1 DOWN 207 TO GO (January 27)

NATURE Well, our deer "herd" is up to seven at this point which includes three bucks complete with headgear. Our hope is one will shed his bony crown in the backyard adding to the basement collection of their brethren who were actually taken in a more violent manner.  Mounts obtained through corn, apples and bread means less tracking through the woods and having to extract the trophy the old-fashioned way via shotgun and butcher. We are so over venison and are more staunchly beef customers from our local farmer. 

 I waited a week after the election to offer my take, but things are moving fast so lets' get it on. 

SO IT BEGINS Speaking of violence. Thought a few fights would break out last Monday between the deliberately? impassable hat of Lady M and the "little more than a bra" on Bezo's lady. But the best was of course, watching the rumple family have to sit through a sermon where the pastor used the bible and Jesus' words. As it led to "religious" supporters calling for her head it tells you a lot about "fake Christian" supporters of all things orange. You know the folks that want the ten commandments posted in public school but don't necessarily want to follow them.  Have any of them ever been to church?  That's how pastors talk, it's kind of in the job description, duh... No, I did not watch the inaug, only the best news clips. I would not add to that Neilson rating. 

Though the week was amazing in its speed and cruelty let's just hit the first day where marmalade managed to alienate:  Christians (no swearing on bible, trashing a reverend); native Alaskans and all native Americans (Mt Denali); seniors and the poor (rescinded Biden orders on lowering prices on prescription drugs for Medicare and Medicaid recipients); environmentalists (only developed country to repudiate climate agreement, removed regulations and drilling restrictions on oil industry); women and minorities (rescinding all DEI programs, firing any federal govt employees employed therein, firing anyone who does not report other employees and going after private companies that have DEI programs); Hispanic-Americans (eliminate Spanish White House website and twitter account and random round-up of all things brown) all legal citizens born in the USA (weren't all of our families illegal at some point?); all Congress who passed the law on TikTok; young people and others (refusing to accept any gender but M F); the world (renaming bodies of water, withdrawing from the World Health Organization, halting American programs feeding and medicating the world's poor, threatening our allies) all patriotic Americans including his highest level advisors-you knew he was a snake when you took him in Vance (pardoning ALL the thugs from January 6 regardless of the amount of violence they perpetrated-those released are already promising revenge); while also suspending any truth and civility. All kidding aside, keep up the good work and let the lawsuits commence as he always takes the lowest and most controversial road. You might say he punches down not up (Denmark, Panama not China or Russia)

Of course, many of these issues will be challenged. Always watch what he does and do not be distracted by what he says as that is a deliberate ploy to keep folks from looking too closely as they explode over the latest tabloid worthy comment. Media-quit following him around and reporting everything breathlessly. He's playing you. 

Now he has demanded by executive order that interest rates be lowered immediately. Wow who knew it was that easy. BTW it's already been brought down to 2.9% under Biden with the world marveling at the amazing recovery of our economy.  Though if you have even a smattering of knowledge about economics (gosh he's supposedly a business school grad) arbitrarily lowering interest rates with no thought to the market forces and the money lenders desire to make money and the shortages it would create would lead to tad bit of absolute economic chaos. Of course, he had to promise something after his interview with Hannity (FOX) where he claimed (OUT LOUD) he really didn't care about the economy (virtual smacking of hand to forehead). Meanwhile Ukraine-Russia war drags on and eggs and gas are still expensive. 

The list goes on, but Congress better get a grip on whatever power they think they might still have. Removing government watch dogs is THEIR purview etc., etc.  And it's even money on whether Hegseth will fail after a crisis forces him back into alcoholism or the Russians compromise and blackmail him based on his widely reported "bad behaviors". Even McConnell voted against him so perhaps he's (McConnell) grown a pair since he's not running again. Inexperience is the least of it, but kind of like a failed businessman becoming president.

ON ANOTHER FRONT Grocery shopping on the weekend is one task I am happy to forego in retirement. Just came back from Meijer and the atmosphere of crowded aisles, reckless cart manipulation, small children under and over foot and the subtle yet mad dash to the checkout are manic. People drive their carts like they drive cars. Not looking where they are going; not paying attention to anyone around them; cussing at the stock people who also block the aisles. Meanwhile the item I went for was gone-wiped out-nada. Considering it was hot dog buns for the church supper I'm scratching my head. Not a whole lot of barbecues going on in January. Well, the cheap buns were gone anyway. One dude at self-checkout had a cart piled to the ceiling with a month's worth of goodies. Kind of tempted to see how the hell he was going to bag all that & fit it back in the cart. On the plus side I got a refund for a can of defective grill spray no questions asked.  But then walking to the car I realized I forgot to buy....grill spray.😕  Peace- any way you find it- out 💚   💙💛

                                                                  

                                           

SMATTERING OF THOUGHTS (January 20)

WEATHER OR NOT? Apparently, it's Spring?  

