Oh, lord luv a duck! The 10-day forecast shows Friday at 112F. We are building a high-pressure ridge that will last a while. Of course, that’s a few days out, it can, and probably will change, several times betwixt now and then. Yep, it just changed to 113! At those temps, one or two more or less ain’t gonna feel any different. Gotta get our ducks and geese in sync and have them flap their wings!! No, not ours, the ones in Beijing and Seoul … (where’s that butterfly when we need him?)
Ladies and Gentlemen, I Hereby Present…(drum roll please)
A gen-u-ine American Prodigy, Miss Alena Analeigh Wicker, 13 years old and on her way to Medical School. Not in five years, but now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zaQgbACc1E
According to the article on MedPageToday she is “more than 10 years younger than the average incoming medical student,”
She claims, in the article that she is “still a normal 13-year-old” and I say no, she’s not. Being where she is at her age takes more than time management skills, or good study habits. It takes drive, intelligence, and a family that backs her. She has also started an organization to provide “opportunities to girls of color who are interested in exploring careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.” She was 11 or 12 when she did that.
In her spare time (yes, she apparently has spare time) she plays soccer, and participates in track and field.
In reading the comments, well, many of them, on the article, I didn’t read any about research—that doesn’t mean they weren’t there, it means I didn’t see/read them. My guess is she will go straight into research, rather than practice. Maybe if/when she tires of research, she will have the life experiences she will need for clinical work. Should she ever tire of research.
I hope you’ll go to the page and read the article about her, and maybe at least some of the comments. And Huzzahs!!! to Ms. Alena Analeigh Wicker and her parents!!!
My trip to the Dark Side was wonderful. It was warm but not hot, cool enough to be comfortable. It was good to see my friends again. I will be going back over in mid-August for a while.
A friend offered her yard to dry my quilt, so I will coordinate with her and treat my quilt and get it to her house to lay on the grass. First, I need to get stuff unpacked and put away, and get the puppy all the loves n hugs he missed during my absence.
It surely is good to be home, but I already miss my friends. I did make it home in time to watch the last Hearing of the January 6 committee. I can hardly wait until September when the next ones will be held.
Photos of the Week:
These babies are maybe a week old, and they scoot around the pond so fast a couple of times they almost walked on the water. We call the babies “motorboats” for the way they scoot.This duck is ‘dabbling’ and has more fun than all the others. Most of them use their feet to maintain balance, this one seems to like splashing and having fun. I’m not sure why the pic is so small.
I have a few new reviews posted—four, actually. I am reading a lot more fiction of late, which normally goes faster than nonfiction. Finished A Trifle Dead and totally loved it. Brain Candy for sure, but hey, we need brain candy now and then. Indeed, all four books I have posted reviews of since last we spoke, are brain candy—Kill Three Birds is a marvelous book in a new world. Wow! and The House at Mermaid’s Cove and Secrets of Willow House, are both fun, feel-good type books. If you like Maeve Binchy’s books, check out the last two.
Something about the drive home that made me wish I’d had some Glen Campbell to keep me company. Fortunately, the sun was mostly behind me (I try to make my trips to take advantage of that. No fun driving with the sun in my eyes) maybe it was seeing the lineman up on a pole that made me feel some nostalgic for a lineman I used to know, and Glen Campbell. Anyhow, enjoy.
“There’s no pillow as soft as a clear conscience.” —Glen Campbell
“I’ve laughed, and I’ve cried. Laughing has got it over crying.” —Glen Campbell
“I gave John Wayne the push he needed to get that Oscar.” —Glen Campbell
The Brave Dog was some glad to see me. I was walking down to the apt. when he was leading Dan out for a walk. Took him a minute to realize that was me. He didn’t want to go walking with Dan right then, he wanted me to sit and snuggle. That sounded pretty good to me 😉
Aw shucks, what can I say? It’s gonna be some warm with more sun than clouds mostly in the 90s & up. It’s okay, unless it gets too humid. Come on down….
Not a Rant:
I truly do appreciate y’all allowing me my now and then rant, but ya know what? They are somewhat exhausting to write. Hope they aren’t too hard on you to read.
So, when I lived in ABQ, I put a quilt top together, and pieced the backing. Then, I moved back here, so packed it. The other day, I decided to dig it out of Shed 54 (my storage unit) and bring it home to finish. I found it, brought it home, and unfolded it to iron and butter my butt and call me a biscuit! Not only was the top pinned to the back (no batting in the ‘sandwich’ as this is a summer quilt) but I’d started quilting, and as luck would have it, I still had the same thread. I set my machine up and started quilting. Now, when I pin a quilt together, I use small curved stainless-steel pins, and I seldom fasten them, then as I quilt, I remove them. Wow. I was sore for several days from patting my back at how smart I was to have it already to go.
Yeah. Right. I got the first 3 or 4 rows quilted, and then ran into a rusted pin. Not only was the pin rusted, it was rusted to the fabric. Draw something to scale that is 65” on top and bottom, and 91” on the sides. Every five inches horizontal and vertical, put a pencil dot. Now, just for grins, go in and randomly erase any 20-25 dots you want. Yeah, what’s left are the rust zits on my quilt.
Fortunately, my ex-neighbors in Florida worked in a hospital and had access to the salespersons, and got me a good, metal forceps. They used theirs for joints, I use mine to pull the quilting needle when it’s got too much fabric on it. Or, if the rusted pin has melded with the fabric, I use it to pull the pin out. So not only does my quilt have rust zits all over it, there are also some wee teensy holes.
I have the bestest families—but you already know that—both of blood and of choice, and I’ve got cousins and sisters of choice who quilt and I put the word out, and they in turn put the word out—how does one get rust out of fabric??
