patmix

Reality-Based Community

The aide said that guys like me were "in what we call the reality-based community," which he defined as people who "believe that solutions emerge from your judicious study of discernible reality." ... "That's not the way the world really works anymore," he continued. "We're an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you're studying that reality—judiciously, as you will—we'll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that's how things will sort out. We're history's actors…and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do."

That's the infamous quote from the Bush aide disparaging liberals for dwelling in reality.

I can't help but think that the Clintons are also in the business of creating their own realities.

Despite the fact that Obama has won...

• More delegates
• More popular votes: Obama leads Clinton in total votes cast 13,007,968 to 12,415,286 (a margin of 592,682). This total does not include results from Iowa, Nevada, Washington, and Maine, which have not released popular vote totals yet. If they are included Obama leads Clinton by 705,691 votes)
• More states (29-14)

...the Clintons have everyone convinced that this race is tied, or worse, that Hillary's the front-runner.

It's time for everyone to chill. Obama is winning. Don't forget that. 

Beach Gram

My extraordinary 92-year old grandmother, Irene Rose Lambert, passed away on February 29th.

She's the one who taught me about the power of friendship and the joy of bringing people to together to have fun, dance, and celebrate life. And, yes, that's a real goat in her lap.

To follow is her tribute which will appear in Monday's Asbury Park Press:

Irene Rose Lambert

Irene Rose Lambert peacefully departed this life with family by her side on Friday, February 29, 2008. She lived her life to its fullest and was a constant inspiration to her friends and family.

In 1934, she met her soul mate Patrick Lambert, who shared her love for the better things in life. They married on September 8, 1935 and raised their two children, Patricia and Bill, in a home filled with love, laughter, Irish music, and pets of every stripe and size.

In 1973, Irene and Patrick fulfilled their dreams by becoming full-time residents in their beloved Sea Bright. In her home just steps from the ocean, Irene, or “Beach Gram”, created unforgettable memories for her grandchildren with breakfasts on the beach, backyard sing-a-longs, and endless days in the sun. Her home and heart were always open to anyone who wanted to share a swim, a Schaefer, a story, a song, or a sunset.

Irene also forged lasting friendships in her new community, enjoying lunches with “the girls”, bridge (at which she usually won), travel, tennis, the racetrack, crosswords, and reading. She was always the life of the party.

Beyond her rich family and social life, Irene’s long professional career spanned from Finast in Jersey City to serving as welfare director for the Borough of Sea Bright. She also worked for many years at the Oceanic Free Library and Holy Cross Parish.

Irene and Patrick were together for 43 years until his death in 1979. She is predeceased by her siblings Helen, Mary, William, and Richard.

Her love for life endures in her children Patricia and Chet Kowalczyk of Middletown and Bill Lambert of Sea Bright; her brother Jim; her sister-in-law Tess; her grandchildren Tom and Jane, Tami and Harry, Moira, Patrick and Michael, and her great-grandchildren Matthew, Amanda, Anna, Sonya, and Sean.