I just tried it with an eyebrow pencil I don't use. Wait - suck in the stomach, that oughta help. Nope. Other one, too? DAMN! Mentally I feel around 38, but physically - everything's dropping faster than my SNAP benefits. If I live long enough there'll be nothing left but a puddle on the ground.
This is my 'Month of Mourning;' I included that phrase in this year's calendar design. The 7th would have been my 31st wedding anniversary with #3, Tino; I like to believe we'd have lasted this long. Tomorrow is the 3rd anniversary of BC's passing, sniff sniff. Ex-Man #1 passed away on the 13th; Ex-Man #2 on the 27th; my dear friend Mary would have been 70 on the 21st, if she hadn't passed 26 years ago; and the 22nd's The Captain's birthday, he's still vertical.
I don't view all those occasions on the same level of grief, of course; and there are too many other sad anniversaries throughout the year. But I told myself that if I indulge in the sniffles over things long gone, I'll relegate it to July.
From this year onward, I'll include the sad occasion when Trump's Big Beautiful Bill was signed, wasn't that on the 4th; which will financially screw me but won't go into effect until after the 2026 elections so I won't know how bad for quite some time. They he'll REALLY let (us) have it.
I've been asked more than once,"Will the bill affect (my) SNAP or Medicaid?" Of course it will. But if elected officials won't do anything about it and 78 million voted for the Originator, what sense in me getting upset? I'm not in the mood to fight City Hall. Besides, I've learned that things generally work out better than I plan, and I'm done worrying.
I recently read something they've been warning for years: decreased Social