of the most remote areas of the world, as well as in urban environments where extreme poverty persists. Also from: http://www.charitynavigator.org/
This website is a fascinating one. They have a pretty complete list of all charities, with ratings, info about their work, and, best, info on how much they spend on fundraising, and how much goes out to the people they say they are helping. Unfortunately a couple of organizations that say they are helping veterans -- are not! I give my money to “Vietnam Veterans Against the War,” a group my guy works with (he’s a Vietnam Vet). & I'm a pacifist.
My ‘fop favorite’ charities, to whom I give money as often as possible, and spread the word about what they do are listed below. I heard about a food with a silly name from seeing a documentary by chance on PBS, and it was so impressive that I checked on the charity immediately. It was 'Doctors Without Borders' developing ‘Plumpinut’ to save starving children. I immediately put them on a monthly withdrawal from my bank. I had sent them small amounts of money once in awhile, but now they are my favorite charity -- and I love the doctors and nurses who volunteer to go off to some of the worst war zones in the world to work and save lives.
The Episcopalians are impressive in their work also -- and they work not only helping the poor and ill people across the world, but also attempt to battle poverty in our country. They further do not ask if you believe in god before they help you, as they are there to battle poverty, not to convert people. I know that they work with the homeless here a lot.
There are many easy ways to help out in this world. I have a friend who orders an extra sandwich when she is out eating lunch -- then gives it to the first person she sees who looks like they need a meal (or to someone who asks her for money). She is saintly, but so quietly that few know how much she does for others.
At a memorial for a very wealthy man, his wife gave each of us a handful of money to give to the first person we saw who looked like they needed it. Another man gave dollar coins to each of us at a meeting and told us to give them to people and tell them to use it in some way to make money, then give twice as much to another person if and when they could.
Then there is CREDO, the long distance phone company to which I belong. They give 2% of their profits to a large group of charities. Their customers are asked to ‘round up’ their payment each month. i.e., if you are billed for $24.02, you round up to $25 or $30 if you can afford it that month. Then, once a year they send a list of charities, and you can pick the one you want your share of the money they have collected to go. You can even divide it and give to up to 4 different charities. A good company.
I hope that someone who has never considered giving to others, except perhaps in a very small way, reads this and then considers what he/she can do to perhaps change or save a life. I am very pleased that our new president has asked us to do what we can to help others.
Here are the descriptions of the two charities I like best:
Doctors Without Borders, USA (DWB-USA) was founded in 1990 in New York City to raise funds, create awareness, recruit field staff, and advocate with the United Nations and US government on humanitarian concerns. It assists victims of disasters and conflicts worldwide by supporting relief projects conducted primarily by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) affiliates. MSF is an international independent medical humanitarian organization that provides aid in nearly 60 countries to people whose survival is threatened by violence, negligence, or catastrophe, primarily due to armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, exclusion from health care, or natural disasters. In 2007, MSF-USA raised $152.1 million and sent 200 aid workers to work overseas.
from: http://www.charitynavigator.org/
Episcopal Relief & Development is the international relief and development agency of the Episcopal Church of the United States, guided by the Episcopal Church's principles of compassion, dignity and generosity as we work to heal a hurting world. Episcopal Relief & Development reached more than 2 million people in over 40 countries last year. Rather than impose one size fits all solutions, Episcopal Relief & Development supports local, long-term initiatives that address poverty, hunger, disease, economic development and disaster response where the need is greatest. Our partnership with the worldwide Church creates opportunities to serve communities in some of the most remote areas of the world, as well as in urban environments where extreme poverty persists. Also from: http://www.charitynavigator.org/
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
No MAN For Me
Funny, I find McCain such a typical MAN. He would never be able to see a woman’s point of view, while I think Obama does, for he seems to have a softer sensibility somehow, and he is stronger mentally. McCain adores Hemingway, the ‘hero’ of “For Whom the Bell Tolls.” Of course. I dislike Hemingway and most guys who think he is the best -- they are usually basic wimps who would like to be the big tough MAN, as poor old Ernest did They have nothing to attract me.
As I read of all the great leaders, past and present (Newsweek, July 14, 2008), who admire Lincoln I realize that Lincoln was not like many of them (or Hemingway), but had a kinder, much more thoughtful nature and didn’t spend all his time being a MAN, or I should say, trying to be a MAN, for that is what most of them do. Not that I am throwing rocks at men in general, just at the false ones...and I certainly consider McCain a false one, along with ‘doc’ robo & philll of my AOL group, and Kristol, cheney, dubya, etc. of the PNAC and bush gangs, for they are the ones who would use power, superior strength, hubris, lies and false pride to try to gain what they want, particularly with women, when they even consider them. A big gun in the pocket or on the shoulder is more their speed.
