Watching the Supremes, You Never Know What Might Happen

I enjoy watching the Supremes. Realizing people might think I am talking about the singing ensemble (that I do like), I feel I should clarify that I am talking about the Supreme Court of the United States. It is a unique group and frankly, despite all the pundits who predict their actions, I still tend to believe that you never really know just what they might do. 

Last week they surprised me, pleasantly I might add, when they issued a joint ruling on Riley v California and UnitedStates v Wurie. These cases deal with the search of cell phones. Chief Justice Roberts wrote the opinion for this ruling, with Associate Justice Alito writing a concurring opinion.

The Court ruled, in a unanimous vote, for the people and privacy, saying that barring exigent circumstances – which must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the judge hearing the case – information contained on a mobile phone cannot be viewed without a search warrant. Roberts' opinion states, "Our cases have historically recognized that the warrant requirement is 'an important working part of our machinery of government,' not merely an inconvenience to be somehow 'weighed' against the claims of police efficiency."

Peaceful journey, brother

Music has the ability to move and transform a moment, a feeling, even a person. When music touches you, when the merged sounds and words reach you in that intimate way, you make a connection — with the music, with the performer, with the universe.

I’m saying all this now because Rapper Heavy D, Dwight Arrington Myers, died on Nov. 8 at age 44.

I’d be lying to claim I’m a devoted Heavy D fan. I didn’t really follow his career, never went to a performance or collected his albums. But if he was on television I didn’t turn away, if I heard something about him I remembered it and I had plans to pick up some songs from his latest CD, Love Opus.

But Heavy D earned a place in my life with his “Peaceful Journey” album, released in 1991. It was with that music  he connected with me, enriching my life in the process.

Please complete and return your form

Almost a month ago, my census form arrived. I remember it this time, probably because all the census conversation, research and articles written since late fall — and the note from the Census Bureau telling me it was coming — had me waiting for it to arrive.
I watched the mailman deliver the mail that day, and I was at the mailbox before he could get past the house next door. I was surprised to find the census form, but opened it first.
The ads say — 10 questions, 10 minutes — but I'm sure it didn't take that long. Once it was securely in the envelope, I drove to the nearest mailbox and dropped it in. I don't think 10 minutes elapsed from delivery to returning it to the post office.
For about a week afterward, I joked that my form had to be the first one to make it back and felt I should get an award for returning it so promptly. It's too late to be first — and no, I didn't get a prize — but we still need everyone to complete and return your form. 

No Housework Day!

I just found out today is No Housework Day! In a way, that's pretty exciting — a day set aside for the specific purpose of not doing housework. I wonder if it's a gift holiday too? Perhaps your significant other is supposed to get you a robotic vacuum or some new version of the Swiffer®. And what do the greeting cards look like?

eHow has some ideas for how to celebrate this holiday — and other information related to housework — but the gift angle could take off.

Of course, for those of us who are often so much on the go that getting it all done never seems to happen – dishes today, but sweep and mop the kitchen two days from now — it doesn't seem necessary, or expedient, to say, "OK, today don't do any housework." Around here, that could (and does several days a week) happen naturally.

Prior to coming across this wonderful news, the plans for today included a couple loads of laundry, dishes, grocery shopping and taking recycle items to the collection site. What am I to do now?

It's quite a dilemma. Do I respect the time honored day of recognition for diligent keepers of clean houses everywhere? Or do I stick to my plans because I'm not sure of my next opportunity fit in those most important chores?

One thing's guaranteed, it's going on my calendar, with a reminder set for a week in advance. I will be prepared to skip housework next year on April 7th.

I'm looking forward to it!

Happy No Housework Day everyone. I'm off to start my line of greeting cards.