The Hobbit Hole III - Journey to the Cross-roads!

[HairOfTheDog]

Welcome to The Hobbit Hole!

Journey to the Cross-roads
The Two Towers Edition

Come on! Come in! -if you would like to have some seedcakes and a pint and relax a while. (If it is a special occasion, we still have a few bottles of the old wineyards left!)

Our first thread ( New Zealander builds Hobbit hole ) reached 4,100 posts, and we thought that was big. Our second thread (The New Hobbit Hole ) held us for over 48,000 posts, and we loved it dearly. We talked about moving to a new thread for the last 38,000 posts, but we are really slow to muster! Finally, the time has come. Tomorrow (at 12:01 am, to be precise!) The Two Towers comes out, and we start a new chapter.

[HairOfTheDog]

But recently, I have come to appreciate big cities more than I used to, maybe 9/11 has made them seem precious to me.

Oh we need them very much... we need the commerce that comes from them, and we need the people there to do it. I value the city, I just complain about how stifling it is to me.

Your friend's response to those natives is of the kind of big-city type like my co-worker. A guy that has never been anywhere, and has a narrow view of what life is. A good ole rural boy, would have perhaps had the same reaction to the natives... So maybe it isn't as simple as urban/rural. See, if your friend were a true 'cultured' urbanite (liberal) I would have been surprised if he laughed at the natives, rather than finding them more valuable and interesting than himself.

It is the closed-mindedness (to anything American) masked as 'open-mindedness' that botheres me. They really are longing for real experience and real culture, but they think they will only find it in exotic things. They don't know that they are surrounded by it. "American" stuff is banal, and boring. The loss we have in multi-culturalism is the same as the loss enviro-wackos experience without knowing it. That anything that is 'them' is wonderful and quaint (it is very condescending admiration) but "we" are not included in the wonder. We are not as neat. I say we are. I think of 'our' culture as the country life, but that is where I am strong. There is a beneficial culture to the city too. My boss is in it. She's funny. Her multicultural attitude even extends to me. I am the only conservative she knows. She sortof treats me as a show-and-tell, because I am so rare in our business, and in her environment. She thinks it is really cute that I think this way. I am as fascinating to her as any other foreigner from some strange land with strange customs. HA! - For her, her open-mindedness is real and the world is a place of wonder. For my co-worker, I am a joke. If he wants Americana, he'll go to the play.

[HairOfTheDog]

Here's hoping Powell says to Blix: "Kiss my brass."

You will never hear it. One does not become the highest ranking diplomat in the world by saying what one wants to say. Heh. He is too polite for that!

[Corin Stormhands]

He's talking now...."one question"...not a question of more inspections...answer depends on whether Iraq has made the choice to cooperate...back to 1441.

[Sam Cree]

Terry wasn't much of a liberal, just a city boy, a great guy really, but maybe not too open minded.

"They really are longing for real experience and real culture"

It kind of gets to me that city folk and liberals come to the country and think the way to see it is that everything has to be prepared for them. To walk in the woods, it has to be an "eco tour," supervised strictly by a park ranger or some other kind of official person. A sort of Disney World mentality, really.

I like to walk in the woods with my gun, or maybe just a dog or a friend, but they are prone to look down on me for it, and preach at me. Drives me crazy.

You are a thoughtful lady, Hair.

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

If you do and get some uploaded, let me know!

Will do... but it might be a while. I have at least two other "projects" to finish before I can get to it. I never knew being out of work would keep me so busy....

[Pippin]

Just remember you have folks here to lean on and talk to when all looks bleak.

[HairOfTheDog]

I am feeling a bit philosophical or something today...

Did I ever tell you guys what happened when I went to the fundraiser luncheon for the social service non-profit I used to work for? It was a good story, and it happened way last summer.

Background: The place where I worked is a private non-profit who does welfare-to-work contracting of various kinds. They teach job-skills classes (basics like how to dress and how to interview to computer skills). I was a case manager there for a time. Having no education or previous interest in that kind of work, I was as surprised as anyone else that I got the job. I was initially hired there as a temp to build them a database, and once there, they just found my advice to be really 'practical'. Rather than sitting for hours on end listening to the hard luck stories, I just helped people get hired. They were amazed at that. I was good at it. I added up that I took enough welfare recipients off the welfare rolls to pay my salary for the year within the first two months. It was an amazing experience that both hardened me and softened me on the welfare system. There is a necessity for a safety net. There are good people who can get off welfare but they don't know how. They have never seen success and wouldn't know how to find it, or they have had the same setbacks I have had, but didn't have my Dad to run back to for a while.

Anyway, I made good friends there. and actually remember it fondly. The funny thing about social work is that as outsiders, you only hear from the Directors of those programs, very interested in protecting their own funding and finding more, they will cry for more money (to pass on to clients who need it). But if you talk to the social workers who actually see the clients, you will find very conservative "take responsibility for your own life" people. They are hard liners who resent the extended services clients just 'take' without taking real advantage of. They just don't know they are conservative. It shocks the hell out of them when they find out.

Anyway, back to my story. I go to the fundraiser luncheon every year, and continue to donate to them when I do. They do work that does need to be done. This is a big event, 500 or so people, and the agency makes about half their money at this event. I donate about $100 when I go... and I know I am surrounded by bigger movers than little ole me.