One does NOT use bleach, unless one has Stop Bleach (Sodium Thiosulfate) at hand. I don’t. But several people suggested white vinegar and sunshine. Of course, they weren’t thinking of a huge quilt, and their directions read almost like Martha Steward wrote them. Lay the fabric on a clean, old, folded towel, pour a bit of vinegar on the spot, let set a minute or so, blot with a clean cloth and place fabric in the sunshine to dry. The combination of white vinegar and sunlight should cause the rust spots to fade. I can’t deal with the pouring of the vinegar on each and every zit on the quilt let alone using something to politely dab it on—I’m going to buy a gallon of it, put the quilt in a tub, add vinegar, and agitate every so often. Alas, I have to do this at someone else’s home because though I’ve got the sun (see weather above) I don’t have the space to lay the quilt out. Unless I float it on the pond, and I think that would upset the ducks. The geese would just walk on it. And the turtle? Who knows what she’d do?
Seriously, there is no place big enough to lay it out that has that much sun. We have a lot of trees, so though we get sun, it’s spotty. A couple hours here, a couple hours there…and we have ducks, geese, turtles, frogs, dogs, and kids. For the most part, the dogs are leashed.
I’m going to visit friends this next week, and though they live on the Dark Side of the mountains, they may actually get sun for an hour or two (snicker/snort), and they do have a couple of yards big enough, I hope, to lay the quilt out, if not on the grass, on the bushes. So, perhaps, I’ll have a ‘new’ quilt next week. Summer quilts are nice on cool nights when a sheet isn’t enough, and a regular quilt with a filling of some sort is too much. They were/are used a lot in the South in the summers, hence the name.
Speaking of turtles… a few days ago was the first I knew we had any in the pond, and the ladies who told me said it was pretty big, maybe 8” wide by 10” long (shell size guestimate), they had found it in the road and put it back in the pond. I got ready to run a couple errands on Thursday about noon, and there was a huge turtle in our yard. She had dug a hole and was laying eggs, I stood ‘guard’ so no one would pick her up and put her back in the pond—and one gal came by, saw her, and reached for her before I could stop her and ask her to leave her alone. When I explained why, she stopped, and looked, and allowed as how it was pretty neat. I waited a bit longer, and she covered the nest in fact it’s pretty hard to see. I marked it with a big rock next to it, not on top, until facilities can come by and paint around it, or something. Don’t think the riding mower will do the eggs any good, but anyhow, I have pictures and one video of mama turtle laying eggs and covering nest. She then started heading someplace not safe for her, so I picked her up and put her near the pond. She wasted no time to get back in the water.
Photos of the Week:
Yep, that me inside of Roses Cantina, having almost finished a quart of Margarita! I could still walk when I left 😉If there is no picture, click on the ‘start’ triangle to see Mama Turtle. I’m not sure ‘mama’ is a proper term, she lays the eggs, covers them, then goes back to the pond with no maternal instinct. They should hatch around mid September.
Books: Remember, if I finish a book, I review and post it to http://lenoragood.blogspot.com I needed something a bit more uplifting after the last Allende book which I haven’t finished, and may never. Especially if none of you have read it and can assure me it’s not truly a downer all the way through. So, I opened my phone, and found one I’d downloaded some time ago, A Trifle Dead (Café La Femme Mystery Book 1 of 3) —by Livia Day. A lot of people are, I strongly suspect, closet readers of Cozy mysteries. I, my friends, am so far out of that closet, I don’t even know where it is anymore. This one takes place in Tasmania, and one of the supporting characters is a Scot from the Auld Sod, itself. I have to give Ms. Day credit, it’s very difficult to write believable accents, and she does a marvelous job of it. Not over done, but enough to add spice to the story, and make me homesick for a place I’ve never been. I’m about 27% of the way through the book, and it is fun. Of course, by 30% it could downhill on a runaway rollercoaster—but I don’t think so.
Earworms:
El Paso, Marty Robbins. Yes, Rose’s Cantina is real, that’s where I got a top shelf margarita—a whole 32 ounces in a quart canning jar. Fortunately it was a lot more mix and less tequila because I drank the whole thing. Oh, if you ever get to visit, the food (and drink) is (are) wonderful, but please, don’t play the song. The staff will appreciate you more.
Big Iron, Marty Robbins. Yeah, I like Marty Robbins. And I like the Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs. Shucks, if Marty sang it, I love it.
Seven Spanish Angels, Willie Nelson & Ray Charles. Two of the all-time greats, together.
“Sewing small pieces together gives me a peaceful heart and a quilt to wrap you with, my love.” ― Benita Skinner
“Our lives are like quilts – bits and pieces, joy and sorrow, stitched with love.” ― Unknown
“After all, a woman didn’t leave much behind in the world to show she’d been there. Even the children she bore and raised got their father’s name. But her quilts, now that was something she could pass on.” ― Sandra Dallas
The Brave Dog here. She is in getting more coffee, so I jumped up on her chair. Back to the turtle–believe me, it wasn’t even worth a sniff, let alone worrying about. Humans! But I have to admit, my human checks the walkway and driveway with her hand before she lets me walk. That’s because she does’t want my wee feets burned. Favorite walking time is early in the morning or after sunset in the evening. See, my human really does love me. Okay, she’s coming back, I’d best get this posted so she’ll think she did it before she filled her cup.
Continuation of the Rant, but hopefully a bit quieter.
If the Supremes want to know why they are losing, or have lost, our respect, they have nothing more to do than look in a mirror! At least the six who want a Theocracy.
One of the prime tenets of our country as proposed and envisioned by the Founding Fathers, was the strongly worded first clause in the Bill of Rights, known as the Establishment Clause (Separation of Church and State). Obviously, 2/3 of the Supremes think it’s time to change that part. We are now supporting not just public schools, but church schools with our tax dollars. It is now permissible to pray on the field before and after a game. Obviously, these good Christians have never read Matthew 6:6 NIV, “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” [italics mine] You can say all the prayers you desire to say quietly, in your mind, or go into your room.
