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… and don’t let the door hit you on the way out

... and don't let the door hit you on the way out

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Pied Type

Susan Richards is a retired editor living in Thornton, Colo., near the family and mountains she loves. Her long-standing Pied Type blog contains some 3,800 posts dating back to 2002.

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20 thoughts on “… and don’t let the door hit you on the way out”

    1. I’m enjoying the quiet too. But a lifelong habit of listening to the news all the time is dying a hard death. I’ll have to find some more worthwhile way to pass the time.

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      1. I’m trying to stay away from the news, too. At least political news. I try to keep up on what’s going on with Trump in a bullet-point sort of way. I don’t want to hear him speak or read any quotes of his. I just want to know the facts of what he’s done/doing, and that’s difficult to do. Just saw one of his recent tweets where he said “The world was gloomy before I won – there was no hope. Now the market is up nearly 10% and Christmas spending is over a trillion dollars!” Yeah, right. Economies don’t do a 180 in a month, nor do people go from little to spend for Christmas to having plenty to spend for Christmas within a month.

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        1. The world and the US economy are far bigger than any one man. They have lives of their own, the forces that move them are years in the making. And no one US president (despite what he or his opponents might say) affects things that much. Certainly, as you point out, not that fast.

          Guess you could say I’m in Dragnet mode. Joe Friday. “Just the facts, ma’am.” Bullet point list is fine. Spare me the quotes, the bazillion details, the speculation and discussion. Same with local news.

  3. As a very long time libertarian, pardon the advice of someone who is used to governance by (at least) the greater of two (and sometimes three) evils… it’s time to realize that your candidate lost the election and that the world isn’t going to end because of it. Less diplomatically… time to stop whining and try to convince more people to believe as you wish they would.

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    1. You’re jumping to some very unflattering conclusions. “My” candidate didn’t lose because I didn’t have one; I disliked both of them. Nor am I whining and still trying to convince anyone of anything. I think everyone can identify with the cartoon because 2016 was a nasty, tumultuous year for a lot of different reasons and I think most everyone will be glad to see it end.

      For some reason your comment reminds me of the song “You’re so vain you probably think this song is about you.” Not you personally, but anyone involved in the Trump campaign who doesn’t realize the world is going on about its business not because of Trump but in spite of him.

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      1. …”it’s time to realize that your candidate lost the election and that the world isn’t going to end because of it”….
        Insider knowledge????…….Wishful thinking????

        I don’t expect to be, but I sure would like to be around 4 years from now, it’s going to be very interesting.

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      2. Actually, I don’t disagree with you. Except… that most of Hillary’s supporters (not you personally) are stuck in denial mode and can’t seem to begin the process of trying to recognize that positive attitudes and work may be able to overcome (or at least mitigate) what looks like chaotic, reactionary and stupid actions that seem inevitable. I never mean to be disrespectful. Not my intention at all.

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        1. Denial certainly won’t help, but maybe it feels better than helplessness. I dunno. There was so much hate stirred up and spread by both camps (and other opportunistic factions) that I’m afraid it will be a long time before things cool off. I just hope the heightened levels of hate, disrespect, and anger don’t linger and become the new norm. It’s been really disturbing and depressing, which is the main reason I don’t watch much news now. If I’m looking for background noise, my new source is the Weather Channel.

  4. Lucky are those among us who can avoid much of the coming 4 years by turning off national news. Some work for the person in that position — hoping a live version of “the apprentice” does not become an executive order 😱

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    1. I hadn’t thought about it until you mentioned it, but I’m sure the coming Great Unkown is haunting government employees more than anyone else. They’ll be the most directly affected by changes in Washington, and simply turning off the tv won’t help.

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  5. I think pushback is the way to go. I’m giving in to my nasty.. We leftists are always supposed to be the nice ones. Well, to Hell with that! The operative word is NO! Said frequently and loudly!
    So goodbye, 2016. And watch out 2017, because here we come!
    Happy New Year from Hawaii Ms. Pied Type!
    Aloha,
    Marianna

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    1. I’m only a little left of center on most things, and not affiliated with any party. But I think we’re all agreed that 2016 was awful in so many ways.

      I’m reminded of Rodney King pleading “Can we all get along? Can we get along?” I’ve always believed we could … until this year. Now I have my doubts.

      Nevertheless, hope springs eternal. Happy New Year!

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  7. Dave Barry wrote a very entertaining column about the unpleasant oddness of 2016 – month by month. He didn’t spare either candidate. I’m weary of the far right and far left demanding the other side is completely in the dark. I consider myself center left.

    I’ve had some interesting conversations with some of the lovely folk I’ve met since moving to a small town and although it makes me sad when it’s apparent some are willing to deny overwhelming fact in order to hang on to their beliefs, I have a better understanding of why they feel the way they do. I’m gratified to learn little of their stance is racist however.

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    1. “Unpleasant oddness.” Haven’t seen anyone call it that before, but it certainly beats a lot of the descriptions I’ve seen. I’m sort of left center myself, overall, but it depends on the issue. I suppose a small town’s willful ignorance is better than blatant racism, but I have a tough time dealing with either. I’m just glad the year is over, although in its own way the new year may not be much better.

      For those who dare to revisit the year in detail, Berrys’s column, “Dave Barry’s Year in Review: 2016 — What the … ?,” appears in the Miami Herald. I’d have bet against it, but he actually made me chuckle a few times.

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