IT'S SPRING

We have a friendly contest in my family each year to herald Spring. Whoever spots the first legitimate robin and posts a picture of said robin gets bragging rights for the year.  Cannot be on the wing or too fuzzy to guess what it is. Since the accusation of fake robins on the wing one year, the rules have tightened somewhat. However I understand this year's winner tempted life and limb in a bank drive thru to obtain the prize winning picture so we're giving it to her.

I have changed the wreath on my front door as my grudging admission that yes, we have broken the back of winter's wrath.  That is not to say we won't have 8 inches of snow the first week of April, but as a seasoned Michigander, I know that is merely a last teaser from Mother Nature.  Yes, Ma'am we know you are in charge, but really this is it right? This winter was rather coy with days and weeks of warm weather and very few snowstorms. 

We did experience some rather dicey icy days that gave the school kids their days off.  I swear, sounding like an old person, we did not have that many days off when I was a schooler in Grand Rapids because we knew IT WAS WINTER and you get bad weather.  I think it is the proliferation of more buses, facebook and twitter that has galvanized parents to complain and threaten school officials if their little precious has to get their little "feets" wet or wear a winter coat.  Currently most teens wear flip flops and no coats through the winter so I see the parents' point. Though I still don't know why I pay so much for buses when literally 100s of parents drop and pick up their kids rather than subject them to the bus.

However I really believe in Spring when I see the chipmunk emerge from under the deck, or wherever he hides out during the winter and watch the squirrels cavorting across the yard and up and down the trees in wild pursuit.  I assume the squirrels are couples or they could be chasing some new tail, so to speak.  Hard to tell as with most species other than my own they all look alike to me. Much chatter occurs when the chasee believes the chaser is not committed to the game. Much like taunting or trash talking at a sporting event. I never see the finale or consummation of that mad dash around the yard, but I assume it is fruitful as new smaller squirrels emerge at a later date. 

I have to believe if they think it's time to bring new life into the world and chances of survival are good, then all is well.

THAT WAS THE WEEK THAT WAS!

The Art of the Deal and Master Negotiator is looking more like the Flim Flam Man after the failure of the "new and improved" health care plan.  Not all his fault of course. The Repugnants have had 7 years to work on repeal and replace.  They seemed to have failed on both accounts. Apparently the American public is a bit savvier than they anticipated and they let their legislators know.  Head ring master lives the old PT Barnum philosophy that "there's a sucker born every minute". Not enough suckers yet, to be crude. However, if people keep condemning the press, and if the press does not maintain the highest standards, these charlatans could actually succeed at one of their schemes to further rape the American public. Keep strong people! I haven't seen the public so galvanized since the Viet Nam era.

One longs for the days when newscasts had to provide both sides of the news, all opinions, actual facts for each side, etc. so that we could make more intelligent decisions and understand what is actually the truth. Once the gloves came off, conservative talk show hosts and alternate news stations only had to relay "their" interpretation of the facts. Thus we went from being a reasonably informed public to one that seeks out whichever talking head supports their "OPINION".  Not facts, opinion. 

However that trend served the "legitimate" press well as they were able to report the number of people who would lose their insurance; publicize starving the elderly and children by eliminating programs that "don't show a return"; and explain how the wealthy would see a tremendous tax break, including his "highness" emperor Donald, under the "replacement" plan.

As this administration is so arrogant and does not even pretend to cover up their misdeeds, we do get to follow along like kids waiting for the next installment of their Saturday night funnies with the silly, tragic or downright immoral tactics being applied.  The Pres actually threatened legislators with what would happen to them if they did not pass the legislation.  Then he says he never promised it in 64 days and that it's the Democrats' fault. True, he promised it on day One. LOL

Do you suppose he now understands that he is no longer the CEO and dictator of his own company? This is the US of A. We don't follow along as dumbly and blindly as you imagined we would. Then losing face in an open committee hearing (darn broadcast news) that yes, we have been investigating your involvement with Russia and no, there is no evidence that you were wire tapped by President Obama. Though why this didn't come out before the election still rankles.

Then of course his infantile reactions to the Time questions which essentially ended with "...well whatever (facts) I'm President and you're not..." Really? That is the equivalent of childhood taunts of "I'm rubber, you're glue, etc. etc. or the ever popular tongue sticking out going nah nah nah nah nah nah." He is an equal opportunity embarrassment both home and abroad.