If my tax dollar is going to go for all that religion, then I want all churches/religious property taxed like all businesses are taxed in their town, county, etc., with NO exceptions. I don’t care what religion you belong to, that’s your business, but I don’t want to pay for it unless it’s going to contribute to the fiscal welfare of the country. That’s my business. I ‘m a Vet and I pay taxes.
The First Amendment Encyclopedia, Presented by the John Seigenthaler Chair of Excellence in First Amendment Studies has an excellent article about the First Amendment. Remember this is NOT a Christian nation, but a nation founded by a disparate bunch of Christians, and even they couldn’t agree on any one church. And if you get your knickers in a knot over that remember, if you allow one religion in, you must allow all religions in—Hindu, Buddhist, Shinto, Satanist, all the Native American ones which have a better right than all the others, Jew, Muslim, Rastafarian, Pastafarian, ad infinitum, ad nauseum.
Most definitely is this a slippery slope, and what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. If you’re going to put the ten commandments up on public land, then you must also put the equivalent of all other religions that request the same consideration. The same for Solstice celebrations, especially the winter one. And why anyone wants to worship a God of War, is beyond me. Especially when his alleged son allegedly said, (Matthew 5:17 NIV), “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” [italics mine]
These idiots aren’t Pro-Life (they are Forced-Birth), if they were Pro-Life, they would vote in some of the strictest gun laws ever. They would happily give up their automatic weapons. They would care for the baby not just in utero but also once born, instead of tossing it back on the woman who was forced to have it. Nicholas Kristof has a good column titled, “How Can this Be ‘Pro-Life’?” Theresa M. Hanafin, Globe Staff columnist writing Fast Forward has some words to say in her column on 14 Jun 22, and Alexendra Petri of the Washington Post (and the primary reason I pay for my subscription to same) writes with her usual wit, snark, and intelligence, “We must protect life from conception until the moment of birth! Once you have been born, you are a nuisance, and, possibly, a woman.” And Ja’han Jones writes that, “We need to call abortion bans what they are: Slavery” All this time you thought it was just me being snarky!
You have the freedom to worship any god you so choose. You have the freedom to raise your children in that manner. And when they reach majority, they will have the freedom to change if they so desire. Your place of worship has the freedom to pay taxes, and if they are going to use my tax dollars to spread their mythology, then they should pay taxes like all other businesses. They’ve gotten a free ride long enough. You also have the freedom to NOT have an abortion unless you want one.
And on a somewhat happier note, at least for me and the women in uniform, Limited Abortions Will Continue On DOD Bases Despite Roe v. Wade Reversal. Could be iffy in some states such as Texas where they have joint jurisdiction, but they can always send the patient to another state on Temporary Duty (TDY) for a few days of training.
I have known women who had abortions, and not one of them entered into the procedure without a great deal of soul searching. All were performed after discussing with their doctor, and all were deemed necessary. And, because they were legal, the women survived, and later became happy mothers of healthy children. I’ve also known some who had back-alley abortions and though they survived, with complications, they were not able to have children later, healthy or otherwise. And I love that so many of the men are rushing to get vasectomies! Bet the Supremes didn’t think there were enough real men out there to do that. (And I bet none of them would even consider it.)
And for the (sick) joke of the week, this is a quote from Mike Pence, as told to Breitbart, “Having been given this second chance for life, we must not rest and must not relent until the sanctity of life is restored to the center of American law in every state in the land.” I say it’s sick humor because these are the same people who, when the baby they forced the female to carry is born, they no longer want anything to do it, ‘Not my problem, little lady, I didn’t have the kid’ and the highest number of government sanctioned killings go on in their states. Where is the sanctity of life there? Huh? Huh???
“Right-wingers like Pence do not believe that abortion should be a state’s issue, but a universal rights issue — for the fetus. A national abortion ban would invert the legal architecture of abortion rights so that a fetus, rather than the person carrying it, is seen as the protected individual in the eyes of federal law.” [I read this on Tuesday last, copied it, got sidetracked and deleted the article from whence it came. I apologize profusely to the author and if you can let me know who s/he is, I’ll give credit where it’s due.]
What a bunch of hypocrites! They want the baby born, and then don’t want any responsibility to see that it has proper food, medical care, dental care, education, clothing, love. I think they want them to grow up so they can use them as target practice or put them to death in their prisons. These people are NOT pro-life, they are forced-birth haters of women. Damn! They’re really trying to send me off on another rant. But I shall persevere. They shan’t win. For now.
Phew! I think I got it all out of my system. At least until the next time the Supremes kick me in the nether regions. I considered not publishing this, but then I re-read it, made a couple changes, and here it is. The last rant for a while. I hope.
Photos of the Week:
Because you were so king to let me rant for 3 weeks straight, I promise I won’t do it again until the next time. Honest. Trust me. Also, instead of still shots, I’m giving you videos. I hope. If I can figure all this out.
c
Pond scum, a little dabble do ya, pond scum, you look so dabbleair!
I dearly love Isabel Allende’s books—fiction, nonfiction, recipes. So when I saw a new one by her had come out, or at least new to my eyeballs, I grabbed it, Island Beneath the Sea. I am 37% through with the book, and I need to take a break. It’s very well written, but I’m finding it somewhat depressing. Have any of you read it? What did you think? Do I want to pick it up and finish it, or let it sit? I have the strangest feeling there is not going to be a Happy Ever After when I finish it.
Earworms: Since most of you are probably somewhat familiar with the Christian songs/hymns, I thought I’d stretch your idea of Holy Music just a tad. I hope you enjoy these. They are all relatively short.
“Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich.” —Napoleon Bonaparte
“Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful.” — Lucius Annaeus Seneca
“The more I study religions the more I am convinced that man never worshipped anything but himself.” —Richard Burton
Sammy is loving the warmer weather. Says it’s not quite like where he came from, we do have a bunch more humidity, but at least it’s warm. And we now have the back patio more or less fenced off, and he loves it when one of us are out there and he can come sleep in the sun. It’s quite delightful to have the window open at night for a bit of the cool to come in.;-) Have a marvelous week wherever you live. Remember, the sun is always shining. Sometimes you need a really, really, REALLY tall extension ladder to get above the clouds…
Happy National Firecracker Day. Frankly, since the Supreme Court has once again made slavery legal in those States that want it, I’m not in a celebratory mood. Fortunately, Washington, Oregon, and California, as well as about half the other States, are not going along with it.
