Ze Great Ennui
Wednesday, August 25th, 2010Author Linda Brady Traynham
A family joke involved situations where one of us was fed up with an ongoing crisis or frustration. Daddy would droop his eyelids, assume a world-weary look, affect a heavy French accent, and drawl, “Ah, but you ‘ave ze great ennui!” (I would like to tell you that my mother pretended to be an Apache dancer and they tangoed across the room dramatically, but it is not so. What made this routine ludicrous enough to bring anyone out of a fit of the dismals was that Daddy always held his nose when speaking French, that being his way of getting proper nasal intonation.)
Mes amis, I ‘ave ze great ennui.
I ‘ave ze ennui with the mosque at Ground Zero. Yes, it is in the worst possible taste, yes, the Greek Orthodox group should be allowed to rebuild its church there, yes, it is a deliberate slap in the face of Americans by a better enemy, a sign that they are marking conquered territory and they will be back for more–and there isn’t one flaming thing I can do about it, or you either, or twenty million of us, so why don’t we stop scraping the fat off our nerve endings and do something useful?
I ‘ave ze great ennui with the Muslim cheer leader in the White House. No, he shouldn’t bow to foreign “kings” and dictators, no, he shouldn’t insult America everywhere he goes, yes, he is destroying the economy, and a good thing he has no better idea how jobs and wealth are created because he would be more efficient at it, no (or do I mean “yes?”), he may well not be a natural born citizen but he’s sitting in the Oval Office and putting his feet on the irreplaceable desk made from timbers of the Resolute, yes, I believe Secret Service leaks that he kicks the dog and is totally unfit to run a popsicle stand–and there isn’t one single thing I can do about it, or you either, until the first Tuesday in November when we try to take control of Congress away from him which will really create nightmares from a Lame Duck Congress, so why don’t we concentrate on something important like making money, perfecting Immelmans, or memorizing the Kings and Queens of England in order of succession, complete with dates and circumstances of their demises?
I ‘ave ze great ennui wiz graft, corruption, and deliberate destruction of traditional American values at all levels of government from ze Maison Blanc down to a local flap in the burg nearest me, which owns the local power company. The City Manager requested a list of employees and salaries. The power company refused. The City Council knew just what to do: fire the (doubtless overpaid) city manager for posing questions better left unasked. There isn’t anything I can do about it, and the most probable result of kicking up a fuss would be raising our electricity bills to pay for a pack of lawyers. There is nothing we can do about the probability that the lone dissenting vote in the trial of Chicago pol Rod Blagojovich was probably paid very well to hang the jury. It’s Illinois, that’s what we all expected (although I thought the vote would go the other way), and so long as the folks in Chi are content with the machine, there is no point in allowing a frown to sully my relatively unwrinkled forehead.
I ‘ave ze great ennui with the abuses of our rights and freedoms and wallets by welfare and illegal aliens, and at least 70% of the country agrees with me, frequently closer to 90%, and our chances of dismantling the welfare state are on the order of me waking up a size 2 tomorrow.
I suggest we all stop chasing our tails over these issues and get on with improving our own lives. If your idea of grand fun and useful protest is to go to TEA party rallies, Lord love you and have a great time, you’ve got my “NO!” vote on everything that has happened in at least fifty years, but please improve your children’s educations yourselves, learn to be more self-sufficient, throw grit in the sands of government every time you can do so safely and legally, confine your purchases as much as you can to those which do not feed tax beasts, and disentangle yourself from the useless, expensive, time-wasting horrors of “modern life.”
I haven’t got the energy to storm the Bastille today, but if anyone else decides to throw telephones, cable boxes, video games, pop tarts, electric can openers, iPods, iPads, Kindles, and similar symbols of decadence and brainwashing into canyons or reservoirs, do drop by and I will contribute what we still have and don’t use. I didn’t write it down, but I really, really have ze great ennui with the sacred environment. I really don’t care if the last Delta Smelt is bludgeoned or the Snail Darter runs out of snails. Competent, erudite, principled people and crops first, wildlife a slow twelfth. Those who refuse to support themself? About 17th on my list.
Nope, I have no social conscience at all. “Social justice” is a null concept. I’m tired of being regarded as lunch. I quit. I quit consuming. I quit pretending Congress gives a damn about what we think. I quit donating to anything saying flatly, but sweetly, “The government does all my charitable giving now.” I’ve gone limp on ‘em. If they want anything else other than Dane geld on the land they will have to come take it at the point of a gun–and I’m working on ways to get out of property taxes because they’re dreaming of using their guns.
