Busy Day for the Brain in My Head

Stuff I've been thinking about today. And it's only 3:30 p.m.

It occurs to me that because she reads my blog, my mother-in-law knows more about me than anyone. (She certainly knows more about me by now than does my husband!) Well, this is true with the possible exception of my friend Giana/Georgiana/Georg.

I've been thinking about which is more important: the message or the messenger. Do you dismiss an important message because it comes at a time when it isn't truly relevant, or via a messenger you don't like?

What IS the "mainstream media"? NBC/CBS/ABC/Fox? CNN? MSNBC? PBS? NPR? The New York Times? The Los Angeles Times? The Washington Post? Newsweek? Time? People Magazine? Star? Which ones are owned by corporations? Which are owned by individuals? Which are owned by us citizens? How do you define "mainstream media"? And what, if anything, is wrong with "mainstream media"?

Has political discourse EVER been civil and well mannered? Ever?

What IS the purpose of government? The people banding together to do for themselves and their fellow citizens what individuals cannot do singly or in very small groups? That's what I think. Or should we leave most of those tasks and obligations to civil groups or religious groups or individuals and just band together for national defense and leave it at that.

When did our government become The Enemy to so many people? Why did those people turn their backs on their own responsibilities to keep that from happening? Or is The Enemy just a convenient boogeyman to blame when life is tough (and it always is)?

What will it take for the middle class in the USA to start standing up for itself?

I'm thinking of how proud I am to have been part of the public employee labor movement in Wisconsin. I was the first Grievance Committee Chairman, married to the first President, of the only public employee labor union that successfully struck in the entire history of the state of Wisconsin. Man, how I wish I were in Madison right now to add my voice to those at the Capital.

How do I know if my stand mixer is really kneading dough properly?

Will I be able to figure out how to set up my looms? And weave? It's been so long. I'm more scared right now than eager.

What should I do about the quilt top I just finished that has the wrong yellow (it's too green) in the setting strips? Ignore it? Toss it (send it to Goodwill)? Finish the quilt anyway, since it won't be the only weird quilt I've ever made?

How do I know if bread dough has been sufficiently kneaded? If all those little glutens have been sufficiently developed?

Why is there a chicken over there?