EASTERN EXPOSURE (June 16/187)

I didn't want to dwell on it, but hard to ignore...

BOOM Well, the weekend experienced a big boom heard around the world. No, not the fireworks at Yankee Doodle days downtown, but "big, beautiful bunker busting" bombs on a country that has been technically fighting with one country Israel. Guess we can make that two. Time will tell how this shakes out, but I much prefer when we talk softly and carry the big stick rather than personally sticking the stick in the eye first. Or working through and arming our proxies rather than sending planes marked with ye old stars and stripes-same objective, but not "technically" attacking a country without provocation. Yes, Iran with the a-bomb has been a threat, but military secrets and weapons are fleeting and other countries (read Russia, China, etc) will be happy to replace what has been lost. With the added advantage of saying we started it. Who knows-stay tuned. Or was it just a way for two unpopular leaders to hogtie us to whatever atrocity they wish to pursue to stay in power?

Have to hand it to marmie for keeping the secret as this had to have been organized over several weeks. Considering how much military expertise, experience and talent has been eliminated under the Administration and who his closest advisors are, I am impressed they pulled it off. I pray for our soldiers in the field who will take the first casualties. I am sure our top-drawer homeland security folks will keep us safe here in the States, however. While legitimate outcry is mostly shushed by congress we are reminded Obama took much heat for the Libya bombing and the boys passed a resolution (War Powers) I believe, that no you can't start a war without our okie doke. But of course, rules only apply to dems. I am not optimistic that this will end well when the best scenario is boots on the ground. Because when you punch someone in the nose and then say now make peace, you might get some pushback. 

Wondering how the magats are going to respond to "no war charlie and I am the candidate of peace". By eliminating DEI meaning women and African Americans, transgender and deporting other cannon fodder the straight white boys better be ready to hit the desert for this new conflict. Are bone spurs inherited?

Speaking of family if the trump boys new phone sales go well, I guess once again it proves the red hats support anything no matter what. Phones, btw, that have to be made in China as we don't have the ability to make them here lol. Also, AFTER you send your credit card info, you get a message that the service is not yet available, but you get the nifty T1 golden paperweight to carry around and impress your friends. I swear he could sell gold painted turds and they would line up to buy. 

Just a thought -- you don't have to accept or agree with anyone you don't want to; what you can't do is make their life miserable or terrorize them. But the proud boys with their masks and guns probably don't agree. How much you want to bet these masked dudes grabbing citizens off the streets were the ones refusing to wear covid masks. "I can't breathe" works on so many levels. Witnessing the open racism  during these "street grabs" if you are of the brown persuasion, I would suggest you start carrying your passport around with you. 

BEFORE THE WAR In other news, we got the old convertible up and running last week. She asked for and got a new battery installed Yay. But the AC wasn't working, not Yay. Decided to try driving it back to be worked on in Lansing. The drive was fine and hot until oh yeah, I suddenly remember you have to push in the little snowflake symbol under the controls to turn the AC on 😣duhh. Good news as I want to drive her in a parade on the 4th. I am a veteran at parade driving so have mastered the tap, tap, tap on the brake so you don't run over the candidate or kids darting into the street. Kind of kills the mood. Speaking of driving, on a trip to Howell last week I didn't realize how bad things have gotten since I used to drive for work all the time. All trucks and distracted drivers, but everyone's exceeding the speed limit just fine. More skill would be appreciated, however. Praying for, Peace out....💓💨💙

KINGS/FELONS/JELLYFISH? (June 16/188)

"NO KING'S" day went beautifully and was well-attended around the country. Birthday bash for marmie, not so much depending on who's reporting it of course. Although I have to admit an 80-year old tank squeaking down the road to a crowd in silence watching overheated soldiers hanging their heads out the gun ports to get some air might have been worth the price of admission. Course the birthday boy has had a rough week, with his public break-up with muskie (who came crawling back) the ramp-up of the Iran-Israel hostilities, further losses in Court, millions of Americans protesting against him on his birthday, etc etc. You know the usual. 

IDLE THOUGHTS Jewish laser conspiracy monger mgt says "waving a confederate flag doesn't make me a racist". Yet only a racist would wave a confederate flag. She was one of the few repugs who accepted an invite to the glorify marmie parade. Most went home for the weekend, but I don't think it was to hold town halls. When your aid and abet partners don't want to be seen at your "party" what does that say about you?

