a wee little man

Mary Beth's sermon today was about the little tax collector who climbed a tree in Jericho to see Jesus.  After that meeting he changed his ways.  I wonder how many folks in this day and time would do the same.  Certainly not the current administration.  As Belle would say, "It's just a thought."  She is strictly a news reporter on the state of our union.  Which ain't looking good, by the way.  As a chief tax collector the wee little man was not very popular. But he eventually got the meassage.

The storms are over for now and it has been a rough 5 days for the South.  Now we look at river levels to see where the floods are.  Hwy 210 from Fowlkes to  412 is closed from what I read.  That's because of that low spot down by the Forked Deer.  Get on 412 in town!  Next will be Southtown and the Mississippi bottoms.  That is more bad news for local farmers in addition to the tariff thing.  wWe shall see how many honest folks are in Congress.  Mr. Smith, where are you when we need ya'.

My faith tells me that all will be okay.  It's a day by day thing and I should probably watch less YouTube and get ready for spring planting.  Hostas are already up in addition to all the other transplants.  The expensive hydrangea didn't make it because I didn't dig a deep enough hole.  Note to self:  Dig deeper!I think we will see the sun tomorrow.  Maybe.  Hopefully.  I like the sound of thunder but really?  This has been a bit much.  

So.  What do we do if we think that our country is going in the wrong direction?  I say we stand back up and hit the streets.  Protest peacefully about what is happening.  Unless you are a gazillionaire life is about to go down the toilet here.  I was actually surprised to get my SS payment this month.  And blessed.  

Take off all your hats and speak proudly and loudly about unethical behavior.  Feed the poor.  Tax the rich.  Do the next right thing ^j^

hands off

Today is the appointed time to voice your umm....unhappiness over what this federal administration is doing to us.  Of course POTUS is playing golf again so he won't have to be bothered with it.  The closest rally to me was in Jackson and the weather is kinda' dicey so I am doing my part at home.  I've been trying to find a live feed of the Jackson march but it must have been censored.  Good news travels slowly ya' know.  In the middle of a 5 day long monsoon, I am sitting here in my Bernie Sanders hoodie protesting virtually.  That way I don't get sent to El Salavador.  I hope.  I would kill myself before being treated like that.  

The tariffs have rocked our world in so many ways and Trump says his actions are final.  We shall see.  With all the lost money for people who are looking forward to retirement, he may have to reconsider.  Even Repulicans say that it should go before Congress.  I have never been a big fan of Rand Paul, but he is standing up and being bi-partisan.  So is Mitch.  Slowly but surely, for whatever reason, representatives are attempting to work across the aisle to get us out of this mess.  Our democracy is not a game show except for the "You're fired!" part.  What really blows my mind is the way that so many folks still drink the koolaid.  Do they now know that this will affect them too? No.  because they think his highness will deliver them from the Democrats.  Pretty sad, in my opinion.  

There have been times in history.....many of them, where Dems and the GOP worked together for our country.  Now is not that time.  The Democratic party is at fault as well for not standing up and insisting that Biden be taken out of office sooner than six months before a major election. They threw Kamala under the train just like Frank Underwood did to his victims.  It happens on both sides.

I feel pretty grateful not to be involved with all of that.  I don't expect to live that much longer so I would love to be able to eat fresh food and enjoy life here on the farm in my golden years.  I am about 10 years younger than our POTUS and idk how many years older than his imported wife.  One of my trolls accused us dems of being sore "losers" . Honey please.  You are preaching at the wrong person.  He also accused me of being a part of everybody not getting along.  He mentioned something like hatred and whatnot.  Dude please!

It's all out of my control but I will stand back up when it counts.  You can be assured of that ^j^
looser 

there goes the 'gentral

Welp corporate America.  Y'all are officially screwed as of "Liberation Day."  These tariffs will cut short your profits on foreign goods made with slave labor.  We have not been raped and taken advantage of by these countries of which you speak, Donald.  Your cabinet is crumbling under your feet while you play Big Ike with the world.  I saw it coming, but I didn't know it would be this scary.  

I live in Nortwest Tennessee which is currently under a severe weather watch for the next three days.  Round two is about to cross the Big Muddy and on and on until who knows when.  Then it stalls and we get bigly rain that will produce flooding.  It is planting season for all areas affected so that will be a challenge to get the crop in.  Around here we get backwater from the tributaries of the Mighty Mississippi including the Forked Deer.  It has only been a month since South Dyersburg was flooded.  Oretty soon, goodbye Dodges.  