It’s all Bush’s fault. No, wait. I’m older than he is. It’s all my mother’s fault for not supervising my reading the summer I was nine. Mark my words, no good can come of letting little girls read Quo Vadis, not when they grow up in worlds which contain Nero, anyway. C’mon, drop out with me. Stop racing rats. Let’s stop fighting battles we can’t win and sip wine and read the classics until we see riots in the street…
Or lay upon a red-velvet chaise lounge reading dirty French novels and munching Godiva chocolates. Surely the moral thing to do is reduce our children’s inheritances to the point where the state cannot confiscate 55% of what we have? I regret that I have but one waistline to give for my country.
Merde, alors, as ze French say.
Linda Brady Traynham
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Steve Foste says:
August 25th, 2010
4:28 am
Pepe Le Pew, we all know there are a few skunks hanging around in disquise.
Linda Brady Traynham says:
August 25th, 2010
6:34 am
Ah, but Pepe, ‘e is nevair bored.
tickmeister says:
August 25th, 2010
6:48 am
The rallying cries of my youth were “Tune in, turn on, drop out” and “Don’t trust anyone over 30″. All I got to do is change the last one to “Don’t trust anyone making over 30″ and I’m ready.
I’ve been of this mindset for 6 months or so. I am selling down my business, paying off debts, and planning an off grid cabin on my back forty which is grown up in thorny locust and bodark. I’m gonna sheet it with metal roofing in Realtree pattern and go there with my banjo, 6 chickens, 3 goats, and Thoreaus’ journal, all 14 volumes. (I have all that stuff, so this is not total fantasy) Maybe also Will and Ariel Durant’s history books if I have the shelf space. When they find me and come to take my stuff for the common good, I will hide behind the outhouse and shoot at them until they kill me.
Or maybe not. Still, this idea is the only thing that I have contemplated recently that actully gives me joy.
Steve Foste says:
August 25th, 2010
10:06 am
Tickmeister, really awsome, I have Durants 12 volumn History of Civilization, wish I had time to read through it. Been working on the 100 greatest classics, was buying Easton press hard cover gold leaf, but one day decided to just go with paper backs form B&N. My daughter and I have been working on the classics but are in a lull right now.
Ya know I keep thinking that womens undergarments would be a great barter Item, but there are so many sizes!
Oldmanriver says:
August 25th, 2010
10:55 am
Steve,
I have been getting those same Easton Press books for the last 20 years for christmas birthdays and what not. Those are the nicest books, I like how they feel in your hand. Plus the reading is usually pretty good. I got all 100 greatest and have been working on the most influential works. My family likes it because they dont have to shop for me. I like them because I dont really need or want anything. I love to read so its right up my alley. I recently got a nook as I am trying to condense all my possessions down so that everything I own can fit in my car. I have been contemplating starting a pool cleaning busness and living out of my car to get my life simple and as mobile as I can be.
Tex Norton says:
August 25th, 2010
12:26 pm
Linda, dear, all that was missing from this article was your “Signature Chuckle” end note.
Many, many Cheers, Tex
Steve Foste says:
August 25th, 2010
1:50 pm
OMR- yes like you I love the books, but at 45 dollars a shot, thats what there were a year ago, they were just getting to expensive. I can pick up around 6 paperback for that.
I keep thinking about getting a lap top to keep information on, such as medical, books, skills, cheese making, butchering etc by copying off my PC to disk, and then transfering to the Laptop. The point being to keep the laptop off the internet to prevent viruses. I think if you can keep the virus off the computer it will last a very long time, vs hard drive crashes due to infections.
Oldmanriver says:
August 25th, 2010
3:05 pm
Steve,
Thats what those books cost??? wow I had no idea! I always got them as gifts from my mom. I figured they were around 20-30. LOL Im going to have to put a little extra “love” into Christmas for her from now on. lol
You know thats a good point Steve about the laptop. You dont need much of a laptop for storing data like that and by not going all over the net with it should keep it fairly clean. Reminds me that you can download free or nearly free ebooks off of Barnes and Noble even if you dont have a Nook most of the titles arent much to write home about but some are decent. I didnt know that until after I got the nook. Just have to download their ereader to your computer. They even make one for my phone. Lol I actually find that I do a lot of my reading anymore off of my phone when Im waiting in line or something. Its handy although the print is kinda small.
Oldmanriver says:
August 25th, 2010
3:12 pm
Linda,
Thats the kind of social disruption that I like
Thats the thing, there is only so much a person has control over. Most of what we control is only our response to events. May as well enjoy life as much as possible at all times. The best revenge is living well ;D
James the Wanderer says:
August 25th, 2010
3:53 pm
“I regret that I have but one waistline to give for my country.”
Howls of delighted laughter! (It’s a good thing the other grad students have all gone home for the day!)
One more reading, home for dinner, back for one last reading, then choir practice. Today IS going to be a good day.
