Tenacity

Two weeks ago, Britain announced that it would be pulling troops out of Iraq. On the same day, Denmark announced a withdrawal of its troops and Lithuania announced that the country is considering a pullout.

In what can only be described as tenacity, GW, through National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe, has announced that these pullouts are successes. The spin never ends here in the US of A. Last week, Dick Cheney was nearly blown to smithereens in Afghanistan and yet we are winning the war against terror.

This week it turns out that, not only are wounded men and women coming home to the United States in record numbers, but we are treating them like crap. How does this happen? I am tempted to fly out to Walter Reed myself and smack Jim Nicholson, Secretary of Veteran’s Affairs, upside the head. Mr. Nicholson just happens to be an old friend of W and former chair of the Republican National Committee and from his bio on the White House website:

Mr. Nicholson earned a master's degree from Columbia University in New York, and a law degree from the University of Denver. He practiced law in Denver, specializing in real estate, municipal finance and zoning law. In 1978 he founded Nicholson Enterprises, Inc., a developer of planned residential communities, and in 1987 he bought Renaissance Homes, which became an award-winning builder of quality custom homes.

Other than the fact that he is a veteran of Vietnam, how is he qualified to be the Secretary of Veteran’s Affairs exactly? If being a veteran is all it takes, I know where about 100 people with those qualifications that can be found any day to replace him once he resigns in shame. Just for anyone reading this, they are under the Wilshire/405 overpass sleeping in boxes.

I want to scream! You stupid fuckers!!! These are the people you asked to sacrifice time with their families! These are the people that have risked their lives and lost their limbs, eyes, mental health! These are the people you called heroes! These are the people that are working for your mission and this is how you treat them!?

What on earth are you thinking? It’s not funny and it’s not something that can be explained away. It is mortifying. It is shameful and it is repeating very, very recent history. Are we going to allow these men and women who have gone overseas and done their jobs with honor to join their fellow veterans under the overpasses of this country? Or are we going to treat them with the respect and the medical and mental health care that they deserve?

Well, are we?

Tchotchkefication follow up

I feel the need to clarify. I grew up in a house with a lot of stuff that was not-to-touch. I think it was the early childhood trauma speaking.

Mom had collections. They were not grouped.

There were

• teacups
• Madame Alexander dolls
• depression glass
• rolling pins
• Pillsbury dough boys
• Orientalia
  
• Pigs (don't even ask)
• Miniature houses
• Bells
• Perfume bottles

and about here is where I start to dissociate. Obviously my lack of tchotchke is a rebellion (psychologically sophisticated much?)

So don't blame me...blame my mother.

Word Wednesday

I have a lot of words lately and in an ongoing nod to Mr. Colbert, Wednesday is going to be the day.

Today’s word is Tchotchkefication.

That’s right, you heard me, I said tchotchkefication (btw – that is the correct spelling!)

Defined, tchotchkefication is the making of any space so cluttered with little items of no use (tchotchkes) that you cannot turn around without fear of breaking something, nor can you find a space to rest a glass on any surface.

Personally, I do not understand tchotchkefication. In my home, I have a jade turtle. It serves no use whatsoever. It haunts me. Things must have uses.

I want to know about the use of a plush heart with feet that says dirty things about getting into bed (which I will have for sale at CAPs yard sale on March 3rd). I mean seriously people. Get a plant if you want to give a nice gift! They make oxygen! This heart was given without irony even...

Don’t get me wrong, I am not a neat freak. I leave useful things everywhere. Scissors, inspiring clippings, nail polish remover, a newspaper that I’m not done reading yet (hint)…. It’s the tchotchkes that I don’t understand. Please, won’t someone explain the tchotckes!!!!