Weather in the Tries: (It’s ok to drool. Better yet, come visit)
What is Freedom? Part 2
Continuation of the Rant, but somewhat toned down. Maybe.
I’m still mad as hell. Why does a minority of conservative Christians think they get to force everyone to their way of thinking? Why do they think they have the only true way to live? What makes them so sure theirs is the One True god? When they die, I hope they are judged by their god according to the tenets they are trying to cram down the majority’s throat.
Who cares if Jack and Joe want to get married? I don’t. How will their marriage affect yours? It won’t, unless you are currently married to either Jack or Joe, then you might have a dog in that fight. And if Jack and Joe decide they want to adopt or hire a surrogate, good on them. I’ve known a few gay couples who raised great kids who were not gay. And the kids were far happier with two dads or two moms than many I’ve known in a traditional marriage. Especially a marriage where the man of the house thought he was the head of the house in all things and the woman of the house his indentured servant, to be freed on either her or his death. Yes, I’ve known a few like that, especially in the evangelical churches to which I at one time belonged.
Gayness is a pathology, not a psychology. It is not a choice. It’s hardwired before birth. And if it’s so wrong then why does that evangelical god create them that way? He’s really mucked up, isn’t he, if roughly 10% of his created humans are LGBTQ? Oh. Wait. Humans weren’t created, they evolved. Everyone knows that, don’t they?
As you by now know, I don’t do numbers. But there is an excellent article on the literal cost of overturning Roe v. Wadethat I think you might like to read. Seriously. As the author, Kate Bahn says, “Bodily autonomy interacts with self-determination across society, including the economy.” It’s not a long article. Read it. Think about it.
If you’re of childbearing age, and you think you’re smart enough to know your own body (and if you’re a friend of mine, you are), I think you might want to get yourself a good education and immigrate to some country in Europe, or perchance Canada. Someplace where there is a stable government, with a long shelf-life, and where religion is relegated to that part of society to which it belongs—the church, temple, synagogue, mosque, etc. Take your education someplace where it, and you, will be appreciated.
If you’re in a same sex relationship, consider moving you and your spouse, and children you may have, and do the same thing. You owe this country nothing. They certainly don’t want you here. And with your education and brains, go where you’re wanted and respected. If you work for a large multinational company and you can transfer within your company, by all means consider it.
You don’t know how it hurts me to write what I just wrote. I’m a veteran, I served my country for 9 years 5 months 23 days, and was proud of both my service and my country. Well, most of the time my country. Remember what I said last week about ignorance being a treatable condition? Well, I’m undergoing treatment. It truly is Amerikkka. Please consider my time in service a gift to you and for you. I truly don’t know if I think it’s even worth fighting for at this point. Maybe I’m just old and tired. If I didn’t live on the enlightened west coast, I think I’d try for some other country. Perchance the Netherlands. Maybe even Scotland and go for one of the outer Hebrides.
If you aren’t free to love the person you love, openly and without fear, you aren’t free. If man-made laws forbid you to love someone for any reason, you aren’t free. If marriage means giving yourself completely to the one you love, but only for a certain minority, it’s a poor marriage. Years ago, I was a rape crisis counselor, and in the training we took, we learned some interesting facts. Somehow, I don’t think they’ve changed much, and they certainly put a different light on these new laws. The most cases of incest came from evangelical families where the man was the head of the house. Are you surprised? Think Roman Catholic Church. Think Southern Baptist Church. Nobody can love his little girl like Daddy can.
Photos of the Week:
Mama Two Duck and her babies. They are at least double in size.They scrabble up the bank fairly quickly, and Mama was right behind.
Books: Remember, if I finish a book, I review and post it to http://lenoragood.blogspot.com and I have four new ones added.
I bought this book for my Kindle Fire, and ‘saved’ it for a special occasion. That came on the day I spent 10 hours in the hospital while a friend had open heart surgery. I not only enjoyed the book, but, believe me, I needed it! (The surgery was a success, thanks for asking.)
If you’re of an age, and believe me, I am, and faced with the intricacies of Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and the rest of today’s technologies, this is the book to read. No, it isn’t a ‘how to’ book, it’s a great romp through George Takei’s learning and mastering same. He makes it sound so simple, so easy, and at the same time, doesn’t make me feel like I’m such a dunce.
It’s like having Mr. Sulu explain all the electronics on the bridge of the Enterprise in language I can actually understand. (But, in that dreamy bass voice of his, would I even hear the words, or just the music?)
For anyone with a great sense of humor, who loves all the geeky stuff, who loves cats, the internet (ok, and George Takei;-) this is the book for you! A fun read, just what the Doctor ordered! Take with lots of laughs, a few chuckles, and a humongous smile!
My only complaint was the pictures were small, and I couldn’t get them to expand. That’s not Mr. Takei’s fault, that’s Mr. Kindle’s fault.
“Normal is not something to aspire to, it’s something to get away from.” – Jodie Foster
“In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.” – Coco Chanel
“It’s really important to share the idea that being different might feel like a problem at the time, but ultimately diversity is a strength!” – Carson Kressley
The Brave Dog says he’s the ONLY Sammy Brave Dog in the whole wide world, and he knows he’s special, and different, because his human tells him so. And he wouldn’t have it any other way—and neither would his human!! And he’s possibly the only reason his human will remain in the States, because just about any country she’d be interested in has a quarantine requirement for pets, as well they should. It’s a choice Sammy’s human does not want to face.
Monday (today) is gonna be a scorcher at something like 103F. The rest of the week will be in the high 80s and low 90s. Doncha wish you lived in Kennewick? Lots of warm, low humidity.
