What If?

I'm not surprised Jeffrey Epstein died while in custody.  I didn't think he would make it this far.  But I have to ask: what if Epstein's death wasn't suicide?  What if it was assassination made to look like a poorly executed suicide?

Was there any way someone on Putin's payroll could have taken him out?  Putin worked too hard to plant his mole, his WH puppet, in our government to risk losing him over what Epstein knows -knew-about Donald's salacious activities.

I'm certain there are a great many in DC who are giving thanks right now, and breathing deep sighs of relief, that Epstein is out of the picture.

Standing Under the Sun, Only Darkness Do I See

I have mentioned here before the blog of an artist, Gary Myers, whose work I admire.  (Corrected link under Gary's name.)  Gary is self-taught, his work is collected throughout the world and has hung in US embassies.  His iconic Red Tree stands (to my thinking) for the lone man/woman, an idea I am drawn to over and over again.  No doubt because that is how I see myself.  But there is more to my following his blog than that.

Gary writes about more than just his art that sometimes sounds like the thoughts which rattle around in my brain.  He speaks my thoughts, only in a more considered, coherent manner than I usually can (especially in the last five years).  The link on his name above leads to an example of what I mean, what I would say had my spirit not died five years ago when service-related PTSD took up residence in my head.

I learned about the El Paso massacre while out for dinner with my grandson last night.  I didn't know about Dayton until this morning when I read Gary's post.  I thought I was beyond being stunned by anything that happens in the country anymore, especially under the reign of the Enfant Terrible, but I am wrong.  After enduring so many last-straw events since the White House was invaded and continues being held hostage, the progress I make dealing with PTSD slips backwards, sliding toward the darkness that ruled most of the first 14 months in therapy.

This morning, I am stunned.  I am shocked and dismayed.  I am sickened and numb; and feel helpless and confused.  I know from past experience with this sort of response that I will move beyond these initial feelings and get back on the right track, will move forward again.   

But what about the families and friends in these two communities who lost loved ones?  How long will they have to live in the darkness that follows this tragedy (Christ, what an inadequate word!), this insanity?  How long will the Great Instigator go unscathed in the aftermath of what he has wrought?

I feel a great wave of sobs coming on, probably the only reasonable response right now.  The tears are not for me, because this travesty isn't about me.  The tears and sadness are for the communities of El Paso and Dayton this morning.

There likely will more to come, for other communities before the madness is stopped.

The Man Sings!

 

Wasting time, waiting for the weather to change to something less hot, I went tripping on UToob and found some funny stuff on Maestro Ziikos' channel.

Had no idea Trump could sing, but he does...in a manner of speaking.  Thriller, Billie Jean. Wrecking Ball, Senorita accompanied by Putin on the piano.
 
And more!

Ah, here comes the rain, at last.

Short one.

Nothing special; posting because I still can't believe that I've made it to 72.  I never expected to, yet here I am.

Of course, tomorrow might be another story, but - by god and the universe - I still have today.

Hope all of you are having a great day today, as well.  I know one blogging friend who is: he's having a beautiful huckleberry pie!

Best Thirteen Minutes of My Life Today

Gerrymandered America of the Future?

 
Part of my withdrawal from life, in large measure, has been due to the chaos in our political system.  I never expected to live through the destruction of America from within.  Then again, I never expected someone like our current president and congressional houses would be puppets to a foreign power as we are seeing now.  I found something this morning which has given me a glimmer of hope that this "crisis of corruption" can come to an end and democracy can be restored, something that will help us become the nation our founders hoped we would be - for the people, of the people and by the people.

In cruising the internet for videos on how to repair my washing machine, I found one that had nothing to do with repairing household appliances, but everything about how we could repair our country.  Watching it gave me hope, made me feel this might be the answer we need.

I quit looking for washing machine repair videos.  I (we) have a bigger job to do.

Please take a few minutes to watch "Unbreaking America".  I think you might be glad you did.  Hope so, at the very least.  "Find out how you can get involved at http://represent.us"

 

Another One Bites the Dust

Happy New Year, friends!

Things have been a bit rough at my homestead for several months, so I am looking forward to a new year: a year full of hope and changes for the better.  

Over at Dear Daughter's home, though, things have picked up wonderfully.  After being unemployed for what seems like ages, Kareema has found a career she is ideally suited for, which she loves.  Earlier this year, she trained to become a Certified Peer Support Specialist -- an assistant mental health caregiver to help people who have gone through, are going through, the same sort of therapy she went through while trying to get back on her feet.  I am so proud of her! 

Grandson Donovan entered a school to become a Certified Ford Auto Technician.  Being an aspie works in his favor with his new venture.  The day he interviewed for the school, reps from Ford corporation were scouting for potential students to enter their advanced courses.  They listened in on Donovan's interview and marked him as a student to follow.  If he does as well as they think he might, future training and specialization with be paid for by the corporation.  So far, he has aced 95% of his courses, and scored very high on the rest.  He picks up information quickly and retains every bit of it...well, almost every bit.  (There are those courses he didn't quite ace, after all.)  His father used to have a race team and Donovan spent time several summers with the team learning to do a good bit of what the first part of his training covered.  I think he will go far in this business.  He even bought his own Ford car!

I've missed blogging and hope to get back to it on a more regular basis.  First, though, I have to get a computer; mine died a couple of months ago.  The company doesn't mind that I use theirs for checking my emails and bank statements, but blogging -- not so much.

May all of you have an even better new year than ever before!  I'll keep visiting your blogs and will try to remember to say hello when I do.

Listen to Willie.

 

Willie Nelson has a new song with a message we all could use.