Don't ever remember hearing daily reports on the number of measles cases since the '50's due to the fact that we DID NOT have measles outbreaks to report as we had pretty much eradicated the disease. Until the vacc fanatics started using opinion over science and put a drug addict worm brain non-doctor/scientist in charge. Problem, of course, is insurance will not cover the shots if the government does not support it. Hence the outbreak. Well, we're all gonna die of something right so let's whip up old diseases and take them for a spin. See how well stupidity works? 

Multi-million-dollar parade occurs ostensibly to celebrate the armed forces with a backdrop of 1000s of federal and civil servants fired (including the Pentagon and Veteran's Administration) and slashing of Medicaid and food allowances for the poor. Yay America.  The same Soldiers that the orange guy calls suckers while refusing to pose with any overweight or disabled ones at a recent "rally". 

Odd that ICE is arresting immigrants at their JOBS or in COURT. I doubt that the "criminals" we are targeting would be dumb enough to have jobs and pay taxes and go to court per immigration rules. But thanks, stevie mitler who told ICE to pursue them at legitimate venues like that to "get the numbers up". Who abused him as a baby 'cause the dude has some real personality issues no doubt related to inadequate potty training as he gets his knickers in a bind at every interview. Love is fragile but hate grows exponentially. If you think the idle white boys are going to pick up on the farm, hospitality industry and retail jobs that are being covered by these folks, I have a bridge in Brooklyn as they say. Unless the measles kills them all first of course. Natural selection is a thing. 

Trying to link Governor Waltz with the Minnestoa assassin is the latest fake outrage from the magats in charge. It was DEMs who were targeted you wretched brain farts. I believe this was your agenda.

LIFE WITH JP Spent a couple of days at the lake with the boy as he wanted to spend his first week off school fishing. He had to help Grandpa change the oil on the boat first, but they did do a little night fishing the first night hooking a large walleye. If you're a serious fish-person, early morning and late night is the game plan. It takes a few tries, but he does get up in a relatively good mood. Also had time to hit the State park to swim. He parked himself half in the water half on the beach after I sprayed him down with sunscreen. I, of course, stay back in the trees as pure sun is poison to me (like all the Sweet girls actually). As he kept his "cool" sunglasses on, I thought he was discretely eyeballing the young lady with the orange bathing suit, but he claims he was napping. He's a good grandson though. As he blends in as one of the bodiless heads in the water, he will see me looking and waves his hands to let me know he's not resting on the bottom.

He's full of questions so we try not to lie too much, lol. At one point I mentioned that I was a teacher in my job. He said you were a teacher? Not at school with kids but creating programs and training and teaching adult workers. "Trying to get them to do things they don't want to do". That's just like school he countered. The kids never want to do what the teacher asks them to do. It starts young I guess.

His general M.O. is to combine his wrap-around sunglasses, gelled hair and a teen-age swagger as he says it looks cool. Unfortunately, the ultimate cold water was thrown as he got asked twice at restaurants if he needed a children's menu. I keep telling him he'll appreciate looking younger...some day. He makes up for the insult by telling semi-adult jokes to the waitstaff.  

 The 2007 Pontiac G6 convertible is the lake car. I told JP he could have it when he's 16, but not sure it's going to make it. It kept going dead overnight. Especially aggravating as I need to drive it when we are getting the boat in and out of the water. Commandeered the neighbor to drive the trailer over to the launch site where he was eager to back it into the water, as he hadn't done it in years. That's an opt-out comment for me, but after four tries he made it. I think it's a guy thing.  I have massive fear of brakes failing or taking the dock out. Mostly don't want to look dumb as you will hear it from onlookers especially as a woman.  Peace out.....💚   💛💙

CAT FIGHTS (June 9/189)

WEEKLY RANT As I pull all the stops to pay off the Anderson bill (one year same as cash) I will admit the windows do keep out the street noise-including those pesky little sirens that warn of impending disaster. The creditor that Anderson uses charges an exorbitant amount of interest to the unwary, hence the mandate to pay it off before its time. At what point is it called usury? They also start charging interest a month before the first bill is due-also tricky tactics.  Anyone who knows me well, knows I have the assets, I just don't like to pay before it's time. And I never do interest. Financial discipline has its perks.