What is Freedom?
(TRIGGER WARNING: THIS IS A RANT!!!!!)
I have been reading Begin Again, James Baldwin’s America and its Urgent Lessons for Our Own by Eddie S. Glaude, Jr. I ‘know’ Professor Glaude from his many appearances on MSNBC, so when his book came up for a vote in my book club for one of our readings, I voted for it. As did everyone else. By 24 Jun 22, I was almost finished and started reading Chapter Seven. By the end of the second paragraph, a quote from Mr. Baldwin, I was struck by the parallels between Amerikkka’s treatment of people of color—black, brown, copper, gold—and her treatment of women. I finished the book, and just can’t get that parallel out of my head bone. Many thanks to the poet Dee Allen for that oh-so-true spelling of Amerikkka.
The part that struck me, reads: “We tolerated bigotry and discrimination…I think there is a kind of smog in the air that’s created by the history of slavery and lynching and segregation, and I don’t think we’re going to get healthy, I don’t think we can be free…until we address this problem. But to get there we’re going to have to be willing to tell the truth.” The italics are mine. The Supreme Court has taken the freedom away from women to have autonomy over their own bodies. If you do not own your body, someone else does. The one is a slave, the other the master.
Justice Thomas wants the Court to look into a few other laws on the books, like same sex marriage, sodomy laws, etc., but I notice one he did not bring up is Loving v. Virginia. I think that one should be looked at next, don’t you? How would he vote on that one? Or would he man up and recuse himself? Or would he realize what a vindictive, little man he is? No. He wouldn’t see that. But that one will stay on the books because it directly affects him.
This most evangelical court wants to go back to the 1950s when Father Knows Best was the law of the land. When women stayed home and raised children and didn’t compete in the workplace at far lower salaries. They want a theocracy, not a democracy. Send them to Iran!
They think they are making points with their god for doing this, and maybe they are, but they are not getting positive points from the vast majority of Americans. The last four justices confirmed to the Court, knowingly lied during their confirmation hearings. And it is all but impossible to get them out of there. They waffled about not being able to discuss possible actions on hypothetical cases, they told Senators who were concerned about Roe v Wade that it was “settled law” and couldn’t be changed. They lied. And they knew they lied. It was settled, the rule of precedent should have been enough, even if they didn’t agree with it, but the first opportunity they had to gut the women of this country, they gleefully did so. And they are sighting in on other things to further eviscerate female anatomy. Excuse me, autonomy.
I’m not sure why they are so afraid of women that they can’t visualize a healthy woman as being a healthy work mate, a healthy partner, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. But they, too, are slaves to a small god who can’t rule his followers on his own but must anoint small men to do his dirty work.
Fortunately, I live in an enlightened state on the west coast, where the governors of California, Oregon, and Washington have pledged to keep Reproductive Freedom and Health between a woman and her doctor. I feel very sorry for my sisters who live under patriarchy in states that do not respect them. These are not pro-lifers who are against abortion. They are pro-birthers, or as I was just informed, they are not pro anything. They are forced-birthers. Once the baby is born, they want nothing to do with it. Zip. Zilch. Nada. Nyet. Non. Not their problem, little mother. S/He’s all yours.
I can’t wait for people to start suing the evangelicals in state and federal government for practicing medicine without a license.
And what will this ruling do to our military? Women are in combat roles, they must remain combat ready at all times, like the men. Oh, women shouldn’t be in combat roles, should they? Says who? And why? Women can shoot an M16 as well as, and often better than, a man. I know. I had the 2d highest score when my company qualified at the firing range. The top gun, so to speak, was on the rifle team. I was invited to join that august group but declined.
What will it do to our economy? Nothing good, that’s for sure.
Because my boss taught me a long time ago to never bring a problem to her unless I brought at least one possible solution, I bring you two possible solutions, though they may not be easy for some of you.
1. Remember to vote this November, and vote those who want to make this country a theocracy out. Vote Democrats in (even if you don’t like them) and get Roe v Wade codified into law by Congress. The only people who should make a medical decision about your body are you and your doctor! (Remember, if you don’t want an abortion, no one can force you to have one.)
2. (swiped from Bette Midler’s twitter feed) “Stop abortion at the source. Vasectomies are reversible. Make every young man have one. / When he’s deemed financially & emotionally fit to be a father it will be reversed. What’s that? Did the idea of regulating a man’s body make you uncomfortable? / Then mind your fucking business.” Doncha just love the Divine Miss M?
And I leave you with one more quote from Begin Again, “‘George Santayana, the Spanish-born American philosopher, was right to point out that “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.’ But what he didn’t say is that those who willfully refuse to remember become moral monsters.” (Italics mine)
Freedom is owning your body!
Photos of the Week:
Mama 8 Duck with her new babies. We have three new families. I hope they grow enough to fly south in a few months.Canada Geese will combine all their babies, and all the mama geese will herd them, and keep them safe. Ducks aren’t so nice. They will attack baby lings who are not theirs.The babies hardly show up. In the water, they’re easy to see. When still, on land, more difficult.
Begin Again, James Baldwin’s America and its Urgent Lessons for Our Own —by Eddie S. Glaude Jr. I’ve always considered myself fairly well-read. I read a pretty eclectic assortment of books. I don’t much care for straight Romance, Mathematics, Horror, or Spy genres, but I’ve been known to read in each of those now and then. So how did I never read any of James Baldwin’s books? I knew the name, I recognized his photos, but I don’t think I’ve ever read any of his writings. I now have six of his books (audio) on my phone and am on my way to treating my ignorance. (Remember, ignorance is a treatable condition; stupidity is not.) I remember Angela Davis, Stokely Carmichael, Martin Luther King Jr, the Freedom Marches, but not Baldwin. My ignorance is shameful, but treatable. This book is amazing, and it may be a few days before I get my thoughts in order and the review up, but it will be five stars, so don’t wait for the review to get your hands on a copy. And, if you’re like me, and tend to underline, and or write marginalia, be sure to buy your own copy, and have your pens/highlighters handy. I don’t know why, but Librarians get so fussy when books are returned with notes, underlines, etc. on the pages. I’d find it helpful to know where all the important parts are.
