flooding the zone

So you think you are safe?  Ask the mayor of Newark who got arrested for taking part of a peaceful protest at an ICE facility.  He got targeted and whisked away by agents with masks on.  He and his people were trying to bring attention to the facility by bringing requests for the city to inspect and ensure that all is well.  He was on private property yet was arrested for trespassing on federal property.  This won't end well kids.  It is a red flag for those of us who believe in free speech, which is a constitutionally guaranteed right.  Under the Trump admi  

nistration, if you don't agree with Project 2025 you are the enemy.  

Everybody knows the talking points these days.  An entire legislative day was spent trying to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico when there are many other pressing issues.  Tariffs and the economy.  Habeus corpus which Steven Miller says they will do away with.  Do people not understand that their rights are being stripped away pretty quickly??  I doubt if any of the people who voted for Trump even knew what was in Project 2025, or if they did actually believed he would do what he has done in just a little over 100 days.

Kristi Noem's budget is almost gone for the fiscal year and there are 100 billions dollars of relief aid through FEMA frozen.  My county recently experienced a major flood event and nothing is coming in.  His idea to move disaster relief to states will break their banks, not to mention that they are totally not prepared for this shift.  Right here at wildfire, tornado and hurricane season.  

What disturbs me the most is the way our judicial system is being targeted by team Trump.  Judges are the only check and balance we have in a world where the government is heavily stacked in favor of one party.  The FEMA money was appropriated through a bi-partisan effort and Noem decided to freeze it.  Nobody is playing by the rules and yet life goes on as usual for those who are not affected by all of these moves.  

Is a tariff a tax?  That little tidbit is being misrepresented by everyone involved.  There are no deals made yet on the trade war except with the UK.  So they were thrilled because they can sell their Rolls Royce's while the big 3 here in the US are struggling.  Not that I feel sorry for Ford.  The only non-camry I have ever owned was a Ford Escape with issues such as transmission replacement to the tune of 5K.  Many other issues as well.  

Anywho, it is Mother's Day eve and I miss mine like crazy even after all these years.  She always made everything special for each of us, especially on holidays and birthdays.  And for whatever tiny thing we had to celebrate.  

Talk to your mother, even if she's in heaven.  She and Jesus hear what you say ^j^

motherhood

I don't any parent goes into it reliazing that it is a lifetime commitment.  I mean, yeah.  In your head of course but oopsies happen and children are not always planned.  I once asked my own mother if my baby brother was planned.  His response: "Hell Janie, none of y'all were!" I was born while he was still in college at UTM which was not quite the ideal.  A year later, we moved here to the farm.

Mama had her hands full with three kids, a job, produce to put up and all the other things that come along with the farm.  Daddy actually had two jobs between the USDA and the farm.  That was quite common then.  

Sonehow in the midst of this frenetic activity, she carved out time for herself.  There was a weekly bridge game with her friends.  She was very accomplished writer and photographer of all events.  I have the photo albums to prove it!  But, her biggest love was cooking.  She taught me how as I was growing up as she had learned from her mother-in-law Lottie.  I still use Mom's cookbook along with many other people who bought it back in the day.  So many of those recipes are from folks in Dyer county.  She had connections with the Dyer County Fair and some of the things in that book are from blue ribbon winners long gone to glory.

I credit my   mother with not allowing me to quit Med Tech school three months from graduation.  It was so freaking HARD I was about to lose it.  She drove to Memphis and said "No, girl."  Ain't happening!  So I graduated in June and the rest is history.  She was my biggest advocate even though I was a bit of a rebel as a teenager.  Hey...we all are.  As a bit of a political activist regarding Vietnam  I did some strange things.  Like going to a Led Zeppelin concert barefoot.  And she took me!! 

Mama had a heart of gold for the least of these.  She volunteered with many local organizations and was a faithful legacy Methodist.  She used her organizational skills in all areas of life including the Sellers SS class there.  Before she and Daddy died she turned over an entire album of stuff from their class's history. 

Not many of those folks are left but they carry on, God bless 'em.

Mom was the perfect memaw for Lauren because she would play with her for hours and teach her to make little sammies out of white bread.  Cookies too!  They loved each other so much.  LP has her own daughter now and though Mama was already in heaven when her great grandchild was born, we have shared pictures and memories so that she knows from when she came.  

