Rainy Day Walks Down Memory Lane

Back in 1969, Rainy Day was very, very pregnant (not a little bit pregnant, but a whole lot pregnant!). She visited her grandparents for a few days down at the Oregon Coast shortly before her daughter was born. She came to the visit armed with her camera, tripod, and instructions on how to photograph Neil Armstrong's historic walk on the moon from the television. Her grandparents had a small black and white television, with lousy reception – more snow than most winter storms in the Arctic!

But Rainy Day and her Grandfather set the tripod and camera in the middle of the small kitchen (they were in a camping trailer, and the best reception was there) and Rainy Day began to watch through the viewfinder to click the 'right' pictures.

If you are old enough to remember that day you will understand, but Rainy Day got very sea sick watching Neil Armstrong walk on the moon. The low gravity and joyous occasion caused Astronaut Armstrong to jump. The camera followed him, and the horizon went down and up and down and up and down and, well, Rainy Day's supper almost....

Rainy Day's Auntie Marie had long stated she would live to see men walking on the moon. She could envision space travel, but she couldn't envision remote cameras and, literally, seeing someone walk on the moon.  (Rainy Day told her she needed to watch more Star Trek;-)

Neil Armstrong died a few days ago. A true American Hero. Rainy Day will remember him, and his famous walk until she joins him in that eternal sleep. In the meantime, Rainy Day will follow the wishes of his family, and wink at the moon, every time she sees it!

Moon of Green Cheese Trapped Between Two Bridges

And when she can't see it, she can look at this photo of the moon, caught between two bridges. Proof positive, it is made from Green Cheese, after all.

Rainy Day, the Voice Coach

As you know, Rainy Day has little to know shame. She rambles on about a variety of topics, but she tries not to bore you, especially, she tries not to bore you with pictures and stories of her children and or grandchild. (The grandchild is an adult, and on his own, in another town, anyhow;-)

But Rainy Day has a dog who fancies herself the next Beverly "Bubbles" Sills. Yes, Paco Belle will frequently break into song, especially if she is wanting something. That something seems to range from attention to food. Or telling Rainy Day all about her trip to the Beauty Parlor (Grooming Salon).

Gentle Readers, I present, Paco Belle in her debut performance. Alas, I have tried to insert the video a few times, and something glitches, so you will have to click here to get it. Do, please, have your sound on.

Rainy Day and the Protest Movements

This morning, a young friend of Rainy Day's who lives in Singapore, asked if Rainy Day had ever marched in a protest. Now, Rainy Day has been around long enough to have marched in several, and in a way, I guess she did. Both march (and march, and march. She still hears her DI counting cadence in her dreams!) and protest.

You see Rainy Day considers herself a Peace Monger. She hates wars. She agrees with the bumper sticker so popular in the 1960s that stated, "Wars are unhealthy for children and other living things!"  During the 1960s, she protested the Viet Nam war the only way she knew how.  (That was so long ago that Vietnam was still two words!)

While many of her classmates wore tie dyed clothes and long straight hair festooned with flowers (to which Rainy Day is highly allergic), Rainy Day cut her thick curly hair and enlisted in the WAC (Women's Army Corps, no longer around. Rainy Day really is an antique;-).  While Jane Fonda was busy sleeping with the North Vietnamese, Rainy Day was attempting to sleep on the ground in Alabama during Basic Training too close for comfort to deadly, unseen, (but heard, she swears!) pygmy rattlers.

Rainy Day never understood the hippie's protest movement.  She always thought the best way to end a war was to win it -- or it would haunt you forever.  "Look," she is fond of saying, "at the South."

She still protests, but not by marching, camping, or chanting. She writes letters. And she signs them with her name and adds, "I am a Woman, a Veteran, and I Vote!" Her politicians know who she is and what she stands for. Do yours know who you are, and what you stand for? Why not?

Rainy Day Will Vote...

...and You had better vote, too!

As you have probably noticed, Rainy Day does her best to keep both Politics and Religion from her blog. Not that she doesn't have thoughts and opinions about both and rather strong ones at that, but she figures they are private, just as your thoughts and opinions about same are also private.

However, this year, Rainy Day must jump into the fray and recommend someone for President. Yes, it has finally come to that. And who does Rainy Day think should be the next President of the United States? Why, who else but Tyrion Lannister? Not only does Rainy Day think he's the best man for the job, because everyone knows "a Lannister Always Pays His (National) Debts," but he'd be the sexiest President ever!

Rainy Day really hadn't thought much about who would get her vote this year,* until she saw the tee shirts at Snorg Tees (www.snorgtees.com) and realized the perfect man for the job – doesn't exist, except in the minds and hearts of all who watch – or read – Game of Thrones. (Be sure to check out all the marvelous tees at Snorg, and remember, Winter is Coming!)

For those who don't follow the show, or don't know the characters, Tyrion Lannister, aka the Imp or Halfman, is marvelously played by Peter Dinklage, and is Rainy Day's most favoritest character so far. Tyrion Lannister is intelligent, cunning, witty, and probably has more honor than anyone else in his family. Rainy Day recommends looking him up online, if you don't know who he is. (Her second most favoritest characters, in no particular order of preference are Arya, Bran, and Daenerys.) If you are unfamiliar with the characters, or the story, there is much available online, and the books reside in your local bookstores or libraries.

However, this is not a book/tv report. It's a 'Get out and vote' message and what really matters is that you vote, in your state's primary election and in the national election. It matters that you vote for the person you think is best for the job. And Rainy Day thinks that best person is Tyrion Lannister! (Did you know that if you write in someone on your ballot, you must also write the political party of that person, and your vote will be counted for that party, not that person?)

Yes, Rainy Day knows Tyrion Lannister is really a fiction – but aren't all politicians, each and every one?

*That's not a true statement. Rainy Day gives her vote a great deal of serious consideration.

Also, Rainy Day wants to call your attention to some great photography at her friend's site: www.3-sue-taylor.artistwebsites.com