My NYT Addiction

True confessions!  I’m addicted to reading the New York Times.  Fascinated with the Sarah Palin Effect.  The indignity of designer clothing persona au courant vs. the frumpy pre-candidate as governatrix image is visual eye candy.  I just love that photo of Sarah sauntering across the tarmac in go-go boots and tight red skirt.  Vogue-ing.  I also confess that I’m a little jealous as I turn out of bed in the morning with more than an ache in my lower back.  The age of arthritis onset is upon me.  Perhaps it is from staying up too late reading every kernel of news and op-ed published by the New York Times in this frenzy election year.

Some years back I bumped into Tipper Gore as she was exiting and I was entering a dressing room at Needless Mark-ups (Nieman Marcus) in Tysons Corner.  I was a svelte Washington, DC gal then.  I would sometimes cruise the Last Call rack in hopes of discovering something special on the 75 percent mark-down rack before it got shipped out to Marshalls or TJ Maxx.  This dream rarely converted.  I remember Tipper as warm, cozy and somewhat out of character at N-M, just like me.

Now, I’m living a more practical and rural life.  As my hair turns to it’s natural color and my hips spread and my eyes lose sharp focus and my retirement fund is laid waste at the altar of consumer spending, I can’t wait for this election to be over so I can get some rest.  If I skip back and forth between the Times and the Huffington Post and Politico.com then perhaps the cybergods of election day will hear my mantra and Barack will win.  There is energy out there on the Internet.  On-line giving is an endorsement of that.

As a 60-something, I am astounded by my own behavior.  I probably spend more time online than my 30-something son.  I am connected to Facebook, Linked-In, and am writing several blogs.  I’ve published Google ads and am continually updating my web site.  My life is online.  I live an online life.  I wonder why I don’t see my friends who live down the road, but can carry on constant virtual conversations.  I have teased my husband that he brings his BlackBerry to bed, but I’m much more imbedded in e-culture than he is.  At this very moment, there are seven tabs open on my computer.

Yesterday, while reading an op-ed piece in the NYTimes, I came across the name of a friend who had written a comment (among the 165 I head read that morning).  The friend is now living in Germany and I hadn’t been in touch for at least five years.  Perhaps this was the best serendipity for being a NYT Addict — we are now Linked-In and have a plan to meet up in Mexico next year.  It’s time for the eye drops.

This just in from folks in the know:

The public radio fund drive folks seem to have it right.  Perhaps we could offer this script suggestion to the McCain phone volunteers?

“Hi, I’m ___________, your neighbor, calling to ask your support for the McCain campaign.  Today, at the $50 level, you can contribute to Sarah Palin’s Marc Jacobs satchel in blue-violet ostrich with kiss-lock closure and padded chain shoulder strap.At the $100 level, you may contribute to her belted Oscar de la Renta handknit cashmere cardigan with horn buttons in either ice or sapphire. And at the $150 level, with a matching contribution from Neiman Marcus, you may contribute to Ms. Palin’s cropped swing jacket and draped bias shift dress by Vera Wang.
What can we count on you for?”

http://www.newsobserver.com/nation_world/story/1265379.html