an awesome god

I was raised on traditional Methodist hymns as a part of the worship experience.  We sang them congregationally, in choirs and quartets and eventually on Powerpoint.  That was when the UMC raised up their heads from the "book" and welcomed the Holy Spirit as a mover and shaker.  The liturgy can be both comforting and annoying but there is something sacred about being in a church where other believers have set the stage for current dynamics which is still pretty much all dressed up.  Come as you are is more my style.  The only other church I've visited locally is a marriage of COC and evengelical that embraces contemporary worship.   However, I will manage to look presentable for my Daddy tomorrow.  

Luck was on my side because Diane exchanged the DVD player....no refund and I got the last one.  I hit the RB and got American Sniper for Halloween viewing.  Scary movie, right?  There was all kinds of candy shuffling going on there at Four Points, just saying.  For the first time in days there is no gas pain in my belly.  It's funny how our priorities change like that.  

I have questions people.  Is Lamar still alive?  What about Syria?  I hear that the RNC is severing their relationship with NBC which only leaves you-know-who.  Good look with that ya'll.  Your party is so fractured it's scary.  I swear, if Ryan plays nice as Speaker I will forgive you for McConnell and Perry.  Oh, and Jindal.  Now would be the time for Rand Paul to do something huge if he is what he says he is.  His stance on pot is realistic in a state where growing conditions are ideal.  As for special ops and ISIS, it's out of my hands so there you go.  

Boo~

kumbaya

Let's all hold hands and sing that one shall we?  Let me start by saying that I try to be perpetually upbeat even in the face of difficult odds such as those or recent months.  I googled the obits today to find when my aunt Ginner died which was January 2.  What a harbinger of the year to come.  My trusted friend Christy was there with us and made a rough situation very lovely.  She  left our workplace shortly thereafter because she's a mom and lives an hour away.  Once upon a time she was my sister-in-law.  Small small world.  It was her idea to get an ag jacket for somebody in Daddy's honor for Christmas. Her father was the high school agriculture teacher back in the day at Newbern.  

William the appliance guy just left and assured me that he would get estimates from his bosses and holla' back.  It's only a year and a half old man!  The motor is dead, board and all.  He tricked it with suction to make it drain and spin which was a cool trick.  No water spilled so maybe the tub's not cracked and it's just a seal.  We shall see.  After work errands included court house (twice) and THP office.  No SR22 yet so, umm.  It's Friday, you know?  Everybody's looking to scoot out the door.  There are three kids on a four wheeler with full gear cruising the lane and the dogs love it.  They even kept company with William down there on the kitchen floor and gave him kisses.  

We have a big day planned ( and I say that loosely ) for Sunday with Baby Sister and  company after church in the rain.  I knew there was a divine reason I found those big ass umbrellas.  I've had this stomach bug that is like diverticular IBS on Red Bull and it's about taken me down today.  Nothing hurts worse than that kind of cramping over an extended period.  Just so you know, I got the flu shot.  

One of the corporate mandated "lessons" we have at the sawmill is on empathy.  I've never noticed that one before and it kind of struck me as odd that you have to teach people how to do that.  I'm one of  those who picks up everybody's pain and carries it around with me while ignoring my own.  That, my friends, is the definition of co-dependency.  As always, it's in finding balance.  

My smiling little friend Gracie is a princess for Halloween parade and trick or treat, looking like a doll.  BabyMan is the hulk and he had that face on when he dropped by last night hollering for "TT".  This little dude can pull off the meanest baby face you've ever seen...kind of like those cardboard ones at the 'gentral.    I bought a player from them on the fly the other day for FORTY bucks and it lasted three days.  If you know me at all, you will figure out that there's no receipt in sight but there is a box.  I will be hitting up FourPoints Diane shortly.

Just talked to mama between a Bubba visit and dinner with friends.  They start rounding them up about 4:30 you know.  I threw out a request for good news yesterday and was amazed at how many people shouted it loud and clear.  That is what's up.  

Serenity ~  

 

climbing the ladder

As with all other business venues, it seems that being an O gives one license to bully when in the power position.  Big fish has eaten all the little ones and re-distributed them into other corporate entities with vague names and mission statements that include a lot of  acronyms.  What has happened in healthcare is exactly what corporate America planned for, beginning with Frist and HCA.  Long after he cashed in and kept on living the lavish lifestyle, Mr. Schiavo deals with his pain from having dignity removed from the death of a loved one while you do whatever the hell it is you do from the Caymans.

Of course I have no teevee but from what I heard Rubio looks good for the GOP because he's a minority and not a woman, and also less tea partyish and not nearly as dumb as Carson.  Trump looks fine simply because he has nothing but millions to lose.  Hey..we can have a game show from the White House if he's elected!   Ryan is the new speaker, no surprise there.  I've had my eye on him since my young work friend from the Grove tried to get me to support him back in the day.  That was before his group got fed to the wolves.

Several soul mates visited yesterday which was pretty timely.  Gay and I sat on the porch listening to doves cry and coyotes wail and she did a full fledged warrior woman connect with the universe thing right there on the porch.  Girl can seriously work a pain out of your body with MFR...just saying.  One day I couldn't walk...the next day I could.  I'd call that a miracle.Let's all pray for no rain on Sunday or at least a minimal downpour so we can make it to the church on time for the bell ringing.

Faith ^j^

a hot mess

Well, today's fire news made way bigger headlines than my little bean patch burning off an entire corner of Court Square that included a residence and a couple of businesses.  Mr. Larry lost his cat which makes me really sad so I think I'll give him our little bitch-bitch. He is a guy who has no legs and travels in a motorized wheelchair and can crawl with the best of them.  I don't know his story, but I'd assume he's a Vietnam vet.  There's always a little American flag flying in his breeze, if you know what I mean.  For those of you too young to remember that "conflict", Google it.  Oh hell...just go all out and ask your parents.  

My house is so a-clutter that I couldn't find an umbrella for this morning's monsoon so I scurried down to Mama's house to find not one but TWO.  Bingo...and they're big ones too.  She is much happier without the cast and looking forward to church this Sunday ( in the rain ) for All Saint's Day service.  It's a lovely tribute to those church members who have died during the previous year and the list continues to grow.  One of my acquaintances from kudzu bar days died of breast cancer after fighting the good fight for many years.  In her own month, no less.  Her hubs is a biker and they do a run for the cure every year.  Gotta love that kind of devotion.  