Speaking of hidden talents. Due to my Mother's influence, I also know "what" constitutes cleaning a room, I just don't want to do it. Hence the housekeeping crew once a month for bigger jobs who are due tomorrow which prompts my straightening up of general areas to keep them focused on the big stuff. But with my new eagle eyes, the things they don't do drive me crazy. Who doesn't dust the top of things, clean under the soap dish, clean behind the toilet (and the bottom of the toilet seat btw) but my shelf of knick-knacks gets a personalized dusting every time. Why not dust the ceiling fan blades as meticulously?  And I won't even go into the nicks on my sensitive stove and dining room breakfront finishes. I believe their motto is everything as fast as possible, damage be damned. But my shower stalls and floors get washed so that's the trade-off. Though my criticisms would prompt the question of "I'd rather do it myself" one of the realities of progressive arthritis is the limited amount of physical energy you have in a day which goes downhill as the day goes on and activity increases. That's why I'm a morning person LOL. 

DONE GONE ROGUE Two middle-school girls are having a hissy fit and though we hate to be juvenile, we're loving it. Now marmie's threatening consequences if muscilage does anything for democrats. Who's winning? Up for debate. Who's losing? Republicans backing the wrong horse....again. Interesting to attack the richest man in the world who has to be a shred brighter than his foe. Stay tuned. 

Meanwhile the orange man has brought the army to town-national guard and marines on alert. Right out of the 2025 project playbook. Incite a riot (since the LAPD said they were handling it fine) then escalate it. Don't take the bait California. And his weird ass command that protesters do not wear masks; when ironically it seems like we need to strip the combat gear and masks off the J-6 felons filling out the icy rank. And party boy of the DOD threatening to send in the army on OUR OWN PEOPLE! mr hypocrisy sends in troops that were not asked for but allowed people to be injured and die when under his watch, as he called no troops on January 6. He doesn't "care" about the people if anyone had any doubts.

Peaceful protest people. That is how we won in the war for civil rights-lock arms-chant -no fires, no looting.  Marmie had a bad week (muskie, China, courts) and he wants an excuse so go ahead, make him crazy with non-violent protest. 

Right up there with defunding Sesame Street, attacking prestigious universities with their ground-breaking research and development projects, deporting scientists. The idea is to dumb down America as a dictator's greatest fear is an educated public. Democracy is messy, uncomfortable and totally worth it.

DOCTOR DOCTOR To say it's getting confusing as the OH and I juggle different doctors, specialties, appointments is an understatement. And every single one of them, even in the same system, have their own, as they amusingly call it, customer portal for messages, questions, information--pretty much anything for one to make intelligent decisions from. And every stinking one does not work as soon as I leave the office where I set it up! Spent an entire day and a half trying to get answers from the OH's arthritis doctor on the latest med only to find out I was calling the wrong damn place! Which if their "friendly" patient portal had worked I would have found out hours earlier. It also appears everyone is working on "summer hours" so that much more fun tracking anybody down. 

When you're up to your ass in alligators, wave your hands/paws in the air like you just don't care...

Peace out....💚  💙💛

COMMERCIALLY SPEAKING (June 1/190)

MEMORY DAYS Took the holiday off last week. Busy weekend and time with the grandson so Nana went dark on the blogging. Took him to a band concert and though skeptical, he perked up when they did a Billy Joel medley. When JP he isn't talking, he's singing, so hopefully he gets into Choir next school year. After much stealthy stalking, he nailed a 14-inch bass 8 feet from the dock with a 7-foot pole. Ecstasy and chest thumping ensues.  Funny watching the changes. One minute he is all up in a man-type response and then he morphs into the funny kid again. Those moments of change are lightning fast. I think when we are parents, we may not always notice the changes quite as sharply. 

Those folks who enjoy the "Simpsons" know Bart's third grade teacher as Miss Cropopple but I think it's just a subtle joke spelling of Crabapple and it gets pronounced differently. We live near a street called Crabapple and it always makes me chuckle. I'm just weird like that.

