DoctorD's Observations

We are home now

Got in on Thursday night, after having driven in my least-favorite way, running at the speed limit on interstate highways, eating mostly fast food, not stopping for "historical" or "scenic" sights, or to talk pictures really of any kind. Not even the the welcome signs where we crossed state lines:  Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois.  One day we put in more than 600 miles, a record for us.  (Lifetime achievement award).

Mostly we were on I-65, which friends who have made the trip from Florida to Northern Wisconsin recommend over I-75, the direct route, which goes right through Atlanta and is worth avoiding because of heavy traffic.  The alternative routing ti to go through Dothan, Alabama, and then follow highway 231.  That is what we did.

The only thing is, the whole deal was boring.  We did manage to have a couple of interesting meals, amaziningly, but still, it was mostly boring.  Parts of I-65 in northern Alabama and Tennessee are rather pretty, but still, interstates are inherently boring.  They were designed to get military troops from one base to another, not for enjoyable vacationing.

Making matters worse, I was quite sick, especially Thursday and then Friday, our first day at home.  At one point I was wretching in the car;  fortunately, my wife as driving them, as she did for quite a bit of the way back.  I was just too ill!

This is my first experience that makes me really wonder about the benefits and virtues of travel, which I have always enjoyed so much.  I will elaborate at some later point, but, even though I enjoy the ocean cruise, I do feel disappointed.  Partly that is health, and partly it is crowds.

The State of the Union

Obama is always the same:  terrific.  He speaks honestly.  He accepts that all of those on every side of a question have something to be said in behalf of their views and opinions--and especially he shows concern about their suffering.  It is the community organizer in him, trying to pull people together, help them live together, instead of pulling them a part, creating or adding to animosity.  He actually invites disagreement!  He welcomes it!

What a talented, honorable, thoughtful man we have our president now.  And--what did we do to deserve it?  How much do we do to support him?

Really, in my honest opinion, I think that the political "leaders" we actually deserve are men like George W. Bush and women like Sarah Palin.  They are more at "our level."  They appeal effectively to our ignorance and fear, and fan its embers into hot coals and flames.  

Obama, in contrast, appeals to the "better angels of our nature," a phrase from Lincoln's first inaugural address.  God bless him for trying!  Thanks to him for having the patience!

Which, sadly, I personally, don't.  i never claim to be very calm in confronting disasters, real or possible.  I tried to meditate today in the car today during the time periods when I wasn't driving.  It didn't work out very well.  I don't do it well.  Mea culpa.

This changes everything

The new tablet computer, the Apple iPad:

iPad, announced today

Personal health and other worries

Our trip was delayed, and might have been cancelled, because of my personal health issues.  In the end, I did "okay," but still some limitations were apparent.

--Still had a cough sometimes, often during conversation.

--Became very light-headed once, nearly passing out, after sitting for a long meal and then climbing a staircase.

--Trying to carry a suitcase up a couple of flights of stairs was really hard, left me huffing and puffing.  Apparently my heart just doesn't have the "juice" for that any more.

--Problems sleeping.  Would cough more lying flat.

--Very tired during some days.  Had some long daytime sleeps, which in one fortunate case made me miss huge traffic jams.  I did the right thing by staying aboard!

--Right now, I am noticing that I have a wheeze in my breathing.

Something DID help me, but we aren't sure what.  The antibiotic my doctor prescribed?  The damper, warmer air?

I know what I want is to rest.  Really rest.  Isn 't a vacation supposed to be, you know, leisurely?  I don't want regimentation, which cruise ships are inclined toward; I don't want to have to "make" some certain number of miles each day driving, or get home on a certain day either.

Should I check into a spa?  A hospital?  A nursing home?

With the much cooler weather that we have today, I think that driving should be easy.  Tonight we will be with very good friends with which there is nonetheless a possibility of political arguments.  I will try to stay calm, like Obama does, but often I don't do that very well.  Part of me feels like idiocy and misrepresentations need to be confronted.  Lately the line I have heard is that all of the scientists who proclaim global warming to be a problem are "just in it to make money."  How are you supposed to react to that?  How can you breathe easily then?

By far my favorite crackpot theory lately, though, is the claim that the US caused the Haitian earthquake with its Secret Seismic Weapon!  This apparently was a test run.  The next and real target will be Iran.  

