Dita Parker

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

California dreaming

I'm in love! In love with a house. A house right up my alley. Well, not my geographical alley; my architectural slash decor alley. (I would add some color here and there, though. But that's just me.)

I've rooted for Reese Witherspoon since the 90's, so of course I watched Home Again. And was caught up in not the plot or characters but every minutia of that eponymous home. Can I marry that house? Is it for sale? Not that I could afford it. Can you? It's my birthday on Thursday. Just saying. Come on, a girl can dream, right? Besides, I sincerely doubt I'd enjoy living in L.A. Perhaps they could dismantle and reassemble the house someplace else? No? Damn.

I guess I'll have to settle for the island house in The Thomas Crown Affair (1999). I wouldn't know what to do with a castle, I have no interest in palaces or mansions. Give me that summer house and I’ll write happily ever after. A heck of a trek to the beach, but we'll chalk it up to daily exercise.

Tuesday, July 17, 2018

New order

Air Force One veered past us last night and I forgot to flip the bird! I respect the presidency, but not this particular president. And I've been getting into heated discussions about what a European or, for that matter, anyone who's not American, can and should say about the state of the union and/or the POTUS.

It's true I don't have to live in your country, abide by your laws or even listen to him speak, or tweet. But I have to live with the consequences of his actions and words. I have to share a planet with this man. A man who happens to have a considerable amount of power, power that has repercussions beyond your borders. A man with more confidence than competence. So whenever what he does touches my life or liberties, I do think I have the right, responsibility even, to speak out. To call out. To shout out.

No one is beyond reproach or above the law, agreed?

What? Not a peep about Putin? I don't hold him to the same standard. He is an oligarch, the autocratic leader of a plutocracy. The last time he pretended to care about democratic values was way back in the 1990's, pretended being the operative word. President Trump, on the other hand, has sworn to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, a democracy. He seems more interested in preserving his image of "successful businessman", protecting his business interests and defending his friends and partners. Just like every other oligarch. It's a corporate takeover. And you don't want that. A rentier state. Rentier capitalism. Look it up.