YESTERDAY'S NEWS   Rather than allowing the distraction about the plane (which we now find he asked for, it wasn't spontaneously gifted), we should be focusing on the 2 billion in bitcoin to the frumpie family he managed to finagle on his Mideast trip. On top of the "dinner at the white house" for people who contributed to the cause at home. Guardrails are off, no pretenses as the white house has now become the whore house as one wag put it. 

Following the rules set by the felon in charge, tulsi washboard just had employees change the report to make deportees criminals when staff found no wrong-doing or connections with gangs. I think the employee also earned a kick out the door of the department as well for being honest. Do you think there are people still trying to do the right thing? Surely the boss will see the truth and back down... LOL.

Got to love Bondi-belle declaring it's illegal to call yourself boss unless you're in charge of the country. OMG-this crap would not play on a soap opera. At any rate a hell of lot of us are up for charges on this one

Ok. Let's talk big, beautiful bill. Who writes these titles - third graders? ASIDE: I refuse to be governed by intellectual inferiors. Though the scariest is stripping judges of enforcement power, said bill will cost at least $1000 more a year for the really poor and $700 for the middle class with a big savings of $690,000 for the rich. Plus adding trillions to the national debt. Explain things to me like I'm five years old why don't you? My personal math deficient rep to congress says the BBB will put money back in the taxpayer's pocket. You mean the kickback (they call them campaign contributions) you folks got for selling us down the proverbial river?

Shame on that damn Biden for covering up his health issues while delivering a booming economy, infrastructure repairs and amazing off-the-chart stock market numbers. Bite me. Speaking of health. Cutting Medicaid and demanding proof of work for life basically, 64% of Medicaid recipients work but HAVE NO BENEFITS. Most of the rest are either caregivers or disabled. Which studies indicate leaves approximately 7% of Medicaid recipients who are non-working adults. But let's gut it by 800 billion-what's the harm. One red congress person was informed at a town meeting that "people are going to die". Their heartfelt response "we're all going to die". And the band played on....

COMMERCIALS Anybody else sick of these all-body spray commercials? Though I imagine most of us are probably sweating a bit more than usual with the antics in Washington. I am less than enthralled with seeing people gaily spraying their pits, privates and feet and claiming 72 hours of happy smells. Yuck. Apparently, they have never heard of a shower.

And the shingles commercial. Shingles doesn't care and neither do I. Just walk around the rock pile doofus! Or if you can't be sure to hand those front row tickets to the people smart enough to walk around the rock pile. Though I kind of enjoy the Jardiance song/dance routines or as my b-i-l calls them "Diabetes: The Musical".  The blue/yellow color scheme; the perfect timing on stunts; depicting normal sized people who just may need the medication. What's not to love? On the other hand, the Ozempic marching citizens routine is very boring. We seem to have a recurring health issue in this country, hmmm. Supposedly these silly methods of pitching meds are more popular in a TikTok mode than some dr/scientist extolling their virtues. We must be entertained (while Rome burns...).

Although in the old days, we had our moments. "It's shake n bake and I hepped". "Please Mother, I'd rather do it myself!" My Mother would have me recreate that one for guests as my portrayal was stunning apparently. "That's a spicey meatball" "He likes it. Hey Mikey!"  "Where's the beef?" How many remember the Xerox commercial where a monk takes the hand-written sheets and makes copies rather than pains-takingly writing each page over and over. And who can forget Doctors advertising cigarettes and Crown Royal though I might have made the booze reference up. They did ban those two on Television, however. 

Interviewed an interesting lady on generational differences in communication in the workplace. Quite a lively discussion. She asked me what stuck out to me as I was growing up. I said "Motown" "Viet Nam" "Civil Rights" "Women's Rights" For her (millennial) it was 9/11 and covid. She said youth needs to listen to experience and "experience" needs to be open to new ideas and change. Change is inevitable boomers "here you are in your 70's doing video podcasts". Got me there I guess LOL. I said I believed it was every generation's duty to "shake up" the establishment (which is why we got to get these old war horses out of Congress!)