I hear that Congress passed a budget agreement which is a good damn thing because we the people need our basic services.  I never thought I would say this, but I support boots on the ground to get a grip with ISIS or L of whoever the heck they are.  These are not the religious jihadists that were stirring tribal warfare against their co-existing sect.  These are the ones who truly think there are virgins in heaven and they are the chosen ones. Sharia law is the devil in desert clothing particularly when recruitment efforts are fueled by today's access to technology.  What used to takes years to hear about has turned into a rolling re-play of Al Jazeera.  Locate the idiots, take their asses out and let their people go about their lives.  Had we done that up front in Iraq it would have saved a lot of lives.  And why didn't we?  Oh, yeah.  

Trump is not the devil nor is Hillary.  My friend Keith gently reminded me that "i love you but..." you want the same thing conservatives do, just by a different route.  And you know what?  He's right.  If I saw anybody who remotely has the integrity of Bernie Sanders up in that race, that person would have my full attention.  So far?  Ummm...Nada.  

Y'all stay dry or warm or cool or whatever you need to be.  As for me and mine we are inside with a washer that doesn't work, nasty ass floors and only 2 towels left.  Fortunately BG will be returning soon with Mom's washer and dryer  which are yet to be paid for but will be soon.  Honor thy mother, always.  Oh....and we're in the market for an owner financed vehicle with a decent down payment because the Cadi looks iffy.  

Peace and love ~

early to rise

In case anybody is interested, I slept three nights for 11+ hours and still ran out of gas around 10am today.  My labs are all normal so it must be some sort of chronic fatigue thingy.  Or maybe a Vitamin D deficiency.  Or maybe I just need a vacation!  I found out first hand today that being newly in BK does not lend itself well to finding a reliable used vehicle.  I have faith and all that but I seriously doubt the Camry will get the two of us to work during this upcoming probationary period.  And once again?  It's out of my hands as Westboro Baptist continues to hate and Congress continues to holla' Benghazi and emails.  Little do they know they're giving Bernie the power  he needs to kick ass and take names.

Pharma Bro got outed by a doctor or two which totally makes me LOL.  Jon Stewart looks really tired of the fight and is searching for some animal saving karma.  I would too brother...I would too.  I can only hope that Colbert will continue to rail against the injustice that is conservative politics in this god forsaken country.  Meanwhile in Beirut, a Saudi prince got busted for the biggest drug haul EVER consisting of lots of amphetamines to pump up rebel fighters like ISIS and who knows what.  Wonder what they'll do with all that contraband?

There is peace here which is what I crave.  My dogs don't require anything but a little food and water and me to sleep with.  One of my favorite guys in the whole wide world showed up at the sawmill today and I actually shouted OMGOMGOMG  and gave him a full on church hug.  You know how you don't realize how much you've missed a face until you see it?  Yeah.  That.

I stopped at Video World on the way home to get some Hempz and movies and found them putting up a new coat of paint. Life goes on, does it not?  All we can do is keep the faith.

set fire to the rain

Evidently Tuesday was a slow news day because my little fire made the front page of the State Gazette for which I've taken a lot of shit from people who know my inner pyromaniac and worry about my sanity at certain moments.  Like I've said many times before, I don't pay a lot of attention when I feel safe like here on Pecan Lane.  I damn near torched the whole place!  Fortunately the wind was coming from the south away from my house.  My friend Rebecca is married to a retired fire chief and she said he did it too so I don't feel so bad.

So, this hurricane is poised to hit land in an hour or so and permanently solve our immigration problem because umm, from the Pacific coast due east things like dicey as in mega/super/cyclone proving that Big Ernie is indeed mad about the effects of gluttony on his planet Earth.  Some of us have tried to make a difference but in the end, devils are sneaky and will take over in a heartbeat when believers don't unite.

I don't trust the Republicans worth a shit right now but you all know that.  That being said, I do believe I see a spark of hope in the American people that could save us if we just vote wisely.  It's not my job to tell you who to choose but your own responsibility to figure out who will stand behind their promises.  Enough about Benghazi and emails.  Get.Over.It.

Somehow this turned into cursive right mid-post which is sort of an accident because I can't see very well here in the dark.  It's rainy and chilly and all the damn ceiling fans  have busted bulbs.  Now,  there we go.  Back to normal whatever that is.  I got a call from a co-worker yesterday afternoon, frantic over a detail that got missed ( and it's a miracle a lot more of that doesn't happen.)  Out IT went down the same day that BG got a (late) release due to....you guessed it.  A computer system down.  I'm probably the only one who can see the irony in that.  I read an excellent piece on NPR today about how ER use has surged since the ACA went into effect.  Now before you all scream "Obama" listen up.  I have worked in that environment for almost 40 years and have seen the cycle.  Emergency rooms are perpetually clogged due to a lack of after office hour options, particularly for the elderly and poor.  Most of these people have multiple diagnoses, some of which are a result of trying to survive.  We call them frequent fliers sometimes, meaning that we know them by heart.  

Another member of our church, husband of a friend and former  co-worker died yesterday.  His OB/GYN partner preceded him by just a few weeks, sandwiched in between Doc and Daddy.  They were two of a men's quartet that was "world" famous around FUMC for belting out four part harmony.  And now there are two.  And now for today's pimp out!  Rachel has been a constant presence in my life because of the connection with her grandparents and my folks.  She is tough, savvy and eternally witty.  And she is now a newspaper reporter!

I finally visited BG's house yesterday and we sat on the deck quietly smoking and watching the cotton field.  It's a comfortable quiet now without either of us having to rattle on and on.  We are in this thing together for better or worse and there is an unspoken vow between us.   I cannot explain how full that makes my heart.

Grace ~

my chains are gone

I first heard that version of Amazing Grace when Nic sang at Granny's service in June right up there in the middle of new Curry chapel.  Pretty soon we were back up in there with Noler and the grands grieving like all get out once again. As with any death, there were details to attend to and papers to sign.  It took about a month to get his death certificate because he was a DOA transport from his residence in Jackson.  We never did find the truck key and an angel of a locksmith opened it so we could get big Red on the road to Lake County and Miss D.  Alli did one of her two stops at the crematory for a box so that his remains would come home with us plus a lot of potted plants and memories.  The pall is dry now and will be saved for a memorial ceremony (in a fire pit) at a later date, after the burn ban.  