Well, not according to these guys with their frantic seed shoveling all day. 

We have reached the depths of hell (in the part of hell that freezes over). Tree branches snapping off their fingers in the wicked wind. Ice fishers and dare devils drag racing across the ice in their ATV's. Ducks frantically sipping at a crack in the snowy landscape to scarf up a small weed and a drink. Chiseling off frozen tundra that used to be a driveway. Yes, it's time for the...BIG COAT. You know, the one that makes you twice the size and forces you to move like an awkward penguin. Though actually penguins only look awkward when they are not in the water. 

You know, the coat you can't get the seatbelt around; the one that hinders your ability to move the steering wheel freely due to its immense bulk. The one that knocks fragile objects off store shelves: envelopes small children with a nose peeking out as the only sign of life; taking up two seats everywhere and with the nylon shell causing sparks whenever you touch someone or something-ouch. And the mittens! Oh must have the monster mittens as gloves will just not do. All you need to do is add the snow pants and you're ready for January in Michigan. But darn it, we are not letting go of our sports shoes as we don't need no stinkin' boots.

Myself I have 3 coats based on particular factors. Stylish all white cutie for say temps in the 30's. The heavy leather motorcycle jacket for cold and dirty activities. Finally, the bulk-meister black coat that zips up through the hood and beyond for reealllyyy cold weather and snow shoveling. Why are there so many black coats? We all look like dashes of pepper sprinkled on a salt colored field.

MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY Thank goodness for Hallmark, DVR and PBS Monday. That was a donation well-spent. May your flags always sag. Actually, as it is such a big deal to the narcissist, fly your flags...upside down. I was told a man stated if he saw any flags flying full staff in his neighborhood, he would personally lower them. He said he can do it all day as he is a "retired vet".  A bit of irony in that. Apparently, Pres Nixon had no problem with it as flags were at half-staff during his inauguration due to the recent death of President Truman. But you know how thick marmalade gets in the cold air. 

Speaking of which, by moving the ceremony indoors, his "fan" base is whining they've spent $1000's to come to Washington DC to see the spectacle. They can't buy groceries (eggs) but they spent $1000's to see a felon get crowned? He didn't lie when he said he didn't care, he just wanted your vote. Can't you take a joke? And Madam Obama got roasted for not attending due to the pretender who, oh I don't know, threatened her family and ghosted the peaceful transfer of power. Can't wait for the new FLOTUS to get pilloried. We're going to miss the honesty but enjoy the payback.

TICKING CLUCKS And for the whole hour or so folks missed TikTok -geez. Full disclosure, I don't use the app or really give a flying f--fig about it. But I have to point out that users, in a frantic frenzy about losing their dance-off platform, flocked to two other CHINESE-OWNED APPS! One is even called the Little Red Book which is the communist manifesto. Whatever happened to history? Oh yeah, we ban books that make us feel uncomfortable (or knowledgeable). What is it we don't get about China? They are not our friend, they control everything their people think, say or do and they are SPYING on us. Are we just that naive?

POINTS OF LIGHT As the avid fisherperson (OH) always likes to see who's on the water when we go to the lake house, we drove through the unplowed State Park. Ice was thick enough for quite few intrepid souls on the lake. However, the aforementioned roads also sported icy bottoms, and the big Silverado zigged when it should have zagged (Shitske). We travel with salt and shovel but were no match for the giant hole leaving us with the back end solidly entrenched and we ain't pushing no truck out of a hole. We had no less than 3 and 1/2 vehicles stop to help. I say 1/2 as one was a "Karen" who just ran her mouth about if we do 1-2-3 we will get out guaranteed and then they drove on their merry way. Eyerolls commenced. 

One gentleman stopped and brought his own shovel to the party, and pushed, but to no avail. I humorously got out of the truck and immediately fell to the dirt/snow scaring the hell out of the kind gentleman. Had to get on all fours to get up but I made it. Note to Self: Always fall on the fake knee. A third dude offered to call a tow truck (I have AAA) but number 4 had a big-arsed Ford 150 and a brand-new roll of cable. Hooked us up and out of the hole in 2 seconds. The OH said Ford guys like to lord it over the chevy guys especially when they have a monster 4-wheel drive. We were sufficiently grateful and were happy to "rely on the kindness of strangers" (channeling Blanche DuBois). 