You Gonna Reap Just What You Sow Yes, they are old-time Gospel. What? You ask, am I doing with gospel music? I like some of it. Especially these, with a goodly hint of Blues. Perhaps more than a hint;-).
“Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves.” —Abraham Lincoln
“Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.”—Abraham Lincoln
“Daddy once told me there’s a rage passed down to every black man from his ancestors, born the moment they couldn’t stop the slave masters from hurting their families. Daddy also said there’s nothing more dangerous than when that rage is activated.” ― Angie Thomas,The Hate U Give
And a fourth quote, paraphrased, from General Sun Wu (aka Sunzi, or Sun Tzu), “Always give your enemy an honorable way out, for a woman backed into a corner has nothing to lose.” I do believe I hear the rage a rumbling, do I not???
Sammy Brave Dog says for me to chill, that it won’t be long until I become the Empress of the Universe, and then I can do what I want. Well, that’s not quite true, but close enough, eh? And, little desert dog that he is, he’s loving the warm weather.
Okay, last week someone accused me of jinxing our weather. Actually, it was mostly warm, and considerably warmer than it had been, but if it makes y’all feel better, then, yeah, I guess I jinxed it. And to make up for it, this coming week we’re heading very close to HOT. Y’all see what I mean, Jelly Bean?
…and that’s the truth!
Grab yourself a cuppa or a glassa and read a nice story. A true story, and though it had nothing to do with my moving here, it is one of the reasons this place has such good vibes.
I put in a work order for a grab bar to be placed on the wall between my tub/shower and toilet to give me a secure hold to get into/out of the tub/shower. The Assistant Manager (AM) called me last Tuesday and asked if the Maintenance Guy (MG) could come by on Friday to put the bar in and fix the drawer in the kitchen. I said, “But, of course. If no one is here, he can come on in.) I had every intention of putting a note on the wall where I wanted the grab bar before I left on Friday. On Thursday, I came home, and the grab bar had been placed in a place, and at a level, that it was totally useless for me. It was not where I wanted it. On Friday, I went to the office to explain. I walked in the door and the AM got up from her desk and all but ran to me.
She apologized profusely, but the MG (who is new to the complex) got our apartment (1) mixed up with the neighbor’s apartment (2), and the people in 2 were not happy campers. They stayed home all afternoon waiting while MG was putting their grab bar where they wanted it in my tub/shower.
AM said they had another bar and would come later that afternoon to put it up. I said that was fine, but to do the other one first. The lady in 2 uses a walker, or a wheelchair, and lately I’ve only seen her in the chair. AM then told me that they (the couple in 2) used to live upstairs, and she had surgery and could no longer do the stairs. So, the AM, and the Manager, and the Maintenance Crew and all their significant others and or spouses (is the plural of spouse, spice?) got together one Saturday (a day off for all of them) and moved the couple from their upstairs apartment to a downstairs apartment, lock, stock, and barrel.
And, yes, after twenty plus years in the Aerospace Industry, I still use Acronyms and Abbreviations. Maddening, isn’t it? But at least I know the difference!
Photos of the Week:
Yes, we had a bit of rain this past week. Not really rain rain, as one finds in Florida or New Mexico (and which I miss terribly), still it was enough to pock the water, and keep the dog in.And I’m working on a new quilt. It will be about 24” x 40” when all sewn together. The title is Slava Ukraini. I’m still deciding on how I want to place the blocks but am thinking seriously of this lay out. Gotta better layout? Please let me know.
I believe I’ve mentioned before I belong to a book club where we all read the same book, then get together the first Sunday of the month to discuss it. I normally don’t care for those kinds of groups, but this one is a lot of fun. Anyhow, this month’s book is Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and its Urgent Lessons For Our Own by Eddie S. Glaude Jr. Now, I’ve seen Professor Glaude many times on MSNBC as a contributing pundit. He teaches Black History at Princeton, and I always enjoy his spots when I see them. The book came the other day and I’m probably three fifths of my way through it. It’s fascinating. For all the nonfiction I read, why have I never read James Baldwin? I haven’t a clue. To segue into a slightly different area but still related, I also belong to Chirp. Audio books I can afford. On Sunday, one of the offerings was a book by Baldwin. I ended up ordering six books by him, all audio, for $18.00 and change. I couldn’t buy either ebooks or paper copy books for that. I am determined to learn to love audiobooks.
I do have a problem with them, I need to give them the same attention I do when reading. I can’t drive and listen, as I get too involved and find my eyes drifting to the radio to ‘see’ what’s next. I also can’t usually do other things while listening for the same reason, though I’m going to try listening while walking.
Earworm:
Ludwig van Beethoven — Moonlight Sonata (3d Movement) by Tina S Cover. Fair warning: this is heavy metal. If you don’t like heavy metal turn your volume way down and watch anyhow. Absitively posolutely some fantastic guitar playing. Stretch your musical ear a bit. It’s only 6 minutes long. And if you’re listening through headphones, as I do, turn it down. As fascinating as she is, not worth losing a couple ear drums. I did say it is heavy metal, didn’t I? And if you like heavy metal, try Dragon Force—Through the Fire and Flames — Tina S Cover (she was fifteen years old!) Although I don’t think my dad would have appreciated the heavy metal, I think he would be in awe of her playing. Daddy was far more of the classical, Spanish guitar.
“You cannot do kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson
“What we all have in common is an appreciation of kindness and compassion; all the religions have this. Love. We all lean towards love.” —Richard Gere
“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” —The 14th Dalai Lama.
