In The News – This Old House 2

Hope Floats

I’d like to see a bit more of this world before I leave it, and I still hope to do a little of that… but I have to be realistic in that I married a man who has a hard time being comfortable outside of his well trodden box. In recent years to help ease my wander lust I’ve taken to hiking the trails that are in abundance around our state, amazed at how many there are for the public to enjoy. The diversity of the geography of Connecticut as a state gives me a lot of options and it’s a great way for me to get exercise, too . I’m not a gym rat, I just don’t enjoy spending a lot of time in one place running or walking to nowhere. But when out in the woods or along the beaches, there’s always something to marvel at, to discover, to appreciate. And nature brings me peace.

When checking out a new trail system in Essex, CT I discovered a little free library at the trail head. I browsed the books and found a gem to take home – Following Atticus, by Tom Ryan. If you’re a nature lover, a dog lover, a lover of old souls however complex… I highly recommend his two current books and especially subscribing to his blog or “substack” a new term to me. He’s currently on a five month hiking journey driving across country with his two rescue dogs, which has become an annual trek. His photography is just beautiful… He describes his journey, the landscapes, the people he meets along the way, with kindness and an honesty that is so needed.

An excerpt from Tom’s post this morning…. and if you’re not familiar with E.B. White.. he gave us Charlotte’s Web, Stuart Little and many other stories….

_______________________________________________________

……..In 1973, White received a letter from a man who had lost his faith in humanity. Many of you have undoubtedly read White’s response, but for those who have not, here it is.

North Brooklin, Maine,
30 March 1973

Dear Mr. Nadeau:

As long as there is one upright man, as long as there is one compassionate woman, the contagion may spread and the scene is not desolate. Hope is the thing that is left to us, in a bad time. I shall get up Sunday morning and wind the clock, as a contribution to order and steadfastness.

Sailors have an expression about the weather: they say, the weather is a great bluffer. I guess the same is true of our human society — things can look dark, then a break shows in the clouds, and all is changed, sometimes rather suddenly. It is quite obvious that the human race has made a queer mess of life on this planet. But as a people we probably harbor seeds of goodness that have lain for a long time waiting to sprout when the conditions are right. Man’s curiosity, his relentlessness, his inventiveness, his ingenuity have led him into deep trouble. We can only hope that these same traits will enable him to claw his way out.

Hang on to your hat. Hang on to your hope. And wind the clock, for tomorrow is another day.

Sincerely,
E. B. White

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If you’re so inclined… his two books are Following Atticus, and Will’s Red Coat. If you would like to check out his Blog/Substack… it can be found here. I highly recommend a subscription. The visuals of his travels alone are so beautiful.

https://tomryan.substack.com/

So I’m looking at the start of a new decade and with this one in particular, the aging process really kicks in physically and mentally. There’s no question I have let myself latch on to some excuses and some fears when it comes to pushing physical boundaries to reach better fitness- I’ve let the pains that come with living an active life slow me down and I got lazy too. My number one goal is to stay relatively healthy and active till the day I die, like most of us, I suppose. I’ve contemplated many things that go hand in hand with that goal, but no. 1 for me now is to stop letting fear ( will I make my arthritic neck and hands worse?) and complacency stall me. At this point most of us have some issues- mine is some arthritis from all the years of horse and barn work, significant hearing impairment and the stress that comes with it, and the pain associated with “ fibromyalgia” , whatever that really means. Also, My stress reliever is making and eating food. Not always the healthy kind. My face is puffy, I’ve got a menopause gut, and I could lose 25 pounds and not be too thin. It’s time to stop complaining, stop fearing age and hold myself accountable. My hope is to come back with another picture that shows progress in a few months and a better path to healthier aging. Some simple changes I’ve made in recent months are increasing my hikes and walks, drinking more water and eating and preparing more healthy meals- greens, berries, nuts, fish in more abundance. Less meat, much less processed foods. Now I’m coming back to the gym just for 20 minutes of light weight training about four times a week.

Till soon, friends…

It’s been a while

Almost a year since I’ve been here, so much to cover and where do I start? I guess right where most of us are struggling at the moment or at least have some concern.

