A Thanksgiving Limerick

Not that we need it at my house.  (Recipe Courtesy of/http://www.pinterest.com/tripn_dicular/)

I'm thankful for family and friends

And hoping this limerick sends

Good fortune your way

For Thanksgiving Day

(Or else a bartender who blends.)

Unsolicited Advice for Ferguson

(Cartoon/Courtesy of www.investors.com/cartoons)

Protestors were in the streets of Ferguson last night,

Angry at the failure of Grand Jurors to indite 

Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown.

Some began to riot and set fire to the town.

Liquor stores were looted; there were rocks and bottles thrown

And, despite the pleas for peace, the anger's only grown.

Shots were fired, highways blocked, with multiple arrests.

Tear gas filled the streets patrolled by guys in Teflon vests.

Unlike this Grand Jury, I do not have all the facts.

I just know there are too many senseless, violent acts

Where a young, black man is killed for looking like a threat.

They don't get the benefit of doubt that white kids get.

"He looked like a demon," is what Darren Wilson said.

Now, because that's how he saw him, Michael Brown is dead.

Young, black men know they're perceived with deep mistrust and fear.

How we change those attitudes is not exactly clear.

One thing that I guarantee won't help is rioting.

Fueling racial prejudice will not fix anything.

Criminals demanding justice? That seems pretty strange.

Peaceful demonstrations are the only way things change.

Thou Shalt Not Gloat

(Credit/Cartoonstock.com)

As one more Division leader loses to the Pats

All our former critics rush to offer their "Congrats!"

"They just beat the Lions without fielding Jonas Gray."
 "Best team in the NFL," most analysts now say.

Sunday, with a final score of 34 to 9,

(Thanks to the improvement in the Pats' Offensive line

And a brilliant Defense that turned Golden into lead)

I'm afraid New England might let praise go to its head.

Let's not tempt the sports gods now by gloating at our win;

Gloating, just like taunting, is a major sports gods' sin.

We've still got tough games to play before we reach our goal;

One more chance for us to go and win the Super Bowl

Thumbs Up for the President

If only...  (Photo/compliancecampaign.wordpress.com)

If you were the Emperor of these United States

You could have opponents' heads served up to you on plates.

If you found the arguments they used against you dumb

You could silence critics with a downward twist of thumb.

You could make your Senators (or Congressmen) obey

If you really were the lord of all that you survey.

But, if you're a President who wants to fix a flaw

You must keep your actions in compliance with the law.

You may only act as other Presidents have done;

Setting your priorities so things are smoothly run.

Even though the lions say they'll fight you "tooth and nail"

Leaders do not let our immigration system fail.

Unsolicited Advice for Proponents of Keystone

(Photo/huffingtonpost.ca)

Keystone XL pipeline didn't get the needed votes.

Tar sand oil from Canada comes down, by train to boats

In the Gulf of Mexico, for shipment overseas

Which - they say - is dangerous...  The GOP agrees.

If, in fact, that is the case than we should fix the rails;

Update infrastructure now, before the system fails.

If we really want to slow our global climate change

Building something permanent for oil transport is strange.

It won't help when fossil fuel dependence's in our past.

Let's create some other kind of jobs; the kind that last:

High speed rail or better roads - a wind or solar farm.

Let's invest in jobs without environmental harm.

Sick AND Tired

(Cartoon/article.wn.com)

I'm so sick of Washington, D.C.; I'm not alone.

Congress is perceived as something corporations own.

Politicians advertise so voters know their name;

It takes lots of money for the "buy-in" to the game.

Those who have a stake in how a vote is gonna go

Know that politicians, for the right amount of dough,

Take the time to listen with a great amount of tact;

Granting them a say in laws that Congress will enact.

Lobbyists and politicians use revolving doors;

Picking which new bills get heard on House and Senate floors.

Leaving the majority, who cannot spare a buck,

Without any power and completely out of luck.

Welcome to 50

Triumphant! (Photo/Kate Corr Walsh)

 

Happy Birthday brother dearest...  Welcome to the group!

As you're new to 50, thought you'd like to know the scoop.

This, my love, is middle age; for it's official now

(Unless science finds a way to lengthen lives, somehow.)

This is when your body parts will all begin to ache;

When you cannot go too long without a bathroom break.

You'll start hearing "creaking" in your knees and hips and spine.

Do not let it bother you.  I promise, you'll be fine.

There are compensations for the pains of growing old;

You no longer have to do exactly as you're told.

You've got more authority than younger people do;

Who'd do very well by simply emulating you.

You're someone to be admired in so many ways...

I will not go on about it since you don't like praise.

But, you'll make a great addition to the Old Folks' team

As age gives you freedom to pursue the life you dream.

A Lousy Week Redeemed

 

This has been a lousy week for me - a hectic one.

Two things in its favor though; the first... It's nearly done.

It's almost the weekend, when my phone comes off the hook.

Which is great 'cause; second... Stephen King's released a book.

It came out on Tuesday and, despite so much to do,

I just started reading and I'm more than half-way through.