When my father fell with a strangulated hernia shortly after, I thought it would be a quick fix because he was basically healthy.  He ate well, had some control issues and didn't know how to deal with mama trying to "fix" everything.  The next six weeks were a lesson in modern healthcare delivery, geriatric style.  The pain that he asked for help with turned into a huge mishmash of SNF and surgery until he eventually just gave up the ghost.  He was 83 and had lived a good life but still...that was a lot of shit to digest. None of us had the capability of caring for Mom at home so there she went to the cute little room at the home where sometimes they're nice, and sometimes grumpy.  She shares a bathroom with Ms. Bobbie and can't see to play bingo, so there you go.  Pure misery.  I sure do hope that cast came off today.  

This past week is a blur and I hope I remember enough about it to stay humble and grateful.  Every single person that I reached out to gave me their hand and held mine. I would name you all but that might open a whole 'nother can of worms so I digress.  Just know that this old girl is mighty grateful for the posse that's got my back.  

^j^  

burn baby burn

Why yes, I'm a dumbass on occasion.  Like yesterday when I was in a pyro mood and little a torched a little pile up front surrounded by leaves and dry ground.  It took about fifteen minutes for it to get away with me and out into the beans.  Joey's beans, by the way.  I sure hope he and corporate forgive me for being swept away in drama.  One of the many law enforcement/insurance/other people I talked with today reminded me that it's nobody's place to judge and you just need a place to go where God is the focus.  I'm down with that.

At my alternate work assignment today I ran into several old friends including the lovely and gracious Dianne who is soon to retire from the business.  Candyland and Sherry of cartwheel fame sat and talked with me today while the doctors ran around looking worried and rushed.  Peggy is a volunteer there who always helps with whatever is needed.  One big happy family, if you know what I mean.  I had a whole bunch of aspartame and a cherry lime-ade for lunch following by a sample of cherry slush *with nerds*.  And some doughnut holes.  People always bring food to the cancer center, you know.

Just got a phone call from the BG and she's feeling better about life so I am too.  I've been kind of amazed at how our family has rallied but then I expect nothing less.   When you let go and let Big Ernie do his thing, all is well.

^j^

more grace

I was on my way to pick up accident reports this morning when I got a phone call from the insurance company stating that there was a disagreement with the lien holder over payoff.  I could tell it would be something I couldn't drive and digest so I pulled off into the church parking lot and stopped.  The exchange escalated when we got a 3 way call going  and I sat there listening to the dealer and insurance person argue over the whole thing.  When I went to the dealer and explained the whole situation, he was kind enough to not hold me liable for the difference.  Once again, God is good all the time.  As it turned out he is familiar with all of us here on the farm and has ties through his wife.  Small world.

After that I visited Mom and we wheeled her up for lunch on the way out.  She goes back to the ortho doc tomorrow to check on progress with that broken wrist and see if the cast can come off, which I don't really expect.  Her bones are chalky and don't heal well due to old age and osteo.  I have cried so much this past few months that it feels as if life will never be "normal" again.  The essence of maturity and positive living is to recognize that there is no normal and it is what it is.  And also, that it shall pass.  When you think things can't possibly get any worse?  They will.  That's Murphy's law, by the way.

Lorna and I were talking yesterday about the whole state of the world and both of us know that it's just a matter of time until the zombies come.  That being said, we are determined to go out kicking and screaming like wild women.  More and more of my soul is raging against the injustice being done to we the people by wealthy robber barons who have politicians in their back pockets.  Thus, global warming....shitty economy...a swelling tide of homeless people  who need basic shelter and healthcare.  This isn't third world shit y'all...it's 'Merka.

And add to that list of blessings one day off for good behavior.  Peace out!

all the time

God is good you know.  We take for granted the importance of little things like hair color or shiny things but forget that when you lose your rights, you are at the mercy of the court.  Fortunately today we showed up in a tight little huddle and when the DA jumped out of his chair to approach the bench I dropped my head in prayer.  Shannah moved over to make eye contact with her while multiple bonds folks took notes.   An offer was made that was like um...too good to be true and, bless her heart, she thought she was going home.  Not yet dear, not yet.  That being said, she's halfway through and gets more time to digest it all.  Lerd.

Meanwhile, my house is still a wreck and I haven't visited Mama in a week.  She understands though because she's cool like that.  We've shared more true emotion during the past couple of years than ever before in our life as mother and daughter.  The dynamics of our family changed dramatically after Daddy died with each of us trying to cope in our own way.  Still reeling from Pnoler's death it just kind of added another whole ton of grief.  Not making excuses, just stating facts.  It's been a really tough year for the Stafford/Reaves clan.

Aside from those who were there on business, there were just the two of us family members waiting to see what's up.  It happened quickly, efficiently and I saw a lot of stuff in real life that I've only seen via film.  Am I humble and grateful?  You bet your sweet ass  I am.  To all of you who have prayed and hugged and listened to me babble, all I can say is "bless your hearts."

This too shall pass ^j^

the desert

I only thought I had seen it y'all.  Actually I have but I tend to be a drama queen when the load gets heavy because I shun big pharm other than only those 4  buck generic necessities.  I pay out the ass for prescription coverage and can't afford the co-pay.  Natural is better or so say my friends Carol and Lorna. I can thank them for oil from tea trees and coconuts to soothe my aging skin.  This is the point in life where you dig through drawers for your big girl panties and pray for wings because God is good...all the time.

Bad things happen on a regular basis and when they happen all at once, it's pretty hard to handle.  The older you get, the more intense the loss level becomes.  In a way, saying goodbye to friends and family is practice for your own mortality.  And yes, I definitely think too much.  We had two solid meals again today which is always a good thing at the sawmill on a weekend.  We take shifts eating and working with alcohol based hand wash in between bench and break room.  I've been tempted all day to just stop long enough to enjoy TM back at it, thank you innerwebs.  Oh, and Walton family?  You guys are about to be fed to China.

Thanks be to the technology available today I managed to talk to a lot of experts on a variety of topics today about the next project which is faith based at best.  People who love me and mine have come out of the woodwork these past few days and given virtual hugs digitally.  I don't care who you are, that 's damn cool.
We went to (nearby) Mexico for lunch and it was heavenly plus I have leftovers.  You can't beat that with a stick.  This is the day that the Lord has made...let us rejoice be glad in it ^j^

heart of gold

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Lily the bitch cat got left out in the middle of nowhere for a couple of days but is now safely at Pecan Lane.  You should have seen the dogs run when she jumped out of Shannah's car.  BabyMan jumped out right behind her looking all handsome in his new jeans and fall shirt.  Oh, and he called me Grammaw, by the way.  While Lily was snuggling my back, he sat on the floor reading from Mary Engelbreit's fairy tale book.  