This world and this country in particular are in quite a state. Depending on your leanings, most likely you’re either cheering or you’re horrified by what we are all witnessing. There doesn’t seem to be much in between. The division among us and how intense it is, is frightening. The mistrust and misuse of our government and our news sources even more so, their integrity in tatters. My son asked me the other day…. “do you think we’ll ever come back together as a country? The divide seems so huge, runs so deep, it seems impossible. ” There are times I think that’s the likely truth… but as I said to him… I’m reminded that this country has been in upheaval before. Just magine the divide during the civil war… where the north and south had completely different views on slavery and it was a very big part of the south’s way of life and prosperity. We all know how that ended. And the young country did seem to move on, eventually, mostly and for the greater good.

I am an unaffiliated voter, my husband a dyed in the wool Republican. Many an argument has infused our cohabitation since M*G* has arrived and right now the air is so thick with the discord we could cut it with a knife here in this old house. I can’t deny our governing bodies have been ignoring major problems for a long time… overspending, over taxation of the working middle class, immigration reform, healthcare reform, our crumbling infrastructure, corporate greed… the list goes on and these are the things the Mr. brings up when I question his loyalty to his party’s current path. The failures of both parties for a long time are why we now have an orange nuclear bomb dropped right in the middle of it and the fallout reach is everywhere with it’s tentacles in absolutely everything. That is where my significant other and I are in agreement. And that’s where it ends…. because as I watch the reckless behaviors and actions and attitudes of this Tr*mp. 2 administration, as I watch women’s rights being yanked back and the rules of law being blatantly ignored, abuse of power rampant (and they are giddy with it)…. the previously trusted relationships with our allies shredded, our environmental protections discarded, our public lands under siege, the words diversity, equality and inclusion pummeled, when facts no longer matter….. I cannot help but be appalled, embarrassed, ashamed for this country. And that brings profound sadness and even disbelief that we are where we are.

But you see how far down a rabbit hole one can be dragged, and so I have to remind myself to let go on occasion and search for peace within and out there in the universe of our lives. To do good things where I am, to grow where I’m planted… to assist where I can for the greater good. No matter where you stand on all of this… I hope you’re able to do the same.

I completed my 60th year this month! Holy shit! But I’m not complaining one bit. Sixty is not old… it’s damn lucky. I’m still pretty active and I plan to continue for a long time if life permits. I hike or take long walks regularly with my best buddy/rescue dog Kai. Getting out in nature is my respite, my recharge.

My barn chores and grands keep me busy. My arthritic neck and hands remind me I’m not a spring chicken, but it’s all part of the luck of still being here and having more good days than bad. I’ve cleaned up my diet some and try to get in more greens and berries and whole foods, much less processed crap. One of the things many older people hear when they end up at a clinic with illness is that they are dehydrated. So I’m making a concerted effort to drink more water because it’s not something I crave. Hydration is important so if you do just one thing for yourself in your current state of being, drink more water.

And be grateful for every.single.day. Don’t take any of it for granted, it all goes by so damned fast.

Farm update – with the sale of our little cottage by the sea, Stella…. we’ve had more time to focus on improvements here. Up at the barn we’ve still got our mini horses, our two quarter horses, two goats and 16 or 17 chickens depending on the day’s count and my patience for doing it. We brought home a rabbit and my granddaughter Mia immediately named her Hoppy. She’s very friendly and a welcome addition to our farm family.

The grands – they’re now 2 years old and almost 2, my daughter’s son and son’s daughter. Being a “Mimi” – a name my granddaughter chose for me, is such a wonderful chapter in life. We get to experience young personhood and all the wonders and discoveries over again through their eyes, but with less responsibility, LOL. A third is on the way! I am their caregiver for a portion of each week as both moms went back to work part time and it’s so true, they keep you young! ish….

We converted my office into an art studio with a little side of toddler toys now that I am retired from my editing/writing/family business responsibilities and I have been able to dive back into my art inclinations. I’ve set oils aside and have begun exploring the world of water color, a completely different universe.

A recipe I’ve tried recently and really like – This one is so delish and refreshing. I don’t really have an opinion about Meghan, but so many do. I’m glad I don’t live anywhere near the spotlight. I give this a thumbs up. I did use spinach instead of shard and shaved parmesan instead of feta.