Steve Foste says:
August 26th, 2010
9:06 am
OMR, it just struck me, my son has a 52″ hd plasma TV, I have a 21″ analog wall mart special.
Like the books Easton is like the 52″ plasma, funny thing the paperbacks and the TV all have the same content.
Oldmanriver says:
August 26th, 2010
10:58 am
LOL indeed Steve, the only difference is that the 21″ analog will probably outlast the 52″ hd plasma. The easton books will last a long time if thats what a person wants. The paper in paperbacks starts deteriorating fairly quickly compared to the more expensive stuff.
Lynne says:
August 27th, 2010
8:27 pm
Well I do have the router/wirless boxes on hand. I have propane stoves and other types on hand. Some one please tell me I’m to worried for no reasom and prove it with facts. A girl was grab at random off the streets of phoenix and dumped in Mexico, 72 bodies found at Matamoras is not a problem. Salmonella out breaks in our eggs not to worry? It’s the feed. What about the chickens?
Coffee, wheat and corn prices are rising. Yet don’t worry. Hell and Linda I tried to warn you. Now who will you believe? The politicians or your own lying eyes?
Please wake up you only have a couple of months to prepare. It’s not about Lattes its about basics.
Linda Brady Traynham says:
August 28th, 2010
5:05 pm
Will & Ariel Durant’s work is probably an essential. Check http://www.themeshreport.com sometime next week and look for an article entitled “I Lost My Wallet!” Most of you don’t know my story about the horros of finding yourself “undocumented.”
PeterPansDad says:
September 2nd, 2010
9:14 am
I have only read Durant’s “The Life of Greece”. Bought it years ago on Amazon used for a couple of dollars. There’s a hardcover on there now for under $3. Worth your time.
Enjoyed the article. Distracting news of the day? I’ve got stuff to do.
Lynne,
I seriously doubt that salmonella in eggs came from feed. I’m not even sure that’s possible. I more strongly suspect they’re looking for an opportunity to add legislation to put small egg producers like me out of business. I mean, geez, my chickens see the sun and eat bugs. Clearly I don’t know enough to produce safe food for myself and my community. I should be forced to pay my fair share for additional government oversight. God forbid people just wash their hands and cook their eggs.
Oldmanriver says:
September 3rd, 2010
7:25 am
You know its interesting but before this salmonella outbreak I was buying eggs on several different occasions. I always open the carton to check for broken ones and I noticed cartons where the eggs had obviously not been washed. There was a lot of fecal material and feathers stuck to the eggs. That wouldnt bother me too much if I was collecting eggs each day from hens and using them that day. When dirty eggs sit around in a carton microorganisms have a chance to seep through the shell which is fairly porus. I stopped buying that brand of eggs to say the least. I dont remember if it was the same brand with the problems or not. Just something I noticed.
Oldmanriver says:
September 3rd, 2010
7:29 am
PPD,
Yeah I wondered about that whole salmonella coming from the feed too. If its in the feed and the chickens become infected I would think there would be some morbidity if not mortality due to this. How the chicken farmer didnt see this says something about them. Obviously they were not doing a good job. I have battled salmonella infections in swine and it can be expensive and almost impossible to control. I ended up depopulating the farm for 3-4 months and that finally brought it under control along with a vaccination program.
lynne says:
September 8th, 2010
11:21 pm
The FDA only reacts to problems it’s in the charter for the FDA and in the mindset. Well that is “bloody” brilliant, Can you tell me what the FDA is for bedsides creating red tape? They inspect and are bought off. of reporting. So someone please tell me what good the FDA is? In heartbeat I can spread news of disease ridden chix and eggs via the Internet. I can do the same on produce or pet food so what purpose is the FDA serving? But coperate farms are cool with the FDA but a small farm butchering is not cool. Of course they haven’t bought and paid for the politicians.
OMR when was the last time you heard that a local dairy, or local chix or bunnies caused a samonella out break? for the nation? I bet those goombs followed all the Feds regs and still it happens?
OMR you old statist why did this happen? My mom has given away eggs to her family, and is always looking to make her food safer. Hell she eats her output. Why won’t she make it as safe as posssible?
Kurt says:
September 9th, 2010
12:57 pm
FDA is an illegal agency to begin with. US constitution does not grant permission to make nor to operate such a gov agency. Statists twist it to make it sound as if it were permissible. So why should an agency born under such pretense function?
Trick question. It never has, it never will. Statists, especially socialists/communists, always start with one basic premise that is wrong. They believe that humans are basically good, and put the good of the rest of the species before their own. Humans are evil creatures, self serving, selfish, self absorbed. They almost always try to get what they can for themselves rather than for the race as a whole. This tends to lead them to try and get around regulations.