Sammy says he rather likes the fence we put up, but he’s still not going outside unless one of his humans go, too. Which is a good thing since we apparently have a resident eagle in the complex. Sammy is, as his ex-foster-mother told me, owl bait. And if an owl can haul him off, so can an eagle. Although Sammy weighs a bit much to be carried off, he could still be attacked. His humans like the new fence as it tells the neighborhood boys to quit walking thru ‘our’ yard.
Warm. Sunny, some clouds, a tad bit of rain now and then. Nice.
It’s Finally Summer in Kennewick:
We’ve actually had a couple days in the 80s, and a couple days without clouds! I do, however, at times think I’ve gone through some sort of time warp because all the cloud activity makes me think I’m back in Seattle. We’ve also had a little rain, much to Sammy’s disgust.
There are at least 3 sets of geeselings in the ponds. The one that hatched a few weeks ago and are coming into their adult plumage, one that is a couple weeks younger, and one that is relatively brand new. Same with the ducklings. I’m trusting the little lings will all be able to fly south when the time comes.
The grow up so fast.
So, didja y’all watch the Hearing on Thursday? Are you reading this now during a break in the Hearing? As much as I dislike Liz Cheney politically, I give her points for her opening remarks. Yowsah!! Regardless of which side of the aisle you gravitate to, I hope you are watching the Hearings on the channel of your choice. History in the making.
Photos of the Week:
Those darling little lings are just eatin’ them thar bugs and keeping the critters to a decent population!
Did I mention a bunch of us went over to a friend’s for a birthday party and fire-pit time the other night. A good time was had by all, and we enjoyed celebrating the birthday with a bourbon chocolate cake. Sorry, no pictures of that, but
Careful, it’ll burn ya
And last but not least, I took this shot the other day of a Heron in Herron Lake (yeah, I know, but that’s the way they spell it. Maybe it was built by the Herrons? I dunno.
Read two books this past week one is a collection of poetry and prose (not unlike my book, The Bride’s Gate) but somewhat smaller, and a lot funnier–Talking Smack to The Dead by Walt Peterson. His review is posted.
The other is a Legal Who Done it, May it Please the Court, by Daniel Maldonado. He needs an editor.
Earworm:
It just isn’t summer without a little Summertime by three different people (Okay, four, Ella & the Satchmo really are two different people) I had no idea Willie had made such a recording and I don’t think it’s all that old. Anyhow, listen to them all for a bit of variation.
Quotes from the Hearing by CNN [There are 11 quotes on this site, all worth reading]
“The conspiracy to thwart the will of the people is not over.” — Thompson
“He [Pence] ultimately knew that his fidelity to the Constitution was his first and foremost oath.” — Pence’s chief of staff Marc Short
“There will come a day when Donald Trump is gone. But your dishonor will remain.” — Liz Cheney [Message to her fellow Republicans]
Sammy’s not sure what the fascination is, but he’s all for his humans to sit on the sofa and watch the tv, because that gives him a lap in which to sit. He has discovered laps are for him to be on, there is no higher calling.
Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit! Our highs for the following week will be high 70s to mid 80s! Sunshine on the menu for Monday and Tuesday, the rest of the week will be clouds (with maybe some sun breaks). Yes, sun breaks are a real thing here in the Pacific Northwest. Honest. Trust me. I do believe it’s safe to say, “Summer is here!”
Our new toy is here!
More news on the submissions. I sent three chapbooks out. All to “local” publishers. One of 18 poems went to a publisher in Portland OR, one of 23 pages of poetry (some poems are longer than one page went to a Seattle publisher, and one of 40 pages of poetry went to a publisher who is in Washington. Unless it’s now Oregon. That one is filled with what I call “loku.” Haiku has its “rules” — 3 lines, of 17 syllables, 5 7 5. Loku is my word (hmmm, should I trademark it? /snark/) and some are 2 lines, some 4 lines. But, generally, any short poem I write. I have Birdku, Catku, Cowku—all Loku. I think Basho would smile.
Our new oven came while I was gone. I actually planned it that way. I hoped Dan would take it out of the box, and use it, so when I got home, he could explain all the directions in English. Alas, the best laid plans… He waited until there was a place to put it, which didn’t happen until after I got home. But OMG!! we learned a new trick. Sear the meat before cooking it sous vide! Using the probe gets it to perfection. The reason I fell in love with this oven is it cooks sous vide without a water bath. It uses steam and takes half the time. The Anova Precision Oven maintains a constant temperature give or take about 2 degrees, unlike most standard ovens which maintain a constant temperature give or take 50 or so degrees.
The only complaint, so far, that I have is it’s controlled by our smart phones. I am a fat fingered luddite. I really, truly, prefer to have a paper book that I can read, mark up, and use, rather than having to dash to the office to google my questions. If that’s the ONLY complaint I have, it’s pretty darn teensy for a fantastic new oven that does everything but make morning coffee!
We spent several minutes last night watching our steaks cook. More fun that TV. 😉
While I was gone, Dan built some shelves to go above the counter he built to extend our working area in the kitchen. The neat thing about the shelves is they aren’t connected to the wall. We’ve lost a couple feet from the dining area, but we don’t use that so much anyhow. In fact, we haven’t used it yet at all.
I now have all my art that my neighbor and gal pal had in her spare bedroom. Plus I also now have an 8’ square design wall for quilting. It’s actually a smidge smaller, out of two 4×8 pieces of 2” foam insulation. I need to paint them with primer, so the printing doesn’t show, and cover them with flannel, then I’m good to go. Of course, they are in the office and my sewing machine will be in the dining area, but that’s ok. We’ve put them on two of the long closet doors so they can slide together when needed. Dan is a marvelous housemate!!
Photos of the Week:
Two mallards. We also have Muscovy in our ponds, and I think the one mallard on the right is a cross with a bit of Muscovy, but not sure. Apparently, they can cross breed, and the mixed ones are fertile, but many of the hens/drakes don’t like them because they don’t look ‘normal.’I have no idea what these ‘fingers’ are, other than probably something in the mushroom family, and probably poisonous to humans.This mallard is napping. He was surprisingly well camouflaged on the rocks. We had to look a couple times to be sure it was a drake sleeping. The brown hens often don’t show at all. They look like brown rocks.