Nobody asked anybody who they voted for, and no politics lit up the scene. This is the America I know and love. Most of us would help out when we can without a thought. I still remember getting up at 4:30 am one Winter morning to that unmistakable sound of spinning wheels. In a foot of snow we both got up and dressed and started pushing our new neighbor's car back into the driveway. Hopefully we can continue caring even though the next four years could make it uncomfortable. We're an independent and ornery bunch, but we sure come together when the need is there. Peace out....💚  💙💛

MID-JANUARY STUFF (January 13)

 THOUGHT -- For those of us who still watch network TV do you ever notice advertising is focused for needs we didn't know we had for products we didn't know we needed?

 Medications that have so many side effects they seem worse than the malady.  For previously unknown conditions like belly button lint emulsifier; bi-lateral elbow conjunctivitis; smelly parts disease; jazz hands, you name it. Then be sure your doctor knows you're taking this med and as someone who has been referred several times to "specialists" I'll give you that one. But the kicker? Do not take if you are allergic to the ingredients contained in the medication. How the hell do you know what's in the med until you break out in itchy little red spots, start speaking in tongues or your throat starts closing up? Do they track that? For example, I am "supposedly" allergic to penicillin due to some itching about 10 days after taking it eons ago. Then I was issued an anti-biotic recently when I got a mild case of shingles that is not recommended for folks allergic to penicillin. Within 3 days I broke out in beautiful little hives...while in the dentist chair. News flash-I now know for certain I am allergic to penicillin! Caused quite the consternation in the dentist's office though. Wait until I tell them on my next visit that hives were the penicillin, but I also was active for shingles. Does anybody else think that's even funnier? 

One has to be their own advocate and expert to track down their symptoms as the doctor fumbles through several weeks of trying to figure out your issue in the 15 minutes the insurance middleman gives them to diagnose and to seek permission to refer you to someone who might know. Just a process of elimination by diagnosing what "it usually is" based on their experience. Sometimes it works and sometimes..... I practiced employee safety like that all the time-same scenario of the middleperson's non-expert opinion "Well how do you know this process will work-can you give me stats on its success?" Clue-it's going to cost money or down-time so prove it works before you try it. Umm-ok, which is why all safety and health skates carry a Magic 8 Ball with them on inspections as education and experience do not mean much. Like Facebook experts today.

FUNNY FACT-- Early in my career I tracked the amount of water each well pumped every day for the City. I calculated off paper venturi charts the well folks would drop off each morning. BORING. Made a game out of it by calculating what time the most water was used and determined if a television show was popular by the "flush" factor.  If a lot of water was used at a certain time,15-minute or 30-minute intervals of an hour, the show was a success as people all hit the WC at the same time. Crude, but passes the time. Now folks just carry their phone/IPAD into the comfort station with them and don't miss a beat - eecchh. 

IS IT JUST ME or 

-- does everyone struggle with what and where to tip? Still trying to figure out why servers are fighting not to receive minimum wage - just jack up the price of food like they do overseas and pay them. I love when they give you the handheld card reader and say, "I'll just look the other way while you put in the tip". And I just read that folks who track this sort of thing are concerned that the average tip has dropped to 19.4%. Sh---, as the price of food has gone up post-pandemic aren't they making more in tips now? I also think we're getting p.o.'d about tip jars showing up everywhere. I expect to see them at the pharmacist (thanks for not guessing on my Drs writing), store check-out, self-serve gas station (when you have to go in to get the receipt), operating rooms, etc, etc. How much is enough? If 4 people had to lift me onto the conveyor belt for my back surgery, do you tip all four or have them share a token? Is it based on who did what or who has the most education or experience. See what a muddle it's all become?

-- does anyone besides me think the Zehnder's chicken dinner is just blah? Just saw a show extolling the great taste of the dinner and their best-selling chicken seasoning mix and I go what? It's as bad as cruise ship food was (again just me maybe), but my thought is they serve so many people they "bland" the crap out of it to cut down on complaints. 

-- does anyone else notice what women are wearing more than what men are wearing? I'm guilty of that one. Guys seem to get away with one suit and several sets of khakis and t-shirts. So probably that's just my self-perpetuating issue. I'll watch the news or a hosted show and notice the guy rotates 2-3 (blue, black, gray) suits while the lady dresses in something different every time-why do we do that? Also explains why we can spend 17 hours shopping for an outfit. It's legit. And shoes! How I love to look at shoes. I'll point a cute pair out to the OH and he says Huh? That's not what he notices - sly dog. Except Steve Harvey on Family Feud. His clothes scream look at me! All you see are a lot of teeth and a chartreuse or scarlet suit.  He be crazy with fashion.