And to the men who claim that ‘war is good,’ or ‘God does not hate war, after all there were good wars in the bible,’ or other fundamentalist’s arguments for war, I say this: Most of the real men I know have grown enough, studied, and learned enough to realize that religion is a crutch and man-made thing, that the great prophet of ‘Christianity,’ Jesus, did not believe in war (read the NEW Testament, dears, not the folk tales of the Old), and no war in history has ever been a ‘good’ thing. Those who still argue for war should listen to, and hear, Dylan’s song “With God On Our Side,” one of the best arguments against war I have ever heard.
Meanwhile the bright men in my AOL group; my dear friends Colin, Mel, Bud, Bruno, John and Mike; my darling son, and my own love, K, use an innate kindness, inner strength and intelligence to reason and figure out the correct solution to problems and do not immediately sweep in with a pretend sword or a specious argument to attempt to kill their adversaries before they even know what the problem is. And so, they are the ones I turn to, or even argue with once in awhile, for I know I will be listened to and my argument treated fairly. For this I give thanks, and for this I also have hope for MANkind.
Peggy Cartwright, 7/2/08
As I read of all the great leaders, past and present (Newsweek, July 14, 2008), who admire Lincoln I realize that Lincoln was not like many of them (or Hemingway), but had a kinder, much more thoughtful nature and didn’t spend all his time being a MAN, or I should say, trying to be a MAN, for that is what most of them do. Not that I am throwing rocks at men in general, just at the false ones...and I certainly consider McCain a false one, along with ‘doc’ robo & philll of my AOL group, and Kristol, cheney, dubya, etc. of the PNAC and bush gangs, for they are the ones who would use power, superior strength, hubris, lies and false pride to try to gain what they want, particularly with women, when they even consider them. A big gun in the pocket or on the shoulder is more their speed.
And to the men who claim that ‘war is good,’ or ‘God does not hate war, after all there were good wars in the bible,’ or other fundamentalist’s arguments for war, I say this: Most of the real men I know have grown enough, studied, and learned enough to realize that religion is a crutch and man-made thing, that the great prophet of ‘Christianity,’ Jesus, did not believe in war (read the NEW Testament, dears, not the folk tales of the Old), and no war in history has ever been a ‘good’ thing. Those who still argue for war should listen to, and hear, Dylan’s song “With God On Our Side,” one of the best arguments against war I have ever heard.
Meanwhile the bright men in my AOL group; my dear friends Colin, Mel, Bud, Bruno, John and Mike; my darling son, and my own love, K, use an innate kindness, inner strength and intelligence to reason and figure out the correct solution to problems and do not immediately sweep in with a pretend sword or a specious argument to attempt to kill their adversaries before they even know what the problem is. And so, they are the ones I turn to, or even argue with once in awhile, for I know I will be listened to and my argument treated fairly. For this I give thanks, and for this I also have hope for MANkind.
Peggy Cartwright, 7/2/08
Friday, February 13, 2009
Poems mentioned earlier....
4:44
four forty four
the afternoon sun drifts down
toward the shining afternoon sea
four forty four
time for afternoon tea and cakes
and tiny sandwiches brown and white
four forty four
children screaming their return
from the often worthless work at school
four forty four
the weary cable car driver watches
for his very late replacement
four forty four
the rhythmic beat of food being chopped
for dinner in Chinese restaurants
four forty four
and my eyes blur and head nods
just a tiny nap before dinner?
© 2009, p.c.
Welcome, Oh Large One
I suppose there always has to be
Someone who is number two,
For I am number one you see
And then behind me, well, came you
Lumbering up on heavy hooves,
Snorting and stamping today
All of the people up on their rooves
Rushing and trying to get away
Easy does it you big old ox,
I’m ready to leave for my nest,
This year is when you open the box
So, stop all that noise you old pest...
© 2009, p.c.
and there is so much more.....ah, well....
four forty four
the afternoon sun drifts down
toward the shining afternoon sea
four forty four
time for afternoon tea and cakes
and tiny sandwiches brown and white
four forty four
children screaming their return
from the often worthless work at school
four forty four
the weary cable car driver watches
for his very late replacement
four forty four
the rhythmic beat of food being chopped
for dinner in Chinese restaurants
four forty four
and my eyes blur and head nods
just a tiny nap before dinner?