In 2010 we had the big one that trapped us on Council Road.  Bubba called me and said that the headwater was coming and to go get supplies.  Twenty minutes later we had to catch a ride in the back of Clara's work truck to get up the hill.  After that, nothing could pass through, even a tractor.  The water finally went away and we got back to real life.  That was a pretty magical time for me and LP.  All we had was each other and the neighbors.  James took Daddy up to the by-pass in a boat so he could go see the doctor that he later left because Mama got in a mood over a Medicare statement.  She was like that about things that mattered.

RFK is gonna let it "run the course" through the Avian flu deal so, umm.  That ain't good since he's all anti-vax.  I do believe that the Covid shots kept me from dying, but they also took a physical toll on my kidneys.   I figure that  plus Prolia did me in on that deal.  Sometimes you need to just stop treating and start living.  

Since I began this post two days ago, the stock market has crashed and Trump is gone for a long weekend of golf.  Also, the South has been hit with multiple waves of tornadic weather that is far from over.  The biggest threat when it's over is flooding of local rivers.  This farm is totally surrounded by the north fork of the Forked Deer which means we may get trapped again.  

All of this is in God's hands, so keep the faith ^j^

stand (back) up

I was raised in a Repulican family and voted that way many times in my life.  I can guarantee you my parents are rolling over in their graves concerning what is happening right now.  The shift to downsizing began when my father was still a USDA employee.  They closed the Dyersburg office and he was required to travel for several years before he could retire.  He went to inspect the Cuban boat people coming over to make sure there were no plants riding over with them. That was the year Lauren was born and he was in Florida on Thanksgiving.  We took a family pic of the three month old first grandchild posed with the rest of us.  There was California sometime during those days and other inconvenient places for a guy who just wanted to be at home with his cows.  He retired as early as he could at the age of 55  to much hoorah.  I don't remember when the dinner was, but I was there.  His years in the Air Force gave him enough time to be able to do that. He was still manager of the farm for many years.  Tim Bruce took his job and ended up doing airport duty in Memphis.

Daddy loved his job and his country.  Raised as a depression era kid, son of a tenant farmer, he survived growing up with three sisters out toward Roellen.  When he fell out of the barn loft and broke his arms, the sisters had to wipe his butt.  True story!  He was somewhere in the middle, age wise.  My favorite picture of his family is all of them gathered as young people.  Sister died first from colon cancer and was followed by Ginner and then Daddy.  Katherine Rose is the only surviving child of that brood.  And she is 90. We talk occasionally.  I will spare y'all the details of all the other deaths in the family.  They were numerous, just like with all families.

There are not many of us Staffords left.  Me, Bubba, Tommy, Susan and Pepper.  Plus LP and Reaves and Adam and Peyton.  Mama and Daddy were gifted with three grandchildren but never got to see Elizabeth Reaves.  They had been gone for several years when she was born.  Dat baby seriously loves being here on the farm.  I have moved since she was born from "the old house" to the "new old house."  We lived in Charlie's house for 34 years before it was remodel time.  Then I came back home to the cabin.  There is a spot over on the ancient handmade stairs where LP once sat with Bubba waiting for Thanksgiving dinner.  Precious stuff.  

I assume I will die while I am living here because where am I gonna go?  I cannot see to drive so my daughter takes me to where I need to go.  I still have to work because um...well you know.  My side job since retirement has been reporter/sitter/errand runner/you name it.  During the 80s I became very interested in palliative end of life care.  It's all about comfort and reviewing the life that is about to be gone.  My clients and I have talked a lot over the years about their memories.  During my three years of Joy I learned all about her life from East TN over here to West TN where she was a social worker at the local hospital.  That is actually how we met.  I was an employee there and both of my parents were volunteers.  Gaga helped to establish the gift shop that is no longer in operation.  

Sometimes I worry about what we are leaving for future generations.  But then, I know that God is in control and it will all be okay if I do the next right thing.  That is faith in action ^j^

oh karoline!

In my off time I tend to watch a lot of stuff on YouTube and caught a PBS clip today to the White House press secretary fielding questions from reporters about what's gonna' happen this week.  "Well, it's a beautiful Monday morning and we have a BIG week planned!"  I'm sure you do girlfriend.  Bossmen are steady grifting.

My lone peach tree has survived thus far.  Last year it was all bloomed out and the cold bit it.  No peaches here at Casa Poopie. We did have apples and those trees are beginning to bloom too.  My friend brought me some art supplies and I have dabbled but not really gotten serious yet.  Taking pics right now and thinking about it.  Mary Gwyn Bowen is an old and dear friend.  During the time of our 40th high school reunion, she took a lot of pictures to do her magic on the canvas.  It seriously is like a wildlife reserve out here.