There is one comforting aspect to this theory, however, and that is that it originated in Latin America.  It is good to know that all of the planet's loonies haven't been gathered up, sent to the red states, and now are off to the CPAC teabagger convention to hear Sarah Palin deliver her $100,000 speech.  I mean, we don't really have a monopoly on crazies who think things like Haiti brought it on itself by making a pact with the devil to be rid of colonialism.  There are other, foreign, crazies out there in the world.  Hitler was one, for example.  Isn't that good to know?

I don't believe in the SSW, but the Republicans have made it clear that they do want "regime change" in Iran.  Remember John McCain happily singing "Bomb, bomb Iran?"  I had expected actually that that would happen before election day in 2008 , just to give his campaign a boost.  That, at least, didn't happen.  I guess we were too busy with the economic collapse, which really was more damaging than any terrorist attack.  

I wonder:  could we round up Wall Street executives and water-board them?  Confine them in secret prisons?  Stack them up nude and take photos with female soldiers standing on top?  I bet that would sell more magazines than the recent pictures of "Tiger Woods" have.

We don't have enough wars going on yet, apparently, so we need another one.  (And, don't forget, after Iran, there is still North Korea to be attacked.  I wonder if they are earthquake-vulnerable?)

Anyhow, I guess I am an SSW "denier."

What do you think?  Is it better to shake the foundations of a supposed enemy with an SSW or bomb them back to the Stone Age?  It all comes to much the same thing, in terms of damage.  Radiation poisoning is less with an earthquake, though.

Anyhow, I guess it is no wonder that I don't sleep well at night.  There is a lot to worry about!  And not much good that I can do,

Where we went

Florida and beyond

There were other places, too, but the GPS in the iPhone doesn't work where there is no cell phone or internet connection.

This was a first time for me to travel out into the ocean.  Boy, there sure is a lot of it!

Very thin fish

Unlikely fish

You know how they are talking about transparency in government?  This fish might be a model.

And, which seems more likely?  That this fish was created by God or Evolution?  To me, it seems unlikely either way.

I observed it at the Turtle Center (Juno Beach)

GPS system

GPS

The basics of America

At dinner, we were talking a bit about where in the U.S. a "foreign visitor" might want to be sure to see if they manage a trip to this country.  High on the list were:

--New York City (which admittedly several people won't ever go to again).

--The Grand Canyon, practically a universal choice.

--Yellowstone National Park (but make reservations well ahead!)

--San Francisco, much more manageable than NYC

--Victoria, British Columbia

One good reminder is that distances here are huge!  Another is that the weather/climate is very different in the various sections.  So much depends on when you are going to be here.

We are in Florida right now, but nobody said a visitor simply must see Miami.  I put in a plug for Shark Valley in the Everglades National Park, though--a personal favorite.  Love those gators!

Nobody but my wife and I mentioned New Mexico, but we really like it there a lot, too.

Major events this Wednesday

There are two:  one, an expected announcement of a major new product from Apple;, and two, the president's state of the union address.

The latter is of more moment, but I wonder which will get more press?  The networks and newspapers have been extremely ungenerous to Barack Obama; on the other hand, they do love Steve Jobs.

It is possible that, in the long run, the technological news will be of greater lasting impact.  On the other hand, if we aren't able to overcome Republican and big-business opposition to getting the economy in gear, to creating jobs and regulating finance, maybe few will be able to afford new technology.  Is Easter Island coming here?

Easter-island-Ahu-Akivi-1.JPG

And anyhow, in all probability, the new Apple device will be assembled in China (now the globe's second biggest economy).  Practically nothing is made in the US anymore.  We are all about financial scams, feeding greed, screwing the lower and middle classes.

The exceptions I can think of are (a) Boeing makes darn good airplanes.  And Hollywood makes darn good movies, at least part of the time.  Certainly Clint Eastwood does!

I guess there are some good American wines and beers too--but really, I prefer Guinness!

Shipboard dancers

Dancers

I thought that they were really very good, the productions elaborate.  That surprised me.  It sure is a lot cheaper to have a comedian or magician!  One person, few costumes.

We saw three shows, each was good.  Where does that special talent come from?