Meghan Markle Sussex Veggie pasta salad

Ingredients

For the pasta salad:

12 ounces paccheri or fusilli pasta

Kosher salt

1 cup English peas, shelled

1 bunch Swiss chard (about 5 cups loosely packed leaves), chopped

Optional: 1/2 bunch lacinato kale, ribs removed, chopped

3/4 cup snap peas, sliced

Optional: 1/2 zucchini, chopped

1 cup feta cheese, plus more for garnishing

2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves, plus more for garnishing

1 tablespoon fresh dill, plus more for garnishing

For the vinaigrette:

1 shallot, sliced

2 garlic cloves, grated

2 lemons, zested and juiced

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon dried chili flakes

1/3 cup olive oil Kosher salt, to taste

Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

Method

1. Create a bowl of ice-cold water and ice cubes to shock your vegetables to stop the cooking process.

2. Bring 4-6 quarts of water to a boil and season with ¼ cup salt. Blanch peas for 30 seconds and move to ice water to shock.

3. Blanch Swiss chard leaves for 45 seconds to a minute, until tender and move to ice water to shock.

4. Add enough salt to the water so it “tastes of the sea” and boil the fusilli until fully cooked according to package instructions.

5. Drain the pasta and set aside to cool.

6. Dry peas and Swiss chard on a towel until ready to use.

7. Chop chard into bite-sized pieces.

8. To make the vinaigrette, combine the shallot with the dried chilli flakes in a large bowl.

9. Add cooked and cooled pasta. Toss to combine, add chard, peas, snap peas, feta, and herbs. Toss and season to taste.

10. Serve, garnishing with more herbs, feta, and lemon as desired. Enjoy!

I don’t keep track of the traffic here anymore when blogging, but if you’re visiting and are so inclined… let me know what you’ve been up to, and if you keep a blog, where to find it! I hope all is well in your neck of the woods –

Till soon –

Where will we go from here

I’ve had some interesting conversations with some of my republican friends, and I’m encouraged that we all seem to have the same concerns. To be clear, I am politically unaffiliated and some feel that’s a cop out. For me it feels like the most honest thing I can do, because I see merit in policy on both sides of the proverbial aisle. Extremism on both sides of the spectrum aren’t sustainable or fair and it will be the downfall of our democracy if we can’t get our collective heads out of our asses. I also feel large corporations are mostly running this country, not the talking heads we elect to the top office chair, although they do have the power to inflict some real damage, as has been evident for some time. I’m paying attention, but I don’t have all the answers, I can only vote, and shake my head. But I’m not even happy with my vote options, although I’ll do it begrudgingly because right now I do feel there’s one choice much worse than the other.

Reading today’s headlines, I’ll say this…. I give Johnson credit this morning for bucking the extremist MAGA cult, knowing it might lose him his job. Paul Ryan, John Boehner and Kevin McCarthy hit the same wall. I hope more of them grow some balls and come back to a reality that is better for the health of this country. And I hope republican voters find a saner middle ground candidate.

Meanwhile… although I don’t fall for the bullshit depicting Biden as corrupt, senile, blah blah blah… it’s actually painful to watch him navigate his too old journey into what could be another four years, hard to imagine it, truthfully. While Trump becomes more nuts and corrupt and divisive with each passing moment. He’ll throw anything and anyone under the bus for his own gain or defense, and.. it’s always about him.

Voters keep seeing only what they want to see along the full political spectrum, many out of touch with what’s actually truth and what’s actually going to benefit them. We’re not collectively fighting for all of our rights, just the ones we hold dear. That’s not what this country was founded on.

Together we stand, divided we fall. Period. It’s that simple. That’s it. We deserve better, we need better. We had all better come up with… better, or this country won’t survive it in any way we would approve.

And for those looking forward to or encouraging a civil war, wake the fuck up, because I don’t know how history hasn’t taught you the most powerful and simple and truthful lesson of them all….. you could lose every single person and thing and value you hold dear, including your own life, but especially those of your loved ones. Be careful what you wish for. No one wins a war, ever. There is always always tremendous loss. For everyone.