After his tough week, (poor baby) he is off to another golf course this weekend, that he owns, where he will "be holding meetings in the clubhouse".  Gosh I do believe I swallowed some vomit there. After claiming he would never be a slug like Obama he will be at work 24/7 not golfing somewhere. 7 times in 8 weeks Donald has been golfing somewhere at tremendous cost and inconvenience to the nation, the States that he drops in on and the cities where he holds property. And whatever happened to his vow (which is an ethics violation btw) that he would not take any money from foreign powers. That of course is ongoing not only for the Donald but for his staff members as well perpetuating deals personally favorable to them who are also covered by the same ethics laws.

The week also saw installation of his daughter in the West Wing with security clearances reserved for the highest advisers?  WTF?  I am going to start my own rumor and see how far it goes. DT is suffering from early stages of Alzheimer's and requires family and trusted scum bags around to cover it up. You heard it here first folks.....

Ok, he did say one thing of value this week.  He pondered that perhaps he needs to work with both sides of the aisle to get things passed.  You think?

AT LEAST HE LOOKED PRESIDENTIAL...

He looked, spoke and acted Presidential in his latest speech to Congress.  Wow, have we lowered the bar or what?  The man has had ample time to grow up and understand the gravity and importance of the post to which he has been elected.  Now I realize he's old and probably wanders around the White House in his robe at 6:30 at night and hanging up on the Australian Prime Minister as"it's late and I'm tired"  Enjoying his nighttime snack of Lay's potato chips. Must be why he has to take every weekend off to go to Florida and play golf. Between his wife in New York, his children's travel and his own trips he has already cost the taxpayer about 11 million??? Not bad for one month.

But really the best 70 to 80 percent of Americans can say is "he seemed Presidential". Again it is early in his administration and I admit it would be hard to offer anything but sweeping campaign-like utterances. Fun Fact:  he claimed 94 million Americans are unemployed. Gosh! But apparently he counted students, retirees and caretakers.  If that number was true then 40% of us are unemployed rather than the true figure of 4%.  Even when he "looks Presidential" he has to use "alternative facts".

 However to give the devil his due, he has managed to nominate bottom feeders to office (another one Sessions) now has links to the Russians. Put a self-proclaimed bigot/racist pig in charge of his administration (the Puppet Master perhaps?) Designated a press secretary that I would love to play poker with as he cannot hide his emotions when he is forced to justify the latest lies and has insulted more than one world leader; held a campaign rally in Florida; created chaos and hatred of immigrants with his impulsive and ill-conceived executive orders; ordered a raid which killed a decorated officer which he now  blames on his generals and Obama.  The buck stops at the Oval Office buddy-get used to it. Suggested a budget to bolster a bloated military at the expense of every program that makes life worth living and admirable in our great country.  Of course if those extra funds are meant to shore up the VA hospitals and staff, increase active soldiers' pay, take care of our homeless vets and supplement military pensions I'm all for it.  But no, it's for shiny new equipment, though to be fair we have to replace the equipment lost on that mission mentioned earlier. And finally, but not all, terrified the 20 million utilizing the Affordable Health Care Act and all folks relying on social security and medicare. Not bad for his first month. 

The list goes on and on.  The hate crimes that have occurred can be laid directly at his door as he has ushered in an era of hatred and fear based on color, religion, ethnic background. If we do not protest these actions this all of course translates into justification for a hard crackdown of our freedoms and totalitarian actions by the federal government, i.e., Trumpet and his cronies. He has attacked the legitimacy and function of the judges and the courts; the concept of a free and unfettered press.  Can the Supreme Court and Congress be far behind? What we are left with is a dictatorship with dissent a hapless victim dealt with in the dark of night.   So many have said it better than I.

"What you do is what matters, not what you think, or say, or plan." (Jason Fried) We know what he thinks. He tweets it like a deranged fool, little old man afraid of his shadow.

"Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul" (Edward Abbey) Just because he says it doesn't mean he believes it although he has not used any filters up to this point.

And of course the original sentiment.."By their deeds you will know them. Ye shall know them by their fruits" (Matthew 7:16)

Do not be fooled by what a man says, judge him by his deeds.  And thus far his deeds should strike fear.  "We were told and still we persisted".  So we shall.