OH DEER/DEAR As we are continually visited by the wraiths of winter being in direct line to the Grand River, we have taken particular note of one proud father? brother? distant stranger buck. Rack still proudly intact he chaperones three younger beasts. One little one loves to run in circles and hops up and down trying to get the others to play or whatever. I immediately think "it's always the joyful one that gets capped first". At any rate we invested in a bag of deer feed corn cobs and pop a few in his lay-down area. Since the corn all disappears overnight, someone or something is being fed. 

                                         

Lions #1. All MSU teams won this week so all good. Oh crap, it's snowing again. Peace out 💚 💙💛

SOMETHING TO ROAR ABOUT (January 5)

"What's the difference between death and taxes? Congress doesn't meet every year to make death worse"  Well I guess if you're not on Medicaid or Medicare...

 Interesting times. In opposition to the small red majority there was the bright spot of Elissa Slotkin obtaining and keeping the Senate for Michigan at least 1/2 blue. I still remember meeting with Senator Stabenow when she was a Michigan politician - very down-to-earth and passionate. Working for local politicians provided me some interesting introductions and allowed my daughter to pose for the day as the "daughter" of a UP Michigan congressman and sit at a desk at the Capitol. I even attended some political meetings (read donation dinners) at election time though never contributing as I considered them a "work assignment". The escort of J. Feiger to meet the Mayor was one of the low points I will admit considering the last encounter with him was him badgering my "cops" as they testified during the trial of his ax-wielding client.

MARMALADE I intend to limit my comments about marmalade and his handler, though I am in favor of people flying their flags upside down (nation is in trouble). His whole tantrum of flags flying at half -staff (not half-mast you ignorant bozo unless your ship is sinking) during his inauguration claiming it's a democratic "all about me" moment is so selfishly and typically ironic. Not to mention it's been the custom for a century, and formalized by President Eisenhower, to observe 30 days mourning with flags at half-staff for the death of a president. Don't worry, we won't inconvenience the nation upon your demise except for a few fireworks perhaps. 

In speaking of President Carter who spent his life in service to others, guess who says he's going to the funeral? A person who maligned this man's legacy every chance he got-guess, he doesn't understand the strength of altruism- got an invite? I imagine the family would find his presence as disturbing as a polecat (skunk) at an outdoor wedding. 

Also, I am so happy that red Grand Rapids is on the hook for about $50,000 for marmie's rallies there which the campaign refuses to pay. He always assumes it's his money. So typical as he never pays any legitimate bill and refuses to pay the judgements against him in court. Yet half the country believes he's a good caretaker for the country. We should all give that strategy a whirl following the leader.

JP BON MOTS We had the pleasure of the boy for several days during his Holiday break. He's easy. Feed him, take him bowling and the IPAD does the rest. He also helped Grandpa by crawling under the lake house to put a lightbulb in with our water pipes. Winter has cometh and trying to keep the water pipes from freeezeth. It takes a very small, wiry person to cram themselves into the mailbox sized opening. The guys who worked on replacing the bladder cussed throughout their ordeal. I warned them to send skinny guys.  

Back to JP, we do get some interesting conversations on the road. First, he said he didn't know how we could drive with one hand and make it look easy. His dad lets him drive his big Ford SUV on occasion short distances. JP was backing it up and putting it behind my car (a comment about whether my insurance was paid up alerted me) and he said it's very much different than driving the Quad-more power. Well, I should hope so. For the second New Year's he got to try a little vino. He begged to try it again and about died, gagging and eventually spitting it out in the sink. I said we should let him try something rather than very dry pinot noir, but Grandpa said no sense letting him know there is a lot sweeter stuff. As if we could hold the water back behind that dam when he gets out in the world.  

The big one was during our discussion of someone having a baby. He claimed that he could not be the father of a girl. He only knows how boys are and boy parts! (I kid you not). I said Grandpa was a girl dad and he taught his Mom how to throw a ball, golf, fish and go camping. I said it's an on-the-job training thing and if things get too intimate a female partner is helpful. He is a deep thinker LOL!

Busy week ahead and Lions getting ready to play GO HAWAIIN BLUE! Though a dude on Next Door Digest (Facebook for neighborhoods) wrote  GO LOINS, SUPPORT OUR LOINS, GO LOINS.  Well, I hope he doesn't injure himself with that mentality....Victory for our loins and peace out  💙💙