Being a mother is not just by blood.  Many kids need the perspective of an elder that cares and meets them where they are.  I wish that mom could have know Elizabeth because she is a force to be reckoned with.  And my rebel self loves that.  

Even if your mama is in heaven, you can still talk to her.  Happy Mother's day^j^

portable jesus

I met with a good friend at church this morning for budget and life talk.  Lauren took me and on the way was digging through things in the middle compartments.  She pulled out this tiny Jesus figurine that Reaves had given her from where they found them on the spring break cruise.  I carried little dude in there with me and he sat on the table as we talked.  He told me that they had one from some hide and seek thing that was church related.  I kind of realized that it's a good evangelism tool to have Jesus in your pocket or on the table.  I would order a hundred of them from Amazon if it weren't for well, you know.  The tariffs will be added on.

Budget plans are now "somewhat of a concept" here at Casa Poopie.  Lauren and I are working together taking a hard look at expenses and what can go.  The fixed costs of living will not change but our income will when she starts a second job. We plan to attend Mother's Day service with Reaves and the fam this Sunday.  There will be a special program and maybe I can pick up a few more pocket Jesi.  That plural became a thing with us at DFUMC when we had twins that were the spitting image of Jesus swapping scenes at the passion play.  It was a huge production that took a lot of choir members/actors to pull off.  When I saw either Terry or Gerry walking down the aisle carrying the cross with Eddie and Dent whipping him,  that was when I became an out of the head and into the heart Christian.  You just never know when that will happen.  It's all in God's time ^j^

that

multitasking trump style

Well howdy there folks.  As I write Marco Rubio has about five jobs and they are all very important.. Secretary of State AND Mike Waltzs gig.  Who knows what else.  The problem with this  has a lot of layers, not the least of which is that nobody is in charge of anything except for the POTUS.  And he is in Florida again.  His latest money waster is for a flag day celebration on his birthday that will cost this country about 49 million, give or take a few million.  It depends on what bells and whistles will be pulled out but so far just the cost of the armed services showing up plus all the security will be massive.  And he tells us to "be patient" while the constitution is shredded and the economy falls out from under us.  

In my post yesterday that I did not put on FB I talked about my concerns for safety in this world where retribution is rampant.  I am not a judge thank God.  I admire them for standing up and saying no to this idiot.  He blames everybody else and their brother for the state of the world and "It's all Biden's fault!"  That only goes so far buddy.  You mental state is way past what his was when the Dems ran Kamala.  But you have a GOP controlled Congress who is afraid to stand up.  Except for Rand Paul, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins.  I don't really blame Republicans for any of this.  It was a perfect storm between a Democratic party with no vision and the MAGA base who voted him in.  I am not sure that was entirely legal, either. There was that little detail from 80s where he was a Russian spy.  

I believe in free press, freedom of speech and the constitutional protections that our forefathers intended.  The promises that this president made during his campaign were unrealistic and we are seeing the consequences right now, live and in person.  Anybody with half a lick of sense can see that Musk is bailing out his businesses on our dime.  His investment in the campaign has paid off royally. This happens with both political parties and I understand that.  I do not believe that Soros paid those people to riot at the Capitol.  Trump urged them on and a lot of folks were traumatized.  Like me who watched the whole thing live with Ms. Joy.  Liz Cheney and Jack Smith did their best but after the election, they were history and got vilified.  The trumpian way, of course.  

I know that there are good Republicans in Congress.  The ones from Tennessee, not so much.  To any of you who will listen to my concerns, give me a call.  I am your constituent as well.  I have never had much luck with contacting my senators because they are all on the Trump wagon.  Many of them represent states that are farming heavy and the tariffs will affect their bottom line.  Then the farm bailouts happen to keep them afloat.  William Schultz is now milling rice, which is a staple for us all.  Let's all support local farmers who think outside of the box.

