There’s a Miss USA contestant video from Alabama making the rounds and a question asked of a number of young ladies is “should math be taught in school”. The answers are so abysmally ignorant that one hopes all these lovelies will never procreate. I’d post the video but I don’t know how. I know some of you have seen it.

Re the Penn State sex abuse scandal, a new accusation has come to light at Syracuse. Now that light is shining on this, it may be that the abuses are widespread at many universities, and that abusers have always been protected because no one wants to rock the boat. Maybe they should put surveillance cameras in locker rooms (and showers). Can just imagine the outrage that someone you trust, who seemed like a mentor to your son, would have deliberately chosen him because a father is not around and he is vulnerable.

After trying to understand Facebook, I am giving up. I see snippets of conversations people I know have with others. They don’t seem interesting as I am seeing them out of context and they are not addressed to me. Anyway, I don’t care to intrude, since often, I don’t know their other friends. I click on my site and most of what I see is very lightweight. It’s sort of like an extended chat room conversation. Rarely a point, no substance. I already know my friend in the Midwest loves her new grandchild. I don’t need to know it many times. I already know the kid is cute, I don’t need to see every one of the hundreds of photos they are taking. I would rather stay in touch by E mail and (yes) phone and I think our MyBloggers exchanges are always about something. There seems to be no way to quit. Does anyone know?

I have had two reasonably good days in a row. Perhaps the nose drops the allergist gave me are clearing something up. I don’t need to know what it is, just please want it to go away. My friend Debbie, from the Frills store, sent me an E mail. She has had her own bad time – had to have surgery to clear a heart stent implanted many years ago that got blocked. Wow. I stopped in to see her today – Ed waited for me while we had a quick reconnect. She knew something was wrong with me, because no one she talks with had seen me walking or biking. With any luck, can walk there tomorrow for a lengthier visit.

Ed and I have been invited to Thanksgiving dinner by a lawyer he is working with. She has a Mason-Hamlin (a rare and wonderful piano) as I do, and Ed told me she has had it tuned just for me. What a kick. But what it means is no wine until after I play it. I hope to get in the zone when I do this – block everyone out, because that’s the best way to get through without messing up.

We bought some wine today to take to the occasion. I am relieved not to be hosting a dinner this year. I am not up to it yet.

Xx, Teal