I came away from this week with a healthy respect for the law and all the nuances involved like judges and bonds.  Since it's all privatized outsourced down to the phone calls, one can see how it's a steady stream of income for contractors.  That being said, I do so believe in the 4th amendment which is something that local law enforcement agencies tend to overlook.  What happened this week was a wake up call for a lot of people.  I am astounded at the amount of love and support that has poured from the hearts and mouths of our friends.  The last time I talked to my daughter she was being arrested.  Her public record is now on a government website looking like a serious bad hair day from OITNB.

The sawmill was pretty much a cluster today with lots of impatience on the part of fast trackers because....TAT.  Turned out to be just a lack of communication.  We ate twice which is a blessing on an 8 hour shift.  Nobody died that I know of, and if they did the FH will be there shortly.  Other than that?  I cried a lot and got mucho hugs and phone calls.  There is a list a mile long now of details to tend to and loose ends to be tied up.  Let's just pray the Camry holds up because we are seriously car poor around here.  The Cadi has been parked in the pine grove since Noler died and the truck came.  Nobody will buy it because the title is in BK court.  You can NOT make this shit up.

Fairy dust to you and yours ~.

own the experience

No matter what it is that life throws our way, running from it only makes you hit walls when it's the wrong direction.  I've hit the proverbial  one many times and ended right back at step 1.  When your life is out of control to the point that others are endangered, it's time to get humble with Big Ernie and lose the attitude. Stinkin' thinking, is what it's called I believe.  The flip side of that is gratitude and a prayer for serenity.  Only people who have really worked the steps can relate to what I'm saying here, and I'm not a poster girl by any means.  I am, however, tired of trying to run the world and ready to relax.  Geez.

The weather has moderated and leaves are changing color and dropping in the wind.  Just another day in paradise on Pecan Lane.   I was surrounded yesterday and last night by friends who love me and BG and rushed to make sure I didn't climb the water tower or fall off the porch, neither one of which happened.  It makes me miss my Daddy like ..a lot.  Harvest is the farmer's happy time if the weather gods have played nice and they certainly have around here.  It's time to clean because when times get tough, you gotta' do something to make it better.  Thank you for all the prayers and please keep them coming in faith ^j^

instant karma

I don't know about y'all but I'm tired of giving a shit.  There comes a point in everybody's life when you say no more enabling.  I did it for twenty years with my husband and became an addict right along with him.  This man hit the jail and lost it all only to find sobriety through JACOA.   When he died in June, he had ten solid years. That was when the shit hit the proverbial fan.  Noler had provided for his  BG like a good daddy and trusted her with his assets because, hey.  Who you gonna' leave it to some rogue cousin???  When he was on crack and meth he lost a whole lot of weight.  I was frying chicken one day when he wandered in like the least of ours.  Dude ate like he was starving!

Anna BaNanna came to visit and make sure I'm okay which is always a happy event.  For the first time in my life I asked for help when I needed it today.  That's a huge relief if you believe in the power of faith. Meanwhile, there's a fatherless daughter sleeping it off in jail.  It's not at all an excuse. just an explanation. The drug trade is being funded by government and insurance entities that have a financial stake in street level operations.  Codeine for pain is quite the addictive little devil.  

Mama is still confused, bless her heart.  But then again, so am I.   

alrighty then

Our quiet spell has been short lived and I saw it coming this morning through some sort of ethereal Poopie to cosmos stream.  We've all been a little, shall we say "high strung" lately what with all the recent drama.  Returning to real life is always ( a) relief and (b) burden.  During that time when everybody's hugging you and saying it's going to be okay, somehow you believe that it will be.  And really?  It is.  It's just that each day brings something else to deal with.  Today it was a wreck that  thankfully didn't kill my BG.  It's my worst nightmare y'all.  That's why you pay out the ass for insurance because when you need it you should "know people."  Otherwise you're jailed in the great state of TN.  Sidenote: That is why your uninsured motorist premium is so high.  

First I called the wrecker service that saved my Camry from the mud when Hoss and I got stuck out there drinking Jack.  I will never forget that night because Butterbean got sprayed by a skunk while we were rescuing Hoss.  For an old guy with COPD, he hiked a long way and was mad as hell.  Said I left him  there to die!  My parents met and loved him and it was a whirlwind visit  planned for his last mobile days.  After that, he and wifey # something  conspired to do the right thing.   Dude started out in Vegas.  "Former speech writer for the governor of Oregon"  Who loves you man?

I couldn't stream last night's debate but managed to catch up this morning only to find that Bernie is indeed a true gentleman, would legalize weed and thinks the email thing is ridiculous.  Who among us has not sent an un-encrypted message?  Get over it y'all...we've got bigger fish to fry.   Spring is forecast to start before winter ever gets started good like three months early?  I've noticed that pattern up until the past two which have been wicked bitches raining ice on me and my old ass car.  With no carport.  Or door handles on the outside.  Or hubcaps.  Thankfully Mama paid for the window to be replaced that Tara leaned on and shattered.  UCMTSU, right Lorna?  

For those of you who remember the Old Horsetail Snake..our bond with him is something that will never be broken because that is how we met.  Thank you Al for inventing the internet.  Now please return to your regular MSM rage against the war programming.  Oh.  And stockpile water.  

Grace ~

 

the empty nest

I've never really lived alone since I first started work and moved into an apartment close to the hospital.  I remember being scared to death and calling my daddy freaked out because I heard something outside the window.  He promptly told me to forget about it ... it's the wind.  And of course, it was.  That was in the middle of town.  Another time after we married we lived in a two level deal with bedroom upstairs and the rest down.  It opened out onto a huge gully that was filled with wildlife and while it was a sight to behold, the critters were mean.  Especially this one possum that got stuck in the garbage can and  freaked me smooth out while my husband was on the graveyard shift.  We were still taking call then which is something I can't even fathom now.

Yesterday was emotionally distressing on a lot of levels and they all came out sideways when a couple of folks proceeded to tell me how to live my life and how ungrateful I am.  Not just any two people, mind you. It was full sport contact day for let's kick Janie in the guts and  watch her cry.   Do not criticize me on issues which are mutual, no matter whom you are.  Remember the guy with the log in his eye?  Yeah.  That being said I immediately called an ear that I knew would understand and proceeded to unload on him.  He gave me clarity and the courage to say fuck it.  