Think outside of the box folks.  Be a rebel and not a follower.  And keep the faith ^j^

last rant

I no longer feel safe expressing my political opinions on the interwebs and y'all know why.  Free speech is history and all the MAGA crowd is demonizing people who don't buy into Trump's agenda. He is not only batshit crazy and demented but has entire control over our lives at this point.  I have never really wished to die, but this stuff is so scary that I would not mind if God just saved me from the next 4 years.  Our only hope is that something big and beautiful will happen ten years after this assault on our nation.  I will be dead by then.  Ashes to ashes and dust to dust.

My friend Glenda came and got the freezer that I don't use off the back porch today.  She and her friend hauled it down and put it in the back of her truck.  Her house in Southtown was flooded for many days and her expensive refrigerator got damaged so she is working on a plan to save what she has foodwise.  It takes a village.  I am watching folks drive up and down the road carrying on with life as usual and I miss that. Clara brought me a dozen eggs from her chickens which I truly appreciate. And now it's raining again. That's okay.  It saves on the utility bill when it's cool but summer is coming.  It is time to downsize here in more ways than one.  If you need a big ass heavy non smart TV I have one that would love a new home.  I don't watch it.  At all.  The premium channels are gone and it is just taking up space on the otherwise beautiful mantel.  DM me.  I will hook you up if you got the muscle.

That is my life.  Come and get it ^j^

positivity

Lauren gave me a pep talk this morning before she left for work.  She was all dressed up looking very professional and headed to her current job.  We talked, at length, about my mental status yesterday which is sort of iffy right now because of a lot of things.  I stress, worry and otherwise fail to trust God.  A large portion of that comes from watching a lot of news.  Imagine that!  To me, it's sort of like a train wreck.  I can't look away. But you cannot go down the rabbit hole with all that.  Sure, it's crazy what is happening now.  We are all scared and freaked out, well Except for the ones who don't pay attention.  

I remember as a CHS employee getting an email outlining their big beautiful deal with another company in the Nashville area that was arranged by a hedge fund manager.  That was the beginning of the end for that company.  I was still employed there when I retired and three months later all local facilities, including physician practices, were taken over by West Tennessee Healthcare.  I am thankful because I was too old and too tired to go through another sale, with all the angst that accompanies it.  Just changing software is a major ordeal.

We had a rogue thunderstorm this morning that has passed for now yet there are more to come.  It's spring 'n tn which means ya' never know.  A lot of corn got planted prior, so there is that.  Me and the stray siamese had some quality time on the porch yesterday and now has a name.  Bubbie!   He and Rosie had a wrestling match out in the yard and despite his injury, he held his own.  Hopefully I'll get to see Reaves this weekend.  Cross your fingers.

So about my freak out.  I refuse to be intimidated any longer.  That includes trash talk and blaming.  I will stand up for what I believe in even if the government comes after me.  We are all screwed anyway.  No wait, that's not positivity!  It's reality and I'll take it over believing lies.  

Faith, hope and love ^j^

two dolls for you

As the trade war begins to affect supply chains, Trump continues to blame Biden for the economy.  o.m.g.  When questioned about the availability of holiday and back to school goods, he said that those two dolls may cost a couple of bucks more.  Now, I'm not real big on presents at Christmas.  That is not what Jesus was about.  Last year, there were none and that's okay.  It is not about giving gifts to each other, in my opinion, but about celebrating the birth of Christ.  I can do that without presents or a tree.  Yeah, gifts are nice but...

My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving.  Love me some turkey and dressing cooked Mama Staff style.  Oh and the deviled eggs!Asparagus casserole!  If finances stay the same, there will be none of that.  My neighbor Clara has chickens and during the flood she brought me a dozen eggs which were a lifesaver.  And I still have three of them left.  That is survivalist mentality.  And that, it where we are as a country.  If you do not realize that, you are sticking your head in the sand and drinking koolaid.  But I'm preaching to the choir here.  Nobody other than followers reads this blog.  I don't have near as many as MAGA.  

I slept like a baby last night and so did Lauren.  Rosie's friend the siamese appears to be injured but we can't get close enough to see the wound.  It looks pretty bad from a distance.  Rose has been so lonely since Oscar died last year.  Normally cats and dogs don't get along, or so they say.  Who knows what happened to siamese friend.  He or she lives in the wild and there's lots of critters out here.  

We are plugging the leaks in the dykes and praying for a miracle.  And it is all in God's hands ^j^