© 2009, p.c.
Welcome, Oh Large One
I suppose there always has to be
Someone who is number two,
For I am number one you see
And then behind me, well, came you
Lumbering up on heavy hooves,
Snorting and stamping today
All of the people up on their rooves
Rushing and trying to get away
Easy does it you big old ox,
I’m ready to leave for my nest,
This year is when you open the box
So, stop all that noise you old pest...
© 2009, p.c.
and there is so much more.....ah, well....
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Wednesday, as I wait for "LOST"......
Ah, 'compose' -- write of the boring day? or the rain? or missing K? or precious grandchildren? there must be something of great import of which to speak, but it does not come. So mayhap I should simply add some of my fairly recent poetry to fill the space. Ah, but when, I ask myself, have you been short of words? Seldom, I answer, but today is one of those days.
I overslept today again, something I find myself doing more and more. Seem to need more and more sleep, the older I get, rather like a novel I once started about people sleeping longer and longer, and the lights going out in cities more and more. Perhaps I should dig it out and try to find a resolution for the book and for me. Sad to say, I now have three unfinished novels -- and two of them were rather good ideas, I just deserted them when I found myself a bit weary of the characters. I loved the characters in the books I finished, perhaps I could start over and make friends with the new people in the story. I do find that if I like the characters, they help me and seem to take over in the middle of the book and practically write the rest themselves. Although, I have always had the feeling that someone is simply writing through me. I do know that I often do not remember writing some of my poems and when I find old ones and read them, I find myself saying, "My, that's a very interesting poem." (surprise, that's my name at the bottom!) Although, with most I am quite like Matisse, who was not allowed into some of his own exhibitions, as he always carried paints and a brush and made little corrections or changes on his paintings -- nothing was ever 'finished' for him, nor is it for me. Even when I am reading a poem to a group, I make little changes....nothing is ever finished.
I spoke of waiting for LOST -- I wonder if other people are as lost as I am, this season. Too many people, too many wild ideas, too many past lives to remember, confusion reigns. But I still like watching it, as there is so little of interest to watch on TV these days. That is, after watching all the foolish CEOs of financial institutions try to cover for all their greed and mistakes. They are as reluctant to admit mistakes as old georgie-poo. And, as eager to throw lots of money to the people who really don't 'need' it. Unfortunately the 2% of the people in the country who have most of the money still seem to believe they NEED more and more and more. I was interested in some things someone was talking about the other day. He said that the people who gave the most money to charities that used the money to care for the halt, lame and really poor were the middle and lower classes, while the really wealthy gave money primarily to get tax relief...and the money they gave usually went to organizations who were there to entertain them, such as symphony orchestras, museums, theatres, etc. After reading a couple of articles in 'Forbes,' I realize that he is right. Just take a look at what the Walmart family supports. Not the poor who spend money at their stores, that's for sure. And collecters are now building their own museums.
My daughter, the Christian, constantly tells me about her Christian attitude about 'tithing'... granted, she is overly-generous in her giving, but does not understand that I, the dreadful atheist give at least 10% of my retirement income to various charities and non-profits. I have always supported the museums in SF by becoming a member each year...but my choice for a monthly amount that I know will be used well is "Medecins sans Frontieres" or 'Doctors Without Borders' one of the most selfless and caring groups in the world. I was so impressed with their work on a food for starving babies that they call by the dreadful name of 'Plumpinut' that I immediately signed up to have money sent from one of my credit card companies every month to help with the program. One of the things that impressed me about them, and still does, is that they send me thank you letters often....and not with any mention of my giving more.
And on the news -- a short take of the latest exhibit at the deYoung: Tiffany and Lalique. Guess I should get out there to see it. Will undoubtedly wear me out.....Ah, well.......
