Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Words Not Necessary
Courtesy of IMAO.
And:
Sunday, November 8, 2009
The Health Care Reform Vote and the Slow-Learners in Congress
I obviously have not forgiven him for uttering it, because I certainly
haven't forgotten it, but my husband made an observation a number of years ago
that I think has particular applicability to Congress's vote last night on the
House health care reform bill.
When I was first learning to play at golf (I still haven't learned to "play" it, just "play at" it), Pepper and I started playing "Twilight Couples" rounds in which we were paired with another couple and assigned some bizarre format designed to produce a divorce or two per round. On one of those blissful Friday evenings, I blew a putt. Actually, I had blown several putts on several different holes in one of those formats that, in addition to boosting the bottom line at the divorce lawyer's firm, had the added benefit of torturing the weaker player in a twosome.
When I was first learning to play at golf (I still haven't learned to "play" it, just "play at" it), Pepper and I started playing "Twilight Couples" rounds in which we were paired with another couple and assigned some bizarre format designed to produce a divorce or two per round. On one of those blissful Friday evenings, I blew a putt. Actually, I had blown several putts on several different holes in one of those formats that, in addition to boosting the bottom line at the divorce lawyer's firm, had the added benefit of torturing the weaker player in a twosome.
The "weaker player" -- that would be me.
Anyway, after I blew the third or fourth putt, my precious soulmate turned red in the
face as that vein in his forehead popped out, stared me down, and in a measured
tone a few octaves higher than his normal speaking voice that turned the
surrounding air a little blue, spat out the words: "G.D., Moogie! Even a monkey
learns after watching other monkeys for a little while!!!"
For some reason that I still fail to understand to this day, I chose to
finish the round and not leave him. And a few days later, I got a really nice
gift -- it may even have been sparkly. That's kinda how my precious soulmate apologizes when he
knows he's really screwed up.
So, when that memory floated to the top of my consciousness this morning as
I dissected yesterday's House vote in my cozy bed, a whole bunch of monkeys and
apes sprang to life right before my eyes. Monkeys named Canada, Sweden, England,
Massachusetts, Tennessee. Apes that had played with socialized healthcare and figured out
that it doesn't work; monkeys that watched its citizens losing way too many
balls in a bottomless rough without boundaries; apes that were living the old
joke about how to play a really long round with the partner who had a heart
attack on the course: hit the ball, drag Fred; hit the ball, drag
Fred.
Next, I realized that I'm Fred. You'll be Fred. Our grandkids will have to pay
Fred's greens fees and drag us around without so much as being able to tee one
up. And then I realized that those monkeys we've been watching have given up on
this game because the rules aren't fair, the game is way too confusing and
expensive, and there aren't enough tee times to go around.
Damn, Congress! Even monkeys can learn after watching other monkeys for
awhile!
Those apes on Capitol Hill must be a little slow. We'll have to use very
small words while explaining the error of their way. And take away their
bananas.
Somehow I don't think we'll be getting a nice gift, though -- sparkly or
otherwise. Maybe just a little more monkey poo flung in our direction.
Yeah, I certainly feel like I've been pelted with monkey poo today. *sigh*
Oooh... the "monkey" post is MOST excellent, in each and every respect. I liked it then, I still like it now.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Buck! And I think it's even more relevant today.
ReplyDelete