If all else fails, celebrate summer this week with 80+ degree weather. The OH's beloved tomato plants are planted so some normality and optimism return.  Peace out......💚  💙💛

                                                                                      

DARK TIMES (MAY 19/192)

DARK HUMOR When there is a power outage everyone becomes an instant expert at candlelight dinners. Ok, what's in the fridge? Everything that needs to be eaten right away. Who needs a knife? In the dark-nobody. Let's just pop some popcorn, oh shoot no microwave and no jiffy pop for the gas stove...in the dark, umm no. Guess I'll just grab a shower, oh yeah, no pump no potty. What is this strange phenomenon I just discovered called outside and natural light. Let me just charge up my phone, oh yeah. We gave up and just went out to dinner. Obviously, we got hit with a blackout at the lake.  

No problems in Grand Ledge except a branch down, but Hastings was another issue. Total blackout. First we went to set up our neighbor's generator as he just had surgery. So, these two wounded warriors were hauling a generator over the grass, moving refrigerators, etc. (he wasn't allowed to do much). Then the OH had to work out our friend's massive cord circus. Surprised the house hasn't gone up in smoke long ago. 

We didn't mind helping out as we just plug ours into the house connection, push the button (no pull cord yah) and turn on the generator at the panel. Merrily plugging the power cord into the generator posed the first problem. We've used it before, and this is a brand-new generator. Looking closely, we realized it's little tab on the plug was facing the wrong direction. WTF - aren't these things universal? Off to Ace (where the helpful hardware dude says "hey, it's backwards" tell me something I don't know)
 to find a new plug which meant another 45 minutes removing old plug and rewiring new plug and starting Ms Gennie up. As it chugged along, I realized "ruh roh" we had no power going to the house. Where was it all going? Amps and watts running hither and yon though firing up an 8000 rpm Generac to charge my phone seemed a bit of overkill. Went over every inch of the machine; perused the handbook and troubleshooting online, contemplated finding an electrician (yeah right); talked to service at Generac and I knew more than she did. Asked if there was some switch we were missing, she kept insisting it was the plug. So, we tore the plug apart to check the wiring. As I considered diving into the melting ice cream with wine and beer chasers (about all I have in the frig) the OH found a switch marked "30 amp". You don't suppose....SUCCESS! Thank God, I can use the bathroom. I was almost ready to pay an electrician 100 bucks to push a switch LOL. 

Since old faithful was chugging along and using little gas, we closed up for the night. Leaving the gennie at the door to the outside we shut the overhead garage door. A short time later, gennie kicked off. Shitake mushrooms-now what? Apparently, a wee bit of CO2 was making its presence known and as a good little safety feature, she shut 'er down. As we were manipulating the generator further outside, actually building a ramp, and trying to avoid the monsoon winds that were blowing the exhaust back into the garage, the frickin' power came back on! Not complaining. Just seemed a fitting end to a rather frustrating day. 

                                                                                       

IT'S A BIRD IT'S A PLANE IT'S IDIOTIC Wow when I worked in Government you couldn't accept diddly squat from anyone unless you could consume it on the spot I think was the caveat. But a whole effing $400 million plane would make me, or possibly any normal person, to think twice maybe? It is embarrassing that the prez of the United States is going around accepting/soliciting "gifts" from terrorist-supporting countries who actually hate us for our interferences. We used to be a leader. I heard he even bitched when UAE only gave him a vial containing a drop of the most expensive oil in the world because it was so small. Again, what a low-class buffoon representing what used to be one of the greatest countries in the world. Camel salutes and lying to his face make marmalade think "people like me", "people respect what a big shot I am". Pathetic. When he whines just give him a golden binkie. The new mantra "Make America Grovel Apparently."

HUH? Now my own low-class humor. Received a begging letter from the Alzheimer's Association. On the envelope it read OPEN IMMEDIATELY! I immediately mentally added "before you forget". I know, I know mean. Cutting it short, still sore from Friday and Saturday.  Peace out.....💚  💙💛

CUE THE FLOWERS (May 12/193)

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all my favorite mothers and those who have passed on. Memories of my Mother with our marathon monopoly games and Euchre weekends with whoever we brought home. It was always more fun when Mom quit being Mom instead turning into "no prisoners, winner take all" mentality. She was competitive and damn good at anything she played. No home-baked bread and cookies, more political debate and stimulating conversation. I suppose that's why we are all so mouthy, AND opiniated. Not having to hide intellect or actually being able to debate is so refreshing. I imagine Mom and Aunt Kathleen are sipping martinis and spilling the tea wherever their energies landed them in the afterlife.                                                                                              