Rosie the cat continues to bite and fight my bare feet in the early mornings when I get up.  It takes quite a few kicks to satisfy her so that she will go eat the food (that is already there.) I have taken to not putting my teeth in because they hurt which means it's time for an adjustment.  I will pencil that in along with a visit to the glasses guy.  I can't see shit.  

It's cold here.  Still spring I reckon, and Easter is coming ^j^

the money piece

I had no clue what that was when Nina and Chucky told me I had one at my last cut.  I am going gray slowly and have this Bonnie Raitt kind of thing going on up front.  Slowly moving away from color and embracing my old self, so to speak.  I'm proud to still have hair!  Today has been rainy and gloomy so I'm cleaning house and doing laundry.  LP is on the way to see Babygirl for the first time in about a month.  The weather has not been easy for travel plus there was a spring break cruise for Elizabeth and her family.  Mucho fun for all involved!

Mary Beth has been honing in on "the messy middle" that Jesus chose as his way of life.  Today she talked about the parable of the lost sheep and centered her sermon on how Jesus was criticized by the religious leaders for eating with sinners and tax collectors.  To which he replied that the shepherd would most likely go looking for the one lost sheep and carry it home to have a party.  Now, if I were the shepherd I would just take the lost one back to the flock and pray that the other 99 were still there.  But that is not our God.  He is with us when we are lost and lonely and will leave the rest to come get US!  

We have very "juicy" air around here right now with a week full of rain headed our way.  Lots of rain!  April showers, I suppose.  The tulips are already blooming and actually wide open because it's so warm.

My friend recently bought a used Tesla at a great price because, y'all know why.  I took a ride in it and was amazed at the quiet and simplicity with a bonus trunk up front.  We are of similar beliefs about the state of our union but dang.  A deal is a deal!  Plus it helps with the environment.  I think that the cybertrucks are the problem...lol.

Y'all be grateful and joyous and help others when you can.  It's what Jesus would do ^j^

censorship

You can call me a conspiracy theorist if you want.  It took me THREE tries to post a telling interview with Jeffrey Goldberg and his co-worker from the book festival in New Orleans.  Knowing that Zuck is on the "special list" at the White House, I have noticed that a lot of things that are  posted require a title and or multiple tries.  Kinda' like if you really want to do this, prove it.  On this particular piece I did.  What happened was a very sloppy mistake which they tried to blame on Goldberg who really did not like being in that situation.  They called him names and denied everything which led to his bombshell disclosure.  And the insults have continued.  

What strikes me most about this administration is their quick to judge stance.  "Everything wouldn't be like this if Biden had....xyz.  You cannot base a serious presidency on other people.  That is the coward's way out.  Just own up to mistakes and retain credibility.  Plus don't cut the safety net right out from under us.  That is all we are asking.  I have said before that I do believe the federal government's services contain some waste and abuse and I don't like that.  However, it takes time to sort out who's using who in this game and Musk has not done that.  Well, his team, I mean.  The one team " team member " we never hear about is that poor woman who got roped into being the official director.  Crickets from her.  And not her fault, bless her heart.  I wouldn't open my mouth either.  Had it been me, though?  I would have gone on my planned vacation to Mexico and talk to y'all when I get back.  The truth is, she was scared not to.  She needs her job, just like a lot of federal workers.  

Watching that student being kidnapped by the black cars and masks and whatnot gave me a chill.  Because it could happen to any of us if we say the wrong thing.  Political power at the local, state and federal level is a reality I have understood for years.  Corruption and greed are every day's business in the crony world. I campaigned hard for several candidates and watched over and over again as they took the loss and kept on trying.  My state is blood red so I am in the minority.  Not that I'm blue all the way, by any means.  I am more of a progressive.  Having voted for many Republicans, I chose to not vote on party lines but on the issues and the individual candidate.  But then I'm "woke" like that.

We had a crisis this morning as LP was talking to Reaves on the was to school and they accidentally ran over a cat.  I could hear the wailing on her mom's phone and it wasn't even on speaker.  It took both mamas and a long conversation to talk her through the trauma.  Life is hard to take when you are seven.  They chatted about all the cats and dogs we have had and what happened to them.  That is the basis of therapy, I believe.  Life is hard for all of us, actually.  Bad things happen and we are in deep pain.  My experience has been until we grieve a loss, it still haunts us.  One of my favorite songs of all time is Get Over It by The Eagles.  "I'd like to find your inner child and kick its' little ass!"  My one and only karaoke performance..lol.

I'm not sure how many days into Lent we are, but I see Easter coming ^j^