Today was doctor Wyatt day so I met up with Mom at his office for our usual hmmm and squeakkkk...his hearing aids whistle the whole time he's got them out and it's like mime communicating with him.  He and Mom go way back to the days of our Dyer County Lifeline volunteer blood board days.  We work for the same company if that tells you anything.  His partner Dr. H is a delightful man with a wicked sense of humor and memory who remembers my entire family.  Just like old home week with a new name badge.  

BG finally caught the bitch cat and hauled her ornery ass to their new home last night.  She came here from work and found me in tears and I could tell she knew what I was feeling because she has felt it too.  Too many losses that aren't properly processed will knock you for a loop and I have a whole new respect for those who struggle with PTSD from their professions.  Even with the dead people practice I've had over the years, it's different when it's your own and they come in multiples.   Like in natural disasters where entire families are wiped out or the summer of 2015.

Tomorrow night is a big one for inquiring minds when the Democratic candidates show of what they are made of under pressure.  I see no surprises coming up...Uncle Joe will be charming and ineffective.  Hillary will holler Benghazi and Bernie will just keep on doing what he's doing and  wait for the applause.  There are no strict lines with this man, and teamed with the right running mate he could lead this country out of the desert.  He is not a pure socialist, by definition.  His biggest trump over HC will be his vote against the Iraq war. Very few were brave and far sighted enough to not be sheep on that one.  Oddly enough, one of the others was Ron Paul.  I guess they do kind of resemble each other style wise.  

My cousin Debbie was a big Hillary fan during our "we hate Dubya" years and neither of us were real smitten with Obama.  With a few exceptions, including TPP and Wall Street bailout, I respect her as a statesperson and lawmaker. I always felt kind of sorry for him because I thought he wasn't strong enough to fight his own worst enemy which was Cheney and Halliburton.  Look at that strategic planning opportunity for the war machine!   Sometimes the devil wins.  

Speaking of which, I am NOT the devil today but I'm tired from being Satan all day on the Lord's day. Serves me right for not going to church.  Hey, I went grocery shopping instead which was a spiritual journey in and of itself.  I got BG staples like condiments and flour so she can cook her little heart out.  We both love it but hate the cleanup with no dishwasher.  As I was approaching the lane, I saw the cloud of bean dust and knew it was on like donkey kong with the Pritchetts.  Mr. Neely parks his truck and wanders around supervising while Joey and his crew do the deed.  And yes, I'm stocked up on AC filters.  

Life is becoming a little more manageable and less frantic and that's what my soul needs right now.  I can handle an occasional up and down but crisis mode as a lifestyle is for the birds.  Mom told me I should "go out and have fun" between 2 and 6 every day.   I guess I'm old but all I want to do is hunker down in my house and listen to the dogs snore.  

Faith ~  

hey bradshaw

Every time me and Daddy crossed the bridge on US 51 South, he would say hello to his old friend Jere Bradshaw who bought that tract at some point.  He made mean chocolate pies if I remember correctly.  There was a son named Brother who was my age.  He moved away early on pursuing another life outside of Dyer County.  Good move bro...good move.  The woman who had her hands on my head for two hours today told me that she moved back here because she missed her family.  Everybody's different I guess. She has a lot of sisters and parents and kids and I have um, Mom and BG and Bubba.

BG's move is in motion and I managed to snag the honeymoon dress and jacket, just in case.  It was covered in filthy old plastic and is now breathing.  Frankie was pretty impressed with the whole deal.  He and BG have been through some stuff together and he has come out on the upside, if you know what I mean. Only a true friend will move you, even if you rent the truck. She will be back later for the cat and Noler.  

Meanwhile, my washer and dryer are shot to hell.  I swear to you I start the dryer with hemostats, thanks to Juan Garcia and his rigging skills.  I have pretty hair at a reasonable price thanks to Headlines.  And there's always Hempz for dry skin.  There is nothing in this WORLD like the real thing.  Since starting this post I've slept and grocery shopped only to find that the cat is still here because she hid outside when Lauren stopped by to get her last night.  I think she's mad because of all the forward motion!

 I am somewhat depressed, not in a boo hoo kind of way but just zero motivation to do anything other than hang out like a slug.  Like Lorna and I say "one foot in front of the other."  Her load just got heavier and she's a million miles away with two kids to raise.  We have watched our daughters fight the devil and win sometimes.  I pray that is the case right now for both of them.

The weather is gorgeous and the colors so bright it's almost obscene.  And still, I sit in the house not wanting to do anything I don't absolutely have to....like work.  At this point that's a salvation, I suppose.  I don't do well at ALL without structure.  Autumn does that to a girl sometimes, especially when her family just got separated.  We went through a lot of change in a short period of time and are somewhat still in shock.  We're still getting EOBs on Daddy from the surgery-thon and as you all know, it's expensive to die.  Thank goodness they have good insurance.

By the time I was BG's age I had a two year old tow head with me most times.  My single years came in my early twenties and she wasn't born for five years after the marriage.  We honestly thought it was not going to happen until I had a biopsy and BOOM something got opened up.  Nine months later, she came out kicking and screaming.  We are co-dependent and aware of it and have chosen to preserve our relationship by moving on.  I never thought I'd say this, but she's my best friend.  I always wanted my mother to be a friend but she was too busy with the boys to do much other than school me in cooking and the finer points of southern etiquette.  Thank you notes, a must.   Sweet tea and debutante balls.  When I was in high school there was a sorority that anybody who was anybody got picked out as a rat.  The hazing was torture and there was "hell week" when they got treated like crap.  Once I got a look at all that, I passed on induction and even got a "second" chance a couple of years later.  While all them were up early on Saturdays selling cookies, I was sleeping in.  I am not a joiner by any means.  Groups come with power issues  that can come out sideways when members don't agree to disagree.  That is why I feel so strongly about Bernie at this point.  He sent back the extra money because "it's the law."  You get 'em dude.

^j^

and then it rained

  It has been so dry around here even my inner firebug has been cautious.  Finally, September passed and we got the first shower I remember since Daddy died.  That gave me some comfort knowing that the dust is settled for now over his grave.  We seem to be in this little cloud of maintaining forward motion even when it seems monumental or even impossible.  When you think about it, everybody is in some sort of mourning for a person or feeling or even a way of life that seemed insane at the moment.

I have a hair appointment with my childhood hippy friend this morning if he made if back from Louisiana.  Their family is strung all over the place and they travel constantly to keep up with kids and grands.  One of them or their employees has taken care of all our beauty shop needs since BG was little enough to get a brush all tangled up and Vicki had to cut it out.  She didn't have any until she was two...seriously.  A cotton top tow head, she was.