PERSONAL RANT OF THE WEEK Landscaper "where art thou?" Why, why, why do small independent businesses fail to communicate? One third down for a deposit and no show on promised day until I check. Next date no show until I check. Then 3rd time's the charm and they come as promised and do a bang-up job with profuse apologies for not communicating a little better. The down-payment was expensive enough that I did not want to take a stand and cancel. At any rate, perhaps I have educated a hard-working entrepreneur on a good customer service practice. 

DISH SECTION Ok - busy week for marmalade and his cultists. Evil seems to be able to work much faster than doing the right thing, I guess. First the same people that were sooo offended by the Paris Last Supper parody (or was it) last summer think mocking the catholic church with marmie as pope should just be laughed off. Hypocrisy, thy name is maggot.

Second Ok - our new stance on no immigration and deporting everyone will, aha, affect economic growth! Remember the birth rate is down and our young people ain't interested in the jobs that so many newcomers were willing to do to be part of this country. Oops. 

Third Ok - Did it ever occur that defunding all scientific research and tossing the scientists will halt America's reign as the world leader in innovations and new discoveries? Oops. We already see the fallout of firing all the air traffic controllers due to the scaredy cat white men thinking every woman or person of color is incompetent. Double Oops. 

Fourth OK (strictly for laughs) With two non-medical people heading up our health departments we will get advice attributed to RFK like "menthol cigarettes are ok to smoke and will cure polio" compliments of comedian Don Novello, i.e., Father Guido Sarducci. He also claimed a Conclave in the 1700's  couldn't decide on a new pope and they finally voted one in as they were tired of the food. As one cardinal had a fly fall into his soup, they took it as a sign of the Holy Spirit and elected him. Next time around, a cardinal brought his own fly.  (for those who don't watch Stephen Colbert). And sadly funny RFK says autism is not genetic, it's environmental and he will prove it by September. My point-lies are truth these days. 

OUT ON THE STREETS Borrowing from one of my favorite columnists (Celia Rivenbark) the charge that all the protesters in all 50 states are being paid is "a whole extra slathering of crazy on an imbecile sandwich". Like for twenty bucks an hour we will stand in the sun/wind/rain, get harassed, hosed and arrested. Though I wouldn't say no if I was already there anyway. Magots think it's weak to protest for a principle for free rather than to get paid or screw somebody to achieve success - it's just not in their playbook. Meanwhile their hero is charging big bucks for wealthy folks to attend white house dinners so they can buy trumpie bitcoin. He's also accepting an uber expensive jet from Qatar (which is not a bribe 😄) to be Air Force One and his sons are trading off the Presidency for new ventures in other countries.  For the 12th time today, "if a democrat tried any of this shit, they would have been run out on the proverbial rail with slaps to the head in mock horror".

Let them eat cake or, modern translation, have less dolls and pencils. Funny how the rich are always telling us to sacrifice and endure being broke a bit longer while they eat more cake than they can manage. Last time that happened I believe people lost their heads over it...just saying.

In more good news for the red states (read magots) the temporary head of FEMA was immediately discharged when he said to Congress FEMA's work is vital to America. Dumped him quicker than a dam giving way in North Carolina. Still have any doubts about who is benefitting from the Administration? Even fax news is calling foul, gently, of course. And also, a prize for the poorer states, the administration can cancel Head Start but spend ninety million for a military/birthday parade. "It will be so worth it" he crows. To whom?

I'm heading out to my deck chair with a mindless romance novel and a couple of pretzel sticks and taking in Spring.  Peace out.....💚   💙💛

DAYS OF WINE (& CHEESE & CHOCOLATE) (May 5/194)

HABITUAL We are creatures of habit.

 Church. I normally sit in a particular spot in church: on the aisle (claustrophobic); single chair with arms (in case I need help rising); middle of the church (incognito). I missed my row by one and didn't realize it until midway through the service when I found I was not lounging on my comfy arm rest. However, when I looked around the lady that always sits at the end of my row was right there and the usual two people that sit behind me were right behind me -Major LOL! What do they do when I am not there? (I'm not a fanatic about attending) Do they wander aimlessly and lost with a vague feeling that something is not quite right. That is more responsibility than I really need or want. 