I have added six reviews to my review blog. Feel free to Follow if you want more timely notifications. Four novels, two poetry. Since I started this blog in 2012, I’ve posted 614 reviews. And I don’t very often post low rated books, because if I don’t like them, I don’t finish them.
And there it is. A slow news week from my wee corner of Kennewick. Lots of news in the outer world, but it’s too depressing to talk about. But, if you’re interested, you might want to check the links below. Sammy says he hopes you do. He’s not at all pleased with everyone packing, unless it’s clothing for a trip.
Weather in the Tries: Disgusting. It’s cold. It’s damp. It’s June for crying out loud! I think we need to bring the weatherman/woman up from Tucson, and get some decent weather on order.
Proof of the Efficacy of Masks.
Auntie Lenora and the Brave Dog missed y’all. Bunches. But we are back for a while. There will undoubtedly be a few more trips across the hump (known as Snoqualmie Pass) in the summer months.
I had planned on a two week stay, but the day before I was leaving, one of my friend’s care givers sent a text. She had been to see him Monday and Tuesday, and on Wednesday, she let us know she was down with fever, shakes, aches, pains—Covid. Yes, she’d been vaxxed to the max, and had always worn her mask when caring for my friend. The major concern was not one of us getting it, but his wife was due home Wednesday night, and Covid could do a number on her (she, too, is vaxxed to the max, but also a serious asthmatic).
She came home, and stayed upstairs, with the door closed, much to the Brave Dog’s chagrin. He wanted to go up, give her pupkisses, welcome her home, and inspect her floor. Someone might have dropped something good to eat. She cooked us wonderful meals, and on Friday my friend and I tested. Negative. We tested again on Saturday. Again, negative. So, we decided I could go home, and she would wear her mask when caring for him. That was a good deal/bad deal kinda situation. She’s a marvelous cook, and I could have stretched it out a few days, I’m sure.
Alas, I had some projects, with deadlines, and I wanted to come home and get them met. I succeeded and have submitted one chapbook to a contest in Seattle, and have the second book ready to go, and will submit it sometime this week. That deadline is a little farther out. Plus I have another chapbook ready to go, as soon as I find the right market.
One thing I noticed while over on the dark side, most people wore their masks. Many wore them around their chins when walking outside, but put them over nose and mouth when in stores, etc. Unlike where I live, and no one wears mask. I think I’ve just received a booster in the mask wearing department. This new variant is nothing to sneeze at. The vax helps, keeps it down to a manageable roar, but we need to do our part to not get it, too. And what happened is a prime example. SHE wore the mask; WE did not get it!
I have finished a couple of books but did not have access to a computer while gone, so I need to write the reviews and get them posted. Check in a couple days, there should be some new reviews.
Alas, no photos, no earworms, no nuthin’ But we are glad to be home, and hope you’re glad we’re back, too.
Have a grand week, and by next time, I should be back to normal. Whatever that is in this day and age.
Hey There! Some Good News!!! Yes, I, your old Auntie Lenora, am giving your eyes a rest for a couple of weeks. There won’t be a Coffee Break Escape until Memorial Day! Yes, I am taking the Brave Dog and going over to the Dark Side of the Mountains (Puget Sound area where it rains all the time) for two weeks.
A gal friend is going to visit children and wants someone to house sit, and to be company to her husband, my good friend and mentor, while she’s gone. Her husband is living with a debilitating ailment, and company is somewhat more than a nicety.
Since her husband is one of my two poetry mentors, he and I are planning on some good times. I’m taking some projects to work on, and plan to pick his brain as much as possible.
You may remember that last week I was lamenting not seeing any little lings about and wondering what might have grabbed them. The other day, sitting on the ‘dam’ between our pond and the main pond, was a fairly good-sized hawk. Little lings would just be a snack. And then, while walking the Brave Dog, I saw the geeselings and the ducklings over at the main pond of our sister complex. So here are some updated photos of the geeslings. Couldn’t get the ducklings, but they are still there. The two mama geese are still herding their combined six children.
I’m guessing that the tenants, and or the yard people are shaking the eggs when found to keep the population down. We were overrun with ducks in the condo in ABQ and the yard crew would shake the eggs every time they found a nest, then put it back where they found it. No babies.
Dan and I are getting along great. I have to admit, it’s kinda nice to have a friend around. Especially one with a sense of humor 😉
Photos of the week:
Hey Ma, ya missed a bug! Yummmm. Finders eaters!I’m such a good bug eater, aren’t I? Huh? Aren’t I?Oooh, one for you, two for me, one for you….
Netflix: Really enjoying Tomorrow. Usually there is a lot of humor, but S1 E6 had me in tears most of the time. Some for sad, some for happy, but oh, wow! Totally fantastic. Not one I can binge on, I need some time between episodes.
Earworm of the Week: Ever heard Heilung? As I understand it they are doing their version of what they think the old Norse Viking musing may have sounded like, and using recreations of their musical instruments when possible. I don’t understand a word of it but love the percussion. And the costumes! Not for everyone, but I like it. They’re coming to Seattle 20 September. If you go, tell me all about it. Heilung | LIFA- Hamrer Hippyer Their clothes are pretty interesting, too.
“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.”
“Not all those who wander are lost” J.R.R. Tolkien
“Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer”
Sammy isn’t real for sure positive he wants to go on a road trip. But the option to stay home isn’t there. Oh, Dan would take him, but he was specifically invited, and he needs to know he can go someplace with his human, AND THAT HIS HUMAN WILL BRING HIM BACK! So we survived another week, made lots of plans, and Sammy says he will miss you all for the time we’re gone, and hopes that the pupkisses he sends will remind you that he’s thinking of you. Oh. Wait. SQUIRREL !!!!!!