Only King can make 400 pages seem too short;

His Revival's excellent, I'm happy to report.

It, alone, might - almost - make the awful week I've had

Fade into the background and appear not (quite) so bad.

I have gotta hurry though; my sister wants it next.

If I haven't finished it by Monday she'll be vexed.

Poisoning the Well

Seems to me the well's been poisoned for a long time.(dickysdoodles.blogspot.com)

Buckle up your seat-belts, folks...  We face a bumpy ride

('though it's not as if our recent trip has been a glide.)

Lame duck Congress members are preparing for a fight;

Want to make a point instead of doing what is right.

Do not poison future wells, Republicans have said;

While conceding that an Immigration bill is dead.

Even though the system's badly broken, I'm afraid,

They insist Obama break the promises he's made.

If the President does not give in to their demands

Mitch McConnell says the GOP will wash its hands

Of the next two years and let the country go to hell...

Wonder if they'll wash with water from the poisoned well?

A Veterans' Day Limerick

Saluting the women and men

Who serve and defend us all when

The country's in need;

Thus proving, by deed,

They're mightier than any pen.

Unsolicited Advice for Future DPRK Visitors

Mathew Miller and Kenneth Bae arrived home from North Korea yesterday. (Photo/DPRK.org)

DPRK's just released Americans they had;

These 2 were the last they held.  They're home and I am glad.

I just wish that we'd stop going when it's all too clear

Kim Jong-un is paranoid.  His people live in fear...

Fear that if they talk to us they're gonna land in jail.

Should we interfere and try to help we're doomed to fail.

If we get arrested breaking their laws over there

We have hope of rescue; they do not...  It's hardly fair.

North Korean prisons aren't a place you wanna be.

Life is hard enough in North Korea when you're free;

Where the fear you're being watched by everyone is true.

It's not paranoia when they're really after you.

Turning the Economy Around?

(Courtesy of jazminmercer.com)

With their plan for turning the economy around,

GOP could send the country crashing to the ground.

Unemployment rates are down... The markets? Record highs.

Fuel is cheaper, we're insured, new housing's on the rise.

Since we're in recovery already ('though it's slow)

Why would they turn that around?  There's not far down to go.

We have got to hit the gas 'cause that is what it takes.

Do not stall the country now by slamming on the brakes.

Confessions of a Bad Mother

Even as a little girl I, somehow, always knew

I would make an awful Mom, and yet, God gave me two

Sons I love so much it hurts, but that is not enough.

They need parents who won't let them get away with stuff.

Someone who will not give in to pleading...  Someone strong.

Not a mom who makes excuses for them when they're wrong.

Both my sons are sweet and loving with a charming grin...

Both are full of confidence but lack all discipline.

It is not enough for mothers just to love their child;

We must be the "bad guys" if the kid starts growing wild.

Now that mine are young adults, I fear that ship has sailed.

It's a loving parent's job and one at which I've failed.

Rewarding Bad Behaviour

(Photo/sodahead.com)

Interesting strategy, and yet, it seems to work;

You can win elections by behaving like a jerk.

Throw yourself a tantrum and refuse to compromise;

Block all legislation and then blame the other guys.

Credit Mitch McConnell, for the strategy was his.

Wanted to be Leader of the Senate; now he is.

President Obama won't have Congress on his side.

(No big deal... They've never helped with anything he's tried.)

They'll set the agenda, though; the issues of the day.

First thing that they want to do? Repeal the A.C.A.

Congress can tell folks at EPA to take a hike.

They can block Obama's nominations if they'd like.

This mid-term election's left Republicans in charge.

Not since Harry Truman has their margin been so large.

And, 'though she was slow conceding, Martha Coakley's done...

Even here, in Massachusetts, GOP has won.

Tweets Don't Count

Polls are open, lines are short on this Election Day;

When the voters in this country get to have their say.

Notice I said "voters" not the person on the street,

Half of whom won't cast a vote...  Instead, they'll "Like" or tweet.

Even if their tweet is clever, it ain't gonna count.

Doesn't add a thing to any candidate's amount.

Only at the polling booth does anybody care...

That's where it will matter what opinions people share.

Get up off your buttocks, throw on sweat-pants, go and vote.

(Here in Massachusetts you won't even need a coat.)

Mr. S. and I will cancel out but, even so,

I have hopes my Democratic sisters plan to go.

A Member of The Brady Bunch

 Brady versus Manning, at New England, in the cold...

If you are a football fan you put your life on hold.

That is not the kind of game you miss if you're a fan;

Checking out which quarterback would prove to be The Man.

43 to 21 should make the answer clear.

Peyton Manning has no luck when he plays Brady here.

He may have more passing yards and touchdowns to his name

But it's mostly Brady who goes out and wins the game.

Last night wasn't just a win it - almost - was a rout

So, 'though both are future Hall of Famers, there's no doubt

(Giving Peyton Manning and his stats their proper due)

I believe Tom Brady is the better of the two.