I overslept today again, something I find myself doing more and more. Seem to need more and more sleep, the older I get, rather like a novel I once started about people sleeping longer and longer, and the lights going out in cities more and more. Perhaps I should dig it out and try to find a resolution for the book and for me. Sad to say, I now have three unfinished novels -- and two of them were rather good ideas, I just deserted them when I found myself a bit weary of the characters. I loved the characters in the books I finished, perhaps I could start over and make friends with the new people in the story. I do find that if I like the characters, they help me and seem to take over in the middle of the book and practically write the rest themselves. Although, I have always had the feeling that someone is simply writing through me. I do know that I often do not remember writing some of my poems and when I find old ones and read them, I find myself saying, "My, that's a very interesting poem." (surprise, that's my name at the bottom!) Although, with most I am quite like Matisse, who was not allowed into some of his own exhibitions, as he always carried paints and a brush and made little corrections or changes on his paintings -- nothing was ever 'finished' for him, nor is it for me. Even when I am reading a poem to a group, I make little changes....nothing is ever finished.
I spoke of waiting for LOST -- I wonder if other people are as lost as I am, this season. Too many people, too many wild ideas, too many past lives to remember, confusion reigns. But I still like watching it, as there is so little of interest to watch on TV these days. That is, after watching all the foolish CEOs of financial institutions try to cover for all their greed and mistakes. They are as reluctant to admit mistakes as old georgie-poo. And, as eager to throw lots of money to the people who really don't 'need' it. Unfortunately the 2% of the people in the country who have most of the money still seem to believe they NEED more and more and more. I was interested in some things someone was talking about the other day. He said that the people who gave the most money to charities that used the money to care for the halt, lame and really poor were the middle and lower classes, while the really wealthy gave money primarily to get tax relief...and the money they gave usually went to organizations who were there to entertain them, such as symphony orchestras, museums, theatres, etc. After reading a couple of articles in 'Forbes,' I realize that he is right. Just take a look at what the Walmart family supports. Not the poor who spend money at their stores, that's for sure. And collecters are now building their own museums.
My daughter, the Christian, constantly tells me about her Christian attitude about 'tithing'... granted, she is overly-generous in her giving, but does not understand that I, the dreadful atheist give at least 10% of my retirement income to various charities and non-profits. I have always supported the museums in SF by becoming a member each year...but my choice for a monthly amount that I know will be used well is "Medecins sans Frontieres" or 'Doctors Without Borders' one of the most selfless and caring groups in the world. I was so impressed with their work on a food for starving babies that they call by the dreadful name of 'Plumpinut' that I immediately signed up to have money sent from one of my credit card companies every month to help with the program. One of the things that impressed me about them, and still does, is that they send me thank you letters often....and not with any mention of my giving more.
And on the news -- a short take of the latest exhibit at the deYoung: Tiffany and Lalique. Guess I should get out there to see it. Will undoubtedly wear me out.....Ah, well.......
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
I shall now spend the next hour weeping, as I have just lost four wonderful paragraphs of writing. I cannot believe this. I went to Preview, then tried to go back, as I wanted to format them as they should have been formatted and 'poof' -- gone!
There is no way I can possibly repeat. Well, I shall instead write that this was not a good day. I have no fear of MY death, but getting old is getting harder and harder, as I keep losing my friends to death or Alzheimers or being snatched away by children who do not deserve them. I plan to stay in my apartment here until they take me out in a very small box and I no longer know or care.
Today I lost one of my oldest and best friends. His sister called me to tell me of his death and I did very little for the rest of the afternoon but cry, and it is going to take me some time to recover. My daughter, who adored "Uncle Bud" called me and was as shocked and upset as I. Tomorrow I will have to call some of our writer friends to tell them. It's going to be hard.
We women last longer...and I will probably last a lot longer, as I am descended from a tough Lancashire Lass...and a mean little Scottish grandmother, both of whom lived long lives. And, I am almost a vegetarian, and keep the blood pressure down. Boring life, but undoubtedly long.
Ah, well.....
There is no way I can possibly repeat. Well, I shall instead write that this was not a good day. I have no fear of MY death, but getting old is getting harder and harder, as I keep losing my friends to death or Alzheimers or being snatched away by children who do not deserve them. I plan to stay in my apartment here until they take me out in a very small box and I no longer know or care.
Today I lost one of my oldest and best friends. His sister called me to tell me of his death and I did very little for the rest of the afternoon but cry, and it is going to take me some time to recover. My daughter, who adored "Uncle Bud" called me and was as shocked and upset as I. Tomorrow I will have to call some of our writer friends to tell them. It's going to be hard.
We women last longer...and I will probably last a lot longer, as I am descended from a tough Lancashire Lass...and a mean little Scottish grandmother, both of whom lived long lives. And, I am almost a vegetarian, and keep the blood pressure down. Boring life, but undoubtedly long.
Ah, well.....
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