Of Weddings and Elections and Goals, oh my…

Two weeks to go until my daughter’s wedding! What??!!! Seems like yesterday we started thinking about it and man, TIME FLIES. If you’ve done this before you already know… some of the planning is fun, some of it tedious and some of it downright nerve racking. All of it is expensive. I don’t know if this is unusual because I haven’t done this much, but in our case, the grooms family hasn’t really participated in the planning, by their choice. I’ve certainly reached out and asked if they would like to share ideas or suggestions or input of any kind, but they are just a different and distant sort of folk, for lack of a better way to describe it and wanting to be respectful. SO… as a result… this entire wedding is pretty much what my daughter and I put together with input from the groom of course. We certainly want him to feel this day is his as well as the brides.

When my daughter said yes to the dress, I quietly had some reservations. Elements of the dress were beautiful, and some elements didn’t compliment her. Not surprisingly, she felt the same when the actual dress in her size arrived and we pondered what to do about it. When we met with the tailor for the standard alterations, we made a great team, the three of us. We made some big changes that really brought it together beautifully thanks to the tailors talents, of course…. and I am so happy for my daughter, she loves it and I love that! I’ll show you the before and afters, after the wedding.

Regarding the state of the world, of all the upheaval, the greed, the corruption, the absolute evil, the continued erosion of our environment and culture and government and want for truths and justice and equal rights for all, affordable living for all, freedom to live as we wish, women’s rights… the list goes on and on and on….. this crazy crazy election season (WTF is the best and easiest way to express it) and the cult environment I would never have believed possible had I not been witnessing it myself….. it leaves me almost speechless when I try to make sense of it all, and that’s one heck of a statement because I don’t have trouble speaking my mind. I wouldn’t have believed where we are now was at all possible… I always thought of us as a forwarded moving country, building a stronger, kinder, wiser nation. Sadly, we’re going backwards in so many ways, and so many people are cheering it on and even hoping for civil war, willfully ignoring the dangers of all of it and also ignoring the lessons of past history. How it’s lost on these people that they, too, could lose everything that means anything to them should something of this nature break out, is beyond my comprehension. We are capable of better healthcare, an end to homelessness, fair tax laws, fair wage, freedom and equality for all, border control, better education, repaired and stronger infrastructure, and on and on and on. But our government can’t get out of it’s own way, our party system has become cult-like, it’s failing us all by not functioning together like two wings on the same bird. Ultimately, human nature is apparently failing us all. Except not all of us are guilty of it. But it takes the whole village to want it and to cooperate, and that we do not have.

And that’s all I’ve got to say about that for the time being. You see how that train of thought’s tracks run all over the place.

Goals… I’ve still got the same ones… better health tweaks I sometimes do and sometimes don’t, lose some weight, keep going with the exercise, find inspiration where I can, do good where I can, live my “dash” as fully as is possible. Below is the latest painting on my easel, still work to do on it, but I haven’t decided how I want to round it out….. I’ll come back to it as inspiration rises…. This is swan hill overlooking the Connecticut river, a hike I’ve taken a few times, admiring the view.

Till soon,

A Snow Day

Years ago we’d get many of these through the course of a New England winter. Now, not so much. It makes life easier for my guys, because they’re responsible for a lot of snow plowing, and it makes life easier for me when it comes to the barn chores for sure…. but… one can’t help but wonder what it means for our climate in general. Our shorelines are being decimated every time we have a storm of any kind, seaside cottages, homes, beaches being washed away, roads and basements flooding as the water rises and the winds/rains become more harsh.

Today is the first real snow we’ve had of the season and it is beautiful. The dogs rejoiced as they ran out into it at 5 am this morning, and then quickly retreated once business was done because brrrrr.

Everyone and their brother, third cousin and Great Aunt Evelyn and her neighbor were out grocery shopping yesterday due to the prediction of heavy snow, including the grands, who met up in the baby food Aisle with their moms in tow. They recognized each other immediately with smiles and giggles.

We met with the wedding coordinators at the facility for my girl’s wedding and they are such a lovely group of people, this is such a relief. They helped me herd all the cats – planning a wedding is such a big undertaking nowadays and I’m not experienced with these things at all. I thank you for your suggestions on which dress I’ll wear, and it was unanimous – so I decided to go with dress B. Below is the 1902 mansion where the ceremony and reception will be held, a lovely old sea captains home by the sea, a simple ceremony to be held on the back lawn if weather permits. This mansion has not been updated in a very long time, so it has the old world charm still intact, which I love.