There was a time in her life when we couldn't stand each other.  I am impatient and tend to tell people what to do like my mother which is never good for daughterly relations.  Time has shown me that it's wasted effort because people will do what makes them happy, even if you don't exactly think it's right.  I remember being all hurt and pissed off because a guy played with my emotions and Sammy K told me just that: People do what makes them happy.  Consider that lesson learned the hard way, several times.

The trolls are trolling as usual but the entire political atmosphere is changing.  There is a charge in the air and on the table to save our country before it implodes and there is power in numbers, people.  When voters speak out in non-violent ways to problem solve, it's a win-win.  The multi-trillion dollar debt we carry is owed mostly to countries where we have outsourced American goods and jobs.  Watch what happens with the TPP.  It can be either very good if there's a balance of trade or very bad if not.  Time will tell.  I have always been against it because of the sheer size of the network.  Kinda' like ATT or Verizon.  I'm looking for a wifi provider on the lane which is nearly impossible.  The golf course has it but that's a city connection.  

It's time to get out of my head and on with my life.  Wish me luck!

remember when

One of my new favorite passions is looking at old photographs of familiar places and seeing what the lifestyle was way back when.  Recently there was a picture posted of an ancient skating rink that was on STILTS because of the Forked Deer river.  It sat where Lowery's was just north of the kudzu bar that was my mid-life single years crisis.  An iron bridge runs across the back side leading from Southtown proper to the Tire Barn and David's place.  Oh, and um.  What used to be The Hideaway.  I went in there once helping Yaya sling Avon and swore never again.  A true bar fly, I am not.

I'm still not motivated to do much except sleep and work and play but I figure it's my time to rest up for the next big adventure.  And lord knows what that will be!  I saw today, for the first time, a strategy for voters that has already crossed my mind which is, of course, Bernie and EW.  No, she's not running for POTUS, he is.  BUT, she has extensive knowledge about finance and what got us to where we are and I do believe the two of them would cause some party lines to be crossed.  And we all know what that means...don't we.  If the thought of Rubio, Walker or Ryan leading this country doesn't scare you just a little bit?  You are delusional.  They are backed by the most hostile supporters around when it comes to public health issues, including but not limited to : birth control and gun control.  These tea partiers think that everything they earn should be theirs and tax free so they can be richer.  Or so Jesus will love them, one or the other.

There are ten basic commandments and they're really pretty simple.  Don't kill. Honor thy father and mother.  No adultery. No false gods ( like money and oil and power.)  Do unto others.  Be a good Samaritan. Walk that Emmaus road with your friends and share.  Remember what you saw, where you've been and how people treated you.  And then?  Do the next right thing.

BG is in the midst of a move and now has car problems which will involve an oil pan cleanup and all the accompanying drama.  There is a U-haul reserved and rent put down.  I met my (kinda') new neighbor on the road today and she's friendly, a healthcare provider like myself.  She seemed like the kind that deserves a to-die-for house.  We were talking at work today about Julie the puppy saver who scooped up five of Ryder's baby in her Hummer and took them to be fostered, then adopted into Northern homes.  Five of the ten are still around here, including Maggie Mae and Jet.  I get to see them on FB all the time.  Chester evidently got fixed because he's been close to home with Reece.

Chester's owner was one of many many folks who lined up to pay respects to my father after his death.  I could see the pain in his eyes and all the others who had looked up to him as an honorable hard working fellow.  The years have all run together on me but I remember him being that much and more.  His end of life experience was one that he chose, staying home until he couldn't any longer.  Same thing with Mom.  She spent nights alone in that house for about two months, almost blind and barely able to walk.  That she is still kicking means she is destined for happier days.

Y'all leave a message at the *beep*

the book

Everybody's favorite thing to say to me is you should write a book.  I thought about it back in the labor intensive days of floppy disks and blinking cursors.  At the time I was an an avid reader of the Faith section of the Commercial Appeal, particularly fond of David Waters and several that followed him.  Their coverage of religious issues at street level is the closest many people will ever be to knowing poverty as a lifestyle.  I remember back when both parents needed taken every damn where and I thought to myself "will this ever end?" I don't feel guilty about it either.  We have known for some time that it  wasn't a safe situation and  God took care of the details.    The fields are banded with gold on green where the beans are changing.  It's a sight to behold around that old barn where Babygirl, Trapper and Pride once stomped.  .  

Now bear with me because  it's huuuummp day.  I know that I am still actively grieving, letting go of the past in little snippets and big heaves.  Ownership of property in the absence of healthy respect for its' heritage is a sin, I do believe Jesus would say.  We learn from the past and move toward the light, umkay?   I don't care if you have a zillion guns as long as they are licensed and purchased legally, not online.  There's the kicker, kids.  That business is right up there with the Koch brothers.  Cops need AKs.  Johnny I-hate-everything and you're next definitely does not.  Go.Away.

So it seems we're in two different camps on the issue.  Mental health?  A hot mess.  Gun sales?  Bigger than ever!  Remember how cops got overloaded in places like Ferguson and others and freaked the fuck OUT.   This is anarchy and eventually all the king's men won't be able to fix it.  Not even Superman.  I have a glimmer of faith that gets a bit brighter every day.  Watching young people get excited about the election is the coolest thing I've ever seen.  No candidate that I can remember has really done that.  He cuts to the chase and calls you out in a heartbeat which is totally the easiest way rather than all this thrashing and memeing about with mad little trolls spewing vile things. TOzzy my ass. 

If I had a dime for every partisan discussion I've had I'd be in Fiji and able to buy my own Sugardaddy.  I was raised by Republican Beaver Cleaver type folks and actually campaigned for Lamar once before I know what I know now.  John Jay Hooker was the one with the catchy song and a liberal I do believe.   Governor Bredesen was one of the best I've seen for a redneck state like Tennessee.  Since his party left office, the state education system has shall we say "downsized".  I did notice that our local community college has partnered with UTM for dual studies which is way cool.  

All we are saying is give peace a chance........

 

homesick

Not really, y'all.  South Carolina is washing away and kids are killing other kids because of unsupervised and non secure firearms.  I sincerely hope that the parents of that boy are held accountable for their negligence. I'm not talking money wise because it will not bring back that little girl OR save their son from going to jail forever.  These people are in prime position to step up to the plate and say "Look...this is what happens."  Thinking about other shooters getting off with their overbearing mamas at the firing range just makes me want to throw up.  That they kill themselves at the end of the carnage is the truly narcissistic act.  I am extremely disturbed that more moderate Republicans are not getting on the "back away from NRA" wagon because they are selling death one gun and one voter at a time.  Hide and watch.  I bet Rubio will be the first.  