Habits and rituals like laundry. Always three loads in a specific order. Why? It makes no difference to the machine. Or ironing. Collar, back, front, collar again. Dishwashing. Sharp knives, delicate items, plates, containers, silverware, pots and pans. If I have sufficient hot water, soap and pre-rinse it should make no difference. I also feel like I have to do X number of chores before I can start playing on the laptop or chilling with a book. Again why? Walking. Always the same route and same guilt if I don't knock a couple 1000 steps every couple of hours. Oh hell, a glass of wine fixes everything.

ECON 101 Marmalade thinks we should be ok with being poor as he mentioned it at least five times last week. It's the economy stupid-what happened to that? But never fear, those dirty, hard, non-union low paying factory jobs are on the horizon. Along with the $5,000 baby prize to offset the 300 grand it takes to raise a child. Just tighten your belts though many are running out of belt holes. Just buy two dolls instead of thirty he says and pay a few bucks more for Christmas (which if it's Chinese means a couple hundred bucks more). Wonder what Christmas was like at his house? Me, me, me-all the presents are for me. So, I guess I understand why he thinks less is more. Meanwhile he is ordering a 400-million-dollar jet with a winding staircase and bedroom suites: promoting a 90-million-dollar military parade in honor of his birthday, etc etc. Typical king/dictator behavior. Glad we can be supportive by just enduring a little economic pain like good little serfs. 

With all the Doge savings:  three trillion, well maybe 2 trillion, well maybe 200 billion or was it basically a couple of bucks after we factor in the amount it cost us to "find" these savings. Another savings! Cut all funds to NPR and PBS the only source of emergency information and entertainment to media deserts out there which again impacts his base in the red states.  I guess giving people helpful info after a natural disaster is too "woke". Let them find out FEMA is gone on their own.  Meanwhile after firing DEI traffic controllers the rest walked out and hey, anybody want to take a plane trip?  Yep, just can't stand all the winning especially when contrasted with January 19 when we had healthy 401's, no signs of a recession, low inflation and no extra costs for punishing tarrifs. Win-win to lose-lose in a heartbeat. Great first 100 days bozo. 

NOT SO CASUAL FRIDAY PT appointment at 7 am. I know, I be crazy so only got 5000 steps before leaving. That we sign up and agree, when we are already in pain, to a vigorous routine of elliptical, stretches and giant ball exercises in the name of health improvement seems rather bizarre. Plus, all the therapists are buff and flat stomached which is another assault to our fragile, rickety egos. I followed up the day with a podcast recording but fortunately my hair-do held up (thank you hairspray) to keep me camera ready. The exercises just imparted that healthy glow. 

GRAPE TIMES Tried to recreate our luscious wine and cheese experience from Traverse at home with a few friends. As usual, we pay attention to the first description and then it dissolves into our usual chaotic, everyone talking at once funfest with wine. Auxerrois (white), Pinot Noir and a fancy Reisling paired with two pungent aged dutch cheeses yummm. And we still had room for german chocolate cake and brownies because you know chocolate goes with everything. I may have to do it again with the rest of the gang because we over bought the main ingredients as usual.  Funny how several wine samples encourage an open wallet, but all good. We are blessed to have a great group of friends who are fun, literate and interesting. Sure, we talk about ailments and grandkids, but mostly we laugh at the constantly changing lunacy of life. 

We also finally settled one of those great mysteries of wine. Why are some bottles corked, and some screw capped? Cost? Nope we were told if the bottle is corked you can store it for a time while screw-on cap libations are meant to be devoured quickly. Usually not a problem when we have guests. I may have to start having wine with dinner every night to make a dent, however on our latest collection.

                                                     

Oh yes. For the right-wingers who think we should lighten up and smile about marmie's mocking photo dressed as the pope, try making fun of the orange one and wait for ICE to break down your door in the night. Funny how that works. Lighten up all you magot culters, as there is so much to mock with your glorious leader.   Peace out....💚    💙💛