Regarding the orange scream, that piece of shit is still giving Putin high fives , all he talks about are the revenges he will execute, no regard for the law and so far has yet to be held solidly accountable. He jumbles words just as much as the other old man some want to disparage, even jumbles history! and lies outright, over and over again. Now and once again attacking yet another military man, this time his opponent’s husband, for being “absent” as she campaigns- the man is DEPLOYED, something he would have no understanding of as he was a draft dodging cadet bone spurs. And where is Maleficent? Nowhere near him. She’s not stupid, I’ll give her that. This country deserves so much better – I pray for all of us every day, that someone of strength and integrity and vitality and ability to lead comes on the scene and saves our sorry ass government before it’s too late. It almost feels too late, we are so far down this divided rabbit hole of untruths and unbridled fury. This is no longer about “policy”, of which I hold a mixed bag. It’s about decency, humanity, security, democracy.

Sadly in this house we have never been more divided than we are in the current political atmosphere. As an unaffiliated voter, I try to keep an open mind and vote according to what I believe are our most pressing needs at each election. The husband is a staunch Republican. Which hasn’t been a significant problem until such a raging narcissistic asshole took control of his party. Now if I see Faux news on in the man cave, I walk back out.

*Sigh… it is what it is.

Till soon, friends – May sanity and peace ultimately prevail.

Recovery

So. I don’t normally get this kind of personal up in here, but I feel like writing about it will be therapeutic.

At my last gyno check up it was discovered my uterus walls had “thickened” and polyps were present. One very painful biopsy experience later, it was determined the old girl needed to be removed to avoid future cancer possibility and they needed to be sure there wasn’t any lurking. While I hated the idea of major surgery, I’m all for cancer avoidance where ever possible.

Monday was surgery day – and I’m here to say all went well, pathology benign much to my relief, but man, it feels like I was punched in the gut for 10 hours straights. It surprises me that this is practically a drive-thru surgery – I mean, they’re removing an organ through four holes they make in your abdomen, and then some elsewhere. I’m no fan of hospitals, being home is probably safer in the germ category. But jeez, you’d think they’d want to make sure all your systems were GO again, after such a shock to the body. As soon as I was awake and able to stand, they had me clothed and escorted to the waiting car. I don’t even want to know what positions they put you in during surgery, my back is still screaming of it.

So I’m home, not lifting anything more than 10 pounds, resting, walking, drinking fluids, taking as minimal an amount of pain meds as possible because my stomach never likes them. God bless Peapod grocery delivery. My family is doing much of what I usually do, they’ve been great – and the frustration is obvious too, because they do have all their usual “stuff”. I think once I’m healed and back to normal activities they will have a little more appreciation for all I get done around here on the regular…. just sayin.

I have rewatched Virgin River, because I LOVE VR!!… and might rewatch the last season of Outlander because DITTO!!. Watched the first season of True Detectives with Woody Harrelson and Matthew Machonagy (that’s spelled wrong, I’m certain) – loved it. Watched 1000 pound sisters and BY GOD I’M DETERMINED TO LOSE THIS EXTRA 25 pounds!!!!!!!!!. That’s a sad show – I feel they are being exploited. Watched The Marsh King’s daughter – worthy! I have books on my night table but haven’t felt like picking one up for some reason. Lazy, I think. It’s probably the drugs.

So that’s where I’m at. Looking forward to a better week ahead and the week after that, getting back to more normal life here on the farm. I hope all is well in your world –

oh just one more thing…. I cannot believe… I just cannot…. that we have before us the possibility of another four years of absolute integrity disintegration and mayhem with The Orange Scream in the oval office. I just…. can’t. Canada is looking so attractive. Maybe the Amalfi Coast, though. Where would you pick up and start over again if you could take all those who matter to you, with you?

Till soon –

Four days later….

Two posts in one week? Welp… it’s dark and damp and chilly outside and while the barn chores beckon, they can sleep for another hour, yet I cannot… so here I sit. Middle middle age has not been kind in the sleep department. I wish I had a good solution for that.