Most days I do good to remember my own name and find some shoes.  Socks never match but at least they're new and so is the underwear.  My drawers had so many holes in them that I was truly afraid I'd end up at the ER and all my co-workers would laugh.  Nothing there matches either, but it's clean.  Poor Mom is worried to death because she only has one pair of pjs meaning only one pair that buttons up the front old school style.  She hangs out in those little cotton dusters and is tired as hell of the Big Orange cast, particularly considering their season thus far.  

The Vols memorabilia still sits in the 80 degree house surrounded by neighbors who know what cars should be around which is a mighty good feeling.  Sometimes I just go in there and wander, hearing sounds of the past like my brothers and I giggling in front of a giant window fan upstairs or Daddy decorating the Christmas tree under Mom's watch.  He loved it as much as her and couldn't wait to get out those little white candles to put in the front windows.   The original house is a log cabin where you can actually see the logs inside of the living and dining area.  The rest is primo wood for walls.  The windows are not much better than mine and we actually had to put plastic in front of the one behind mama's bed to keep the wind out.  

Today is my baby brother's birthday and I sent him a happy early on just because I love him.  He enjoys the special things like me.  Bubba says it's "just another day."  Alrighty then!  I'll take cake even if it is a week late.  This is what my Daddy meant when he told me that the older you get, the faster time seems.  I have maybe ten good years left in the workforce and no possible way to survive on SS if it's still there.  And you know what?  It pisses me off too that so many disability recipients are addicts.  That's not a disability...it's a life choice and there are options other than chasing the dragon.  

As with most of my life, the addictions are simple.  Ultra, Salem and 10 hours of sleep keep me in the middle of the road as we wander through this next phase, whatever it may be.  I visited the tombstone store today and priced various combinations that would include Daddy's bronze plaque.  It was hot but I was determined to at least start the process and I'm glad I did.  At least now I know where it's going to go.  

Peace and love ~

free bird

I was blessed by getting off a couple of hours early and jumped at the chance.  By Monday standards it was light over there and they were ready to head on back to Shelby county, home of Elvis and other famous folks like Kemmons Wilson and what's his name at FedEx.  It is the city where Martin Luther King led a sanitation strike that was a product of blacks having something other than servitude as a lifestyle.  He preached passive resistance to hate by organizing non-violent marches where people had a voice.  And then some cracker shot him right there at the Lorraine.  There's a museum there now in honor of his life which is quite an accomplishment.   When I read the theory yesterday about RFK and Oregon, it gave me the willies because
BEHGHAZI  emails by gawd!

Since it's hoodie time me and  the Bern are spending quality moments cussing about how damn hard headed some people can be.  Anyone who cannot see the NRA as the devil right now is sort of.....left behind.  They do not care about your 2nd amendment rights man.  It's all about the MONEY!!!!!  Geez, I wish I had a benzo or something.  I finally feel fired up enough to take on my future which is becoming more and more different by the day.  Having the pressure of constant parental care under control has allowed me lots of deep breaths.  A friend at work today said she heard I had " a rough patch" and we caught up.  Our co-worker is very sick but eating again so there's that!

We're still dealing with the feds on money and  I had to get a copy of the FH balance today for filing.  Meanwhile the Kochs and Soros ( that's for you Doolin ) lounge around in the islands with servants of their own.  Nobody in the world should have that kind of power except for Big Ernie.  Which is why I'm excited about the prospects.  People are mad as hell and rightfully so.  Peaceful resistance is guaranteed by law....tell that to the Occupy people who got sprayed.  What happened in 2008 is a disgrace and a very good reason not to play partisan politics anymore.  Think for yourself, y'all.  And send Bernie 30 bucks!!





            

hellfire

When David Petraeus fell from grace, I tried really hard not to be smug because, hey.  Lives were ruined by his reckless behavior PLUS he was in charge of the entire Iraq/Afghan arena.  During the war years, I followed Micheal Yon closely as he chronicled the day to day life of our soldiers who quickly signed up for the opportunity to fight those who would dare take us down.  What happened to us on 9/11 happens every day in other countries like Syria and Iraq.  The headline story at Huffpost is about just that and more.   I vaguely knew what PTSD was prior to these wars...now I know all too well how it screws with your head and endangers friends and family.  Yes, it is real. And yes, the war caused it.

That being said, I can't help but believe that the most recent Wall Street crash was a sign of  our infrastructure coming unglued.  The rich got richer and the poor continued to struggle....no, even the MIDDLE class continued to struggle.  This is bad news for commerce because when people don't have disposable income, businesses lose.  Our government propped up the banks along with many other gigantic businesses to try and keep the ship floating.  The result was that the rich got richer and never prosecuted.  End of story.  Meanwhile, we're sitting here watching our country bomb a medical facility full of innocents.  I'm sure it was a mix-up and all but why the hell are we there?  This cannot be won.

Saddam did not have WMD.  He was a two bit low level ruler and not very smart.  The premise was that we had to stop him from blowing up the world which is exactly what will happen if everybody doesn't play nice.  Israel, especially, is worrisome to me.   We have a refugee crisis on our hands that has people raising hell about sending undocumented immigrants packing when, in reality, they have nowhere to go.  Nor do the streaming masses in the Middle East.  You people in Hungary need to read your bible a bit more closely.

My sense of humor is what keeps me going when things are dark ( like right now )  and I'm beginning to talk to myself a little.  I don't answer,  yet.  As long as I have this outlet, I think I'm safe on that one.   I managed to survive without attending another arts and crafts fair and learned a little about the shared history with Memphis' Pink Palace.  Do not confuse this with Elvis' shrine which burns brightly near the airport.   The best thing about that city is the riverfront with its' excellent view of the Mighty Mississippi.

So here we sit, polarized on things like gun rights and abortion.  Abortion is a strictly religious issue that is almost completely based on overturning Roe v Wade.  Now correct me if I'm wrong but, um:   when you have dead babies and dead college students, somebody needs to get their priorities in order and take care of business.  Like..now.

Gotta' take mom some breakfast shortly.  Y'all keep the faith ^j^

            

                            

weekend update

Two benadryl and a BP pill allowed me to sleep for 11 hours only waking now and then to clear out the drainage down my throat.  Allergies are at an all time devil level around here and now it's too cold to run the air!  After venturing out to pay the rent and get my hair cut ( didn't happen BUT I met the new stylist that will be my BFF.)  The salon is right next door to the hottest breakfast spot in town and they were spilling over into the empty parking lot from eggs'n'doughnuts.  The five year run of free breakfast on Daddy was spent partly there and partly at other places like Mel's Diner and Perkins, which is no more.  Their tables were always sticky anyway, and now in their place is a brand new CVS, like we need another discount pharmacy.