Last time, walking into the conference center, my friend and I noticed and ogled at a military color guard that was getting their stuff together and standing around waiting (I am a sucker for dress uniforms). My friend was telling me about the demise of the former director of the agency, and the 'new' director that had just been hired. She said the new director was real different for that business.... my friend said the new director remined her of me. Said wacky practical (conservative) things like I used to say when I was there.

So I was listening to all this gossip while we found seats and was amazed if that color guard didn't walk up to our entrance and stand there. The director of the agency asked us all to stand, and that color guard marched in, presented the flag, and we all said the pledge of allegiance. My friend could hardly contain herself wanting to hear me react to that in such a 'liberal' world. Here we were, grownups, businessmen and politicos, associates and former clients, all saying the pledge of allegiance in a place we never would have expected it. Everyone did it (including under God). I had not said the pledge since school. It was a bit surreal, and I was really impressed that this new director thought it important to do that. She spoke afterwards of our scary times, and how this is the greatest country in the world, and how people can become whatever they want to be (with our help, of course, please donate money!) I thought it was great.

I left kindof buzzing about the whole thing, and went to a staff meeting with my boss and coworker the next day. I told them about the pledge and the military color guard. My boss looked on with amazement. My coworker said "that would have creeped me out". We both just stared at him. He is DU wicked.

[Corin Stormhands]

We have some similar background experiences Hair. Just out of college I was hired as a case worker for our local social services agency. I primarily worked with old people, getting them home health care, nursing home placements, etc. But for a while I worked with the AFDC caseload. You're right, a lot of those women had no idea what to do to get work. They simply were not capable. We had a few successes (it was a small county, pop. 17,000). My last 6 months there I handled the Foster Care cases and had some that would rip your heart out. One of my favorite placements was two high school boys I placed with the local Catholic priest. I got a kick out of Father Jim having a bumper sticker on his car that said "I'm a Spartan Dad." Of course in recent years I've really wondered about those placements.

When I made the move to Richmond I was working in the Governor's Administration fairly high up and with a very prominent African American woman. Most folks on FR would know who she is. She is now in the Bush Administration. She grew up in a welfare family and talks about the values she was taught. She also tells the story of how she sat down, considered those values and came to the conclusion, "I'm a Republican."

[HairOfTheDog]

I know you have hinted at being in that kind of work. I thought you would understand. I haven't said a lot about my work there, but it was an experience I am glad I know more about.

Who was the woman you worked with? ;~D I would be very impressed if it was Condi. I don't know her history, so I can't guess.

Don't worry about your placement with the priest. The worry you have is a very small minority. I am surprised they would be allowed to be fosters with their work... but it would give priests a bit of experience with real life and real family... Things they are isolated from by their chastity. I would think it would make them better able to minister to people. But what do I know, really.

[Corin Stormhands]

It was not Condi. Check your freepmail.

I'm not really worried about Father Jim. That community was so small that if he had other...um...preferences...they wouldn't have remained a secret for long.

[HairOfTheDog]

Got it!

Boy this thread is sure a bunch of crap!

Woman Who Slipped on Dog Feces in Lawsuit

[Corin Stormhands]

Grrrrrrrrr.....I'm ready to slap somebody.

As I've mentioned, our little one has his surgery on Monday. I had to call today to get him pre-registered for outpatient surgery. Actually the Mrs. tried to call yesterday but got no answer from the number she was given. I called FIVE TIMES between 9:30 and 12:30 and finally said "screw it" and looked up the main hospital number and refused to let them put me in voice mail.

I found out that the person we were told to call isn't in today. I got another number and called. That person was out to lunch, but called me back 10 minutes later. So we're all set.

Then I called the other woman's voice mail back and read her the riot act. Told her it could've saved us all a lot of grief if she'd change her voice mail to provide an alternative number.

If I hadn't followed through, we wouldn't have been scheduled for Monday. Of course my mother-in-law and sister-in-law are coming to take care of him next week, my wife arranged a sub, I got leave scheduled....

Idjits. The world is full of idjits...

[Corin Stormhands]

I saw you over on that thread, but I was dealing with a different type of crap...(see above)

[Corin Stormhands]

Why'd you have to go over there and pee in Woody's cornflakes? (Piper thread)

[HairOfTheDog]

Sorry 'bout the idjits! - Glad you got it taken care of. Now, remind me what he is having done. His ears or tonsils? - I should know but I am forgetful.

[Corin Stormhands]

It's a trifecta - tonsils, adenoids and ears.

[HairOfTheDog]

Toddler maintenance and improvement day!

[300winmag]

...a new front door sounds like a good present!

The easiest 10% of security enhancements stop 90% of the threat. Doors are the most vulnerable, followed by sliding doorwalls. Local police departments often offer a free service of doing a security check, and pointing out weaknesses. Or you can pick up a few pamphlets at home improvement stores, or locksmiths.

If you have the cash, a steel-sheathed foam-core door with steel frame is the way to go. It's like a bank vault door.

[Corin Stormhands]

Toddler maintenance and improvement day!

Here's hoping it'll stop, or at least slow down the coughing fits.

But this child talks non-stop. I'm wondering what no sore throat will do for that....;-)

[300winmag]

Last year it was the Salvation Army and the Make-A-Wish Foundation...both worthy causes.

I hate to pour cold water on it, but Make-A-Wish will no longer honor wishes that have anything to do with guns, archery, or hunting. A few years ago, the papers carried an article about Make-A-Wish providing a hunting trip to a dying kid. The local leftists got all bent out of shape, and the foundation backed off. I believe Ted Nugent took the kid out west on a hunting trip instead.