You say what? Cancelled? Cancelled??? in New Immigrant

Ugly Frown: United Airlines. Don't trust them. My brother-in-law warned us too late. When the motel phone rang at 4:00 AM with our wake-up call, we groaned, dressed in a stupor and headed to the airport. Before Tom made it to a ticket agent I'd read his flight to Denver was cancelled. We now know it was cancelled by 8:30 the previous evening due to "airline flight control problems." Interestingly, another airline was still heading to Denver twenty minutes after Tom's cancelled flight. Hmmm.

For Tom this delay is an inconvenience. For the young woman behind us it was much more, "My Dad is having surgery. I wanted to help my family. I don't have much time off." The next family in line stood stunned, their young daughter had tears streaming down her face. I wonder what they will be missing?

Smile: The airline agents were efficient and helpful. Tom was immediately booked for a Delta flight TOMORROW morning. Of course we inquired about earlier options and all seemed to require flying to Texas, then Alaska, back to Chicago and on to Denver. Or something akin to that. I ask you, who would want to work that job?

On our drive home later, after a few more hours sleep, Tom said, "Lansing is looking better all the time." It's what I've been saying for years. Let other people travel and share their stories with me. Armchair traveling suits me fine.

Smile: Upon arriving at the motel last night I changed shoes for dinner. My toe wouldn't go all the way in one shoe. No surprise that I pulled out a glittery red cat toy, is it?

Smile: The overnight trip was not a loss at all. Our friends Gene and Inger were two doors down in the motel (headed to St. Croix) and we joined them for a special birthday dinner for "the boys" (Gene and Tom who are the same age also share the same birth date.) There was lots of laughter and good conversation. All of us had a special, unforgettable celebration.

Smile: None of the "wild things" escaped when the Critter Sitters visited. No easy feat, believe me. The River Tribe is thrilled to be here with a porch and a basement added to their space. Not sure the Upstairs Three appreciate the invasion.

Special Smile: When we pulled in the driveway Spottie was watching us from the basement window. You could see his eyes light up when he knew it was us!

Smile: This is a perfect time to be in Cedar Falls. Flowering trees and bushes abound, presenting a showtime-like bonanza. Pink, purple, white, big flowering trees, small ones, boulevards of them. The small river towns lack that. Ahh, the bliss of spring. How I love it.

Smile: Remember the wee Jack Squirrel that lives in our yard? (And winters in our unused garage?) I think it's a nursing mother. Busy body she is, up and down the tree, over to our bird feeders and back. Right outside our windows for our entertainment!

Several of you were surprised, even dismayed, at my negative comment about President Obama. Let me explain. I do believe Barack Obama is a good man. I am glad he is our president. I think the vitriole against him has been monumental and nonstop. The Republican's openly stated plan to stop anything President Obama tries to achieve has undermined our democracy. There is a whole lot of racism going on in their lies and cruel stubbornness. The divisiveness in Congress has prevented critically needed change for our country and that is on the Republicans' shoulders.

So, in that context let me say: I think ALL AMERICAN PRESIDENTS are tools of Big Money. I still believe in the candidate Barack Obama I met, the man I shook hands with and spoke with in a small group. In my opinion, the fact that a good man like Obama has "caved" says no one can stand up to our corrupt, greedy, money-driven capitalistic economy. Another concern, and one I don't know the answer to is why President Obama, who has made a point of supporting our soldiers, their families and veterans, cannot get the armed forces and the veterans administration communicating. Jon Stewart has repeatedly made it public how scandalously long returning soldiers wait for veterans payments, services and health coverage. If you know the reason for this, please let me know. I know it's a long time problem between the agencies, but couldn't it be solved?
In my opinion President Obama has "sold out" to Big Money in many ways. One is talking about "Clean Gas" which is Oil Industry mucky-muck. He has not supported the EPA and has appointed Big Oil people to positions needing environmentalists in charge. Recently he appointed two former industry people (Verizon) to high positions where they will make decisions on net neutrality.

In conclusion, I admire President Obama. He has been good tempered and mature in light of the unrelenting lies and public abuse dished out at him on a daily basis. In the same way Clinton became more center-of-the-road, I think President Obama has done the same and that concerns me. Americans are being force to accept an America's where "all business is sacred" and the peoples' needs are a distant second. That makes us an Oligarchy, not a Democracy.

Books of interest on the subject: "Divided: The Perils of Our Growing Inequality" by David Cay Johnston "Divide: American Injustice in the Age of the Wealth Gap" by Matt Taibbi "Capital in the Twenty-First Century" by Thomas Piketty, translated by Arthur Goldhammer