I used to talk politics a little (well, mostly my outrage) here on this blog but I’ve tried to get away from it as much as is responsibly possible for my own sanity. What I will say is I am truly so discouraged by the state of things in this country regarding our governing bodies. The infighting that prevents solving our critical issues, the division between civilians, not just our elected officials. The corruption, the egos, the greed, the failures.

Out of that rabbit hole we go… On to more cheerful things… and one place I find solace is in the writings of a now deceased author who’s words still ring true for me in all matter of things,……. Gladys Taber. I wrote more about her here in THIS blog post if you’re interested. AND.. if you’re a Gladys fan already, I just discovered I ordered a book of hers that I already have in my collection. So, I’ll happily ship it off, once it arrives, to one of you if interested. Let me know in the comments and one lucky person will receive it. The Best of Stillmeadow is the volume I refer to. Her books are no longer in print so I find them occasionally on old book seller sites.

Some snapshots of my days here on the farm….

These photos above and below taken days apart – New England weather fluctuates tremendously. No jacket one day, hats and gloves the next.

Sometimes you just buy your own damn flowers 🙂

Sunset on our hill

My heart 💗💗

My favorite folksy artist… Jane Newland out of the UK

Words to live by……

Till soon –

My Sunshine

Being a grandmother is something I have looked forward to since my kids grew into adults. I have missed the baby stage and all those in between.. with the exception of the moody teenager who knows everything everywhere all at once, with attitude. Our grandson was born six weeks early and spent two weeks in the NICU just to be certain he was strong enough to come home with his parents. He was and he is thriving, having had his first pediatric check up yesterday with a glowing report. He is my little sunshine and I am so very proud of the mother my daughter became instantly. I love that my own mother gets the chance to be a great grandmother, too.

My daugher-in-law is due with baby girl in May, stay tuned! She sent me a picture she found of a beautiful easy-to-make spring centerpiece and I absolutely love it. So easy to throw together, too…. use a clear vase – almost any shape will do… a bunch of carrots with the greens still attached, a handful of tulips… put the carrots in the vase with greens sticking out of the top, place tulips in the center of the greens, and fill with water 🥕 🌹

The above is mine, and below is my neighbor’s 🐇 – love the purple tulips!

With the warmer weather I’m more inclined to get out for walks/hikes and get those recommended 10,000 daily steps in. That’s harder than it would seem, but I have been managing to come close and if I take an extended hike/walk I surpass it. Of course, I’m using my phone health app to monitor and I don’t wear my phone on my person at all times, so it’s possible I’m getting quite a bit more in than what’s recorded. A recent physical indicated elevated cholesterol, which runs in my family, but a subsequent scan of arteries reveals no disease and I really really want to stay away from statins so I’m tweaking my diet (plenty of room to improve!) and sticking to a decent exercise routine. Can you believe I still haven’t lost the 25 pounds I’d like to lose? Oh, it comes off in little bits and then jumps right back up to that yucky number. I’m not giving up though… for me, it’s what I’m putting in my mouth, not a lack of working out. Ask me how much I love food though! It’s my drug of choice and I like to cook and bake for others, which kinda sucks when there’s a weight loss goal to be achieved.

Bob’s Pond and Hammonasset River Trail with my trail buddy, Kai. Yesterday was a beautiful spring day, so we took advantage of the inspiration and explored land trust trails.

The sight and sound of the roiling river was music to my soul. As a hearing impaired person, to be able to still hear this force of water is a gift 🙂

I could talk about the horror of the newest school shooting and that hideous fact that death by fire arms is now the leading cause of death for children in this country, but I am so weary and so disgusted by the lack of any action by the powers that be… and for all the wrong reasons… but I’ll leave it here with my mother’s words below…

*Thoughts and Prayers*

Let’s send thoughts and prayers again.

It worked the last time

and the time before that and the one before that.

It did work, it must have

because we haven’t done much of anything else!

Thoughts and prayers because it can’t be guns.

The NRA says it’s not and they would know

and tell us the truth.

They don’t benefit from a flush gun industry.

Do they?

Thoughts and prayers because….

the Second Amendment says that’s all that’s allowed

according to the NRA and many legislators.

Besides guns don’t kill people, people kill people.

People kill children.

People kill children with guns.

We can put flowers outside the schools, the churches,

the synagogues, the mosques, the supermarkets.

That’s allowed,

Along with the thoughts and prayers, of course.