All the yammering about gun control is getting on my nerves so I'm kind of bowing out of that conversation because basically we all agree that it's messed up when people get murdered for no reason other than somebody is off their meds and looking to make a name for themselves.  It gives us some sort of sad diversion from what is happening to society as a whole which is a total breakdown of values.  Notice I didn't say FAMILY values because those survive in spite of a shitty economy and cash driven political system.  Babyman is in full scream mode and has been since arriving last night.    When he saw me he hollered "Grammaw!"  so I scooped his ass up and threw him on the bed.  TT gave him a bath and I went to sleepy  time.  Gizmo comes too so that's an extra two players in our little menagerie of pets and people.

My daughter was a student at Dyersburg State when they were held hostage for several hours, and fortunately  wasn't in class.  The shooter was an out of towner on some kind of demented mission to be like the idiots in Paducah.  One of the best surgeons I know  tended to those victims.  Since then it has become a total clusterfuck of gun free zones and sitting ducks.  This much, I know.  My biggest struggle is with the NRA and their blatant disregard for lives lost in the face of these tragedies.  All they can say is "guns don't kill people...people do."  Well, duh.  Oh, and there's my all time favorite "when guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns."

Hate and anger have forevermore fueled violence.  The only thing that can fix that particular root of all evil is a keen awareness of survival skills so that when the zombies come, and I think they already have, we have the courage to love others with tolerance and understanding of their lifestyles and ethnic or religious backgrounds.  If there is one true God of the universe, the rest is just details.  Take that Kim Davis.  Big Ernie will get you for that one.

dead to me

The nameless guy who slaughtered college students in Oregon is history, hell bent on a death wish that was chronicled as he watched others go down in a blaze of glory and blogged it.  People died, lives were saved and candles lit.  The bottom line is that without firearms, those people would be alive just like the kids at Sandy Hook.  Who remembers watching what'shisname with the red hair smeared all over the MSM for months.  We are drawn to this kind of train wreck mortality because we can sigh and say "thank god it's not me."  Only someday it will be you and yours if gun laws are not amended and mental health processes made more patient friendly.  We have become a society of zombies thanks to big pharm, self medicating to maintain sanity in a roller coaster world.  And no, I never miss a happy pill.

As a firm believer of the liberties promised by the constitution I cherish the American right to bear arms for defense or food.   There is no place in modern society for automatic weapons except for an easy dolla' at firing ranges or shooting up a room full of innocents.  My heroes in this entire fiasco are the two veterans who made wise tactical moves in the face of unbelievable horror...and even after all that bravery and smarts, pundits and people dead set on their cause split hairs over who is right about right to carry.  Get over your bad selves people.  No reasonable person doesn't want cops to have guns and use them responsibly.  It's that shooting randoms that gets 'em in trouble.  Everybody has a camera dude...remember? So today our favorite Bush said that "stuff happens."  Um.  Right on brother.  Donald Trump is gonna' eat you for breakfast.

My newest favorite series is Entourage because if you can't have Cusak, Piven will do.  And for once, BG returned the discs on time so it's just me and Nip Tuck.  I've been limping for a couple of weeks and showed up on time for MFR fun with Gay.  It's nice to be able to point to where it actually hurts instead of hurting all over.  In case you don't know about this form of therapy, you should Google John Barnes.  He's the guru, if you know what I mean.

Tomorrow morning is haircut and I can't wait.  Then have lunch with Mom and a gathering mission including cauliflower.  Ms. Faye called today, really missing her son and wanting to talk which we did, at length.  She will always be a part of our family  'til death do us part.  I think Babyman is coming so there will be cute pictures if he's still long enough.  Heck, it's Friday night of spring break.  Let's get crazy .  MEANWHILE thousands of local artisans have gathered at historic Reelfoot Lake selling everything from kettle corn to jewelry.  Today was the annual benefit for our community cancer fund where local volunteers do it up right and by-pass the American Cancer Society and their regional offices.  Also a smart move.

Like I told the FedEx lady....happy Friday ^j^

lying in the bed you made

As y'all can imagine my house is pretty much a furball due to three dogs and a cat plus two girls with colored hair.  I say that loosely because mine is way past due, and also for a cut.  I'm just gonna' hit my friend Chucky up for an appointment soon.  *katching!  and done.  Ditto for Gay with the magic hands.  My friend Liz shared a song with me today that we first heard on the radio in Gurney's van going to and from Gulf Shores with our late teen girls.  She and Al did the tattoo thing and BG was pissed that there was no money for hers.  I could have cared less...I was at heaven in a beachside sand-level room.  I've learned a lot from years of beach going number one of which is : if there is  food and or alcohol nearby, forget the coolers. Carrying them in the hot sand makes you look like a tourist which you totally are.  Have a good meal and a couple of drinks then play in the waves or read a book.  It's vacation y'all!  I totally do not get these folks who carry their laptops and work from their escape from work.  Give it a break.

 I made it home with the Roku today so we shall see if I can figure it out.  It's kind of iffy on the internet speed up here but I'm gonna' try.  There was this vintage plane that was used in the Berlin airlift that stopped by my back door airport yesterday.  It got rained in during the VA/WV flood and was late landing here.  My Precious friends Mark and Lisa were there with cameras ready and I thanked the internet gods for allowing me to experience that digitally.

Meanwhile Joaquin is either headed up the eastern seaboard or toward Europe.  Either way there are still some folks due for extremely dangerous weather due to monsoons of "historic" proportions from another weather producer consisting of a huge warm moist air mass hovering around.  If I were a betting gal ( and I'm not ) I'd say the Weather Channel is behind all of the mayhem.

Most people still think Trump and Bernie are idiots and hate Hillary so what's a voter to do.  Why, trust the US government to make it all fair and stuff, of course.  The AL shutdown of driver license/voter ID stations is something that will go to the SCOTUS for sure.  Hide and watch.  Enough people are mad enough about the trampling on voter rights that it won't die.  Neither will the Citizens United hell raising.  Moral bankruptcy comes when the money changers take all our power.  Jesus doesn't like that stuff.  Humility is something that only those who have been in the desert can know.  I have several volumes and every time I get to feeling all cocky and shit, I remember from whence I came.

With faith ^j^