Ok, so we can all agree that what happened was unconscionable, horrible, and worth the rant, right? But the proverbial “they” say that whatever angers us about others is because we somehow share the same weaknesses about which we complain. Now, I don’t own dogs (love them, but don’t have time to care for them properly), so I’m not a leash-law-breaker. But I do own cats, and I’ll admit that I could do a much better job of keeping their litter boxes pristine. I’m also in the business of raising children, and I do let them run off-lead on a regular basis. They have even bitten other children a time or two, but that was pre-teething, and I’m sure no skin was broken. Animal Control refused to come out (I convinced them that no, I do not bite my children), and no friends were lost in the aftermath (their kids were biters too).

And as a welcome side-bit: the guy who allowed his Dobie to walk freely turned out to be an upstanding guy who brought a body guard with him when he apologized, paid the vet bill, and offered to clean up my friend’s dog’s doo-doo for the next five years (I jest). Apparently he is an animal lover who houses multiple dogs, fish, cats and the like. Seems he just can’t say “No” when someone decides they can no longer care for their own pets. Sans-leash? Still scratching my head about that one. But at least he’s not a jerk who thrills at the sight of his dog tearing into an unsuspecting canine out for a simple piddle.

I’m mulling this word, “attack” because of what happened, but also because the next day I would be reminded that my friends and family have been viciously attacked by cancer. I’m even more incensed about this because there is no way to mitigate the reality with humor–no way to find perfect words to comfort a friend besieged by a brain tumor–no way to comfort my remaining sister over the loss of her twin–no way to comprehend the insane losses of children to strange and aggressive cancers–no way, whatsoever, to embrace the fear my friend feels every time he goes for a CAT scan to confirm that the beast has been beaten.

My friend’s dog, said the vet, was saved by her collar. Early-detection saves some with cancer. Miracles rescue others. Too many lose their battles. Our only hope is that this “Race for a Cure” starts being more about cancer and less about “riders” of profit for big companies who want to look benevolent, or potential political platforms from which moralistic mandates are levied or launched under the guise of fiscal responsibility. Like the guy who takes in strays but doesn’t leash them, isn’t it time for a bit less feigned ignorance or trumped up morality? How about a healthy dose of simply doing what is right?

As soon as Oprah announced her show was coming to an end speculation began as to who was going to take her place. Whom would they find to fill the void for the many women who tuned in diligently day after day?

When she first started out there was no shortage of daytime talk shows (thank you Maury , Sally Jesse, Ricki Lake and Jerry Springer for the variety in programming) but in recent years daytime TV has fallen off a bit.

It’s now mostly court shows, the news and soap operas. And we know now that our most beloved and longest running soap operas are coming to an end as well.

What is the world coming to???? No more All My Children or One Life to Live??

So with Oprah leaving the stage along with several soaps, how were stay at home moms, retired women and the like supposed to cope? What would women the world over do without her positive affirmations, upbeat attitude and plentiful giveaways? Sure there are other shows like Ellen and Dr. Phil but those tend to pale in comparison to the almighty O.

The View is always entertaining and lively but it’s more of a news and views format and lacks that feel good, warm fuzzy feeling that Oprah gave to so many. It was like have a soul searching chat full of belly laughs with your best friend. Every. single. day.

Suddenly, there are a new crop of shows that have crept onto the radar this past year that are slowly trying to claim the hearts of the big O’s former audience. Shows like The Talk, The Chew and most recently…. The Revolution.

All three of these shows aim to create an atmosphere of camaraderie amongst their audiences. They are trying desperately to re-create the formula that worked so well for Ms. Winfrey.

Be personable,be relatable, show positive results, give things away, be funny and most of all be a place of solace. A place where a woman wants to curl up on her couch with a cup of coffee and watch. Or fold laundry and laugh. Or feed a nursing baby and become inspired.

And I think the three of them combined are doing a swell job. But the competing time slots lets me know that one of these is not going to be around for too long.

The Talk is too similar to The View.

The Chew is funny but it lacks that magical ‘aha!’ moment Ms. Winfrey was so famous for.

The Revolution may be the closest thing to Oprah as there are a variety of  individual specialists that each bring something to the table.

But none of them are her. Not a single one can hold its own against her.  None of them give me that same zest for life that she provided.

She truly was/ is an inspiration and something of a phenomenon.

The encouragement to “live your best life” is unparalleled and somewhat forced in the shows that have since cropped up.

And I wonder will day time TV ever be the same?

You can read more of Amber’s musings here

And like so many other Americans I’m intrigued by the state of the union which I find myself compelled to watch each time. It’s very interesting to see how my generation is affected by politics in this day and age.

However, I’ve noticed a few things: there are certain people whom every time the President speaks, choose to remain stoic. No matter what he’s said. Valid point or not, they refuse to even acknowledge him as our leader. They yell out and boo ideas they don’t agree with and to me that seems a bit childish. Aren’t these representatives supposed to (at the very least) put on a unified front for the American public?

There is also a great divide within the two parties that makes it difficult to obtain the kind of reform that is so necessary for our country to survive. These types of occasions only make the dissent that much more apparent. But I still tune in every time to see what the responses and reactions will be.

Its always interesting to see on which side your friends tend to side with. The post political Facebook rants leave me particularly intrigued as you can see a direct correlation between the issues in Washington and how they have skewed the public’s view of the American president. And, as much as I hate to say it, racial divisions.

It seems our current POTUS is quite the polarizing figure. And I must say it humors me to no end. The anti-Obama slurs, speeches and rants. The “facts” about his presidency and how he single handedly has destroyed the country. It’s sad but an interesting study in today’s culture.

I’ll admit I voted for him. Not because he’s black and so am I. I voted for him because I truly believed (and still do) that he has the country’s best interest in his heart. I do not believe he is pushing his own agenda as much as past presidents and I do believe that he has done his absolute best to work within the constraints of his office and the party divisions in Washington.

I could sit here and spew facts and figures about what he’s done versus what they say he has/hasn’t but that’s not my style.

No mine is to sit back, observe and watch as it all plays out on a national level.  And to pray. Pray for our country and where we are going. For the people in charge and their daily struggles.

Pray that we, as a people, are able to see how divided we have become simply because of the color of a man’s skin, his funny sounding name, and his desire to ‘meet in the middle’.

No one person is going to encompass all of our ideals. No one man can accomplish that.

But perhaps – we,the people, can reach a middle ground and in that meeting will discover the solution to many of the issues plaguing this great nation.

But if not……then I will just pray for my children. That they will inherit a better life/country/planet and know what to do with the legacy we have left them.

You can read more of Amber’s musings here.