Just not sensible gun laws.

Meaningful legislation is not necessary.

It will upset the NRA, the Gun Lobby, the Insurrectionists,

the White Supremacists.

Limited magazines not necessary, background checks at gun shows

not necessary!

So, here we are, left with thoughts and prayers

And flowers.

Always the flowers and the candles, against the fences.

As for more mass shootings

Well, tomorrow’s another day.

Mourning in America!

I’m not a religious person but I find myself praying for us all .. often. I hope all is well in your neck of the woods, thank you for taking the time to stop in here, your comments and thoughts are always appreciated .

Sometimes you just can’t look away from the train wreck

I have been trying to ignore all the political bullshit for my own sanity and I don’t have a “side” or a leaning- except toward rational , common sense, humane and better together mentality. ( for those of you who call me a liberal and as if it’s a dirty word, well if those qualities listed above are a dirty word to you, you’re the damaged one) I vote accordingly, sometimes R, sometimes D but I believe the party system is now failing us big time. But what I am truly saddened by, what is most alarming to me is the mentality of the new Republican Party. Dear friends who are lifelong republicans are expressing the same dismay and some have actually changed to independents. So many hypocrisies. Remember the Incessant Lock her up , Lock him up… but if it’s their guy, no fair going after political opponents, it’s unAmerican. In a time when we are still swamped with healthcare crisis, mental health crisis, poverty, homelessness, how many school shootings and mass shootings is it now per year in this country, crumbling infrastructure, border and immigration issues, the fallout from a pandemic, the list goes on…. R s are focusing on book banning, period regulating, banning people who like to dress up in drag( been happening since the Dawn of time, folks) uterus regulating ( do you think that would ever ever ever happen with a man’s genitals?) and even when it is proven by their own words!! News outlets Exposed! That they knew they lied about big things and they didn’t even like the entity they were promoting and lifting – there are no consequences. Zip. Business as usual.

What. The. fuck.

And all the while, we the people continue our infighting and the great divide widens and I do not understand how every single one of us doesn’t understand that will be our end. Divided we will fall- all because some powerful talking heads twisted our truths and some of us, enough of us.. fell for it.

If you think China and Russia aren’t watching with utter glee our unraveling, well what more to be said…. That.

I literally pray that we the people, all of us, remember why we came together in the first place and what truly made us great, and find a better way than what we are currently electing. Otherwise, we are so very very fucked.

I’m just trying to get home

It is almost unfathomable that all five men, officers, who beat Tyre Nichols to death participated in such a disgusting, hideous, inhumane act. All five of them .. on one unarmed man. Spraying, tasing, Kicking him in the head! Repeatedly. So far, it appears there was no justification for the traffic stop. Is there really any wonder he ran for his life? His last words were Momma… momma, momma… who’s house was 100 yards away. Every mother was called right then.

When I heard about this I admittedly assumed these officers would be white… because we have heard that narrative before, haven’t we. Shockingly, they were all black. Which makes this even more heartbreaking if that’s even possible .

So many things wrong here. Why such murderous violence, of course… why is skin color ever a part of the equation and yet it’s one of the first assumptions we make when we hear a story like this, am I right? Many layers too- violence and crime numbers are up, we idolize and elect politicians who promote violence, we sell video games that promote violence, we can’t even pass sensible gun laws in this country ( for the 1,oooth time, no one is looking to take away the guns of law abiding citizens). How many mass shootings in the US in the past week alone? We don’t address poverty or mental illness effectively.

Another layer- the distrust and distain these hideous events cause for all the law enforcement out there who put their own lives in jeopardy every day and with the best of intentions and sometimes put in the worst of situations to protect us all. Having two members of our family serving or served as police officers, the danger they and their families live with, the crap they have to put up with and many do with integrity and good will and tremendous courage and grit , it’s also amazing anyone is still willing to put themselves in that position.

And how it’s lost on anyone that violence and damage and looting to protest violence is just one wrong after another and feeds the flame and the stigma .. is beyond me. It’s no solution, it’s simply an excuse for more of the same. But when you feel you are repeatedly unheard, what are your options? More layers.

I hesitated to post about this because what does my two cents really matter, but Jesus, just ignoring something so awful feels really wrong.