I am really looking forward to it

This morning I received a request from someone  to connect with them on LinkedIn. I thought I had closed my LinkedIn account years ago so had a look and – surprise – it was still there – and I had some links.

In the process of messing about in there I appear to have sent linking invitations to many people - including possibly everyone in my address book – and people whose blogs I follow. 

If you were one of these please ignore me – I have no intention of bringing my LinkedIn account to life and will likely never open it again.

I have acquired from Amazon ‘A People’s History of the United States’ by Howard Zinn.

I already know much more than any American knows about Australia – and more than many Americans know about America – but need to fill in the gaps.

Former Indiana Republican Governor Mitch Daniels (now President of Purdue University) said of Howard Zinn:

“This terrible anti-American academic has finally passed away...The obits and commentaries mentioned his book, ‘A People’s History of the United States,’ is the ‘textbook of choice in high schools and colleges around the country.’ It is a truly execrable, anti-factual piece of disinformation that misstates American history on every page. Can someone assure me that it is not in use anywhere in Indiana? If it is, how do we get rid of it before more young people are force-fed a totally false version of our history?”

If it makes a Republican so angry it obviously must be worth reading – and I am really looking forward to it. 

We have lots to keep us occupied

We spent Friday and Saturday with our visitors shopping and investigating antique shops. These are my two least favorite activities – especially as antique shops never have Sad Bastard’s Chairs.

However – they were able to introduce us to two shops of which we were unaware. These were Tuesday Morning and World Market. Our visitors have lived in Washington DC for more than 20 years so know everything there is to know about shopping in America.

World Market – astonishingly – had both Australian made biscuits and Vegemite – so we were able to stock up. They had what were clearly Tim Tams - but were not called Tim Tams - strange. 

While we were there some locals asked the sales assistant where they could find ‘that black spread that Australians swear by’. I told them I had never met an American who ever wanted a second helping of Vegemite – but that they should try in anyway.

Cate is not working the hours she used to so we are able to indulge in some recreational activities – including television.

We are wallowing in the luxury of having Netflix and HBOGO – pleasures which were denied to us in Vienna. So we can now binge-watch some excellent TV – without commercials – which is the only way we are prepared to watch it.

So far we have watched the series ‘House of Cards’, ‘Orange is the New Black’, ‘The Killing’ and ‘Game of Thrones ‘ - plus others  - the names of which I cannot remember.

Game of Thrones has to potential to be very silly – but is strangely compelling. Peter Dinklage is brilliant and steals every scene in which he appears.

Our problem now is that we have so damned long to wait until the next seasons are released on Netflix and HBOGO – but we have lots to keep us occupied - including about 20,000 episodes of CSI. 

It will not take long

It took some doing but I finally found a cat sitter. I selected her on the basis that she was the only person who returned my calls. But according to the users of Angie’s List she is very good - and is rated A.

These days I do not do anything without consulting Angie’s List and thus far have had a great deal of success.

I have had three sessions of acupuncture and three sessions of massage. My headaches have improved – but I don’t know which treatment is the efficacious one.

I am guessing the massage.

Dave does some weird things with my body and occasionally talks about surrounding me with white light and anointing me with oils to stop my headaches - but appears to know exactly what he is doing.

What the hell – he can hang me upside down and paint me purple if it will stop my migraines.

Cate’s brother and sister-in-law are visiting from Washington DC – where they have lived for 20 years.

We are going to show them the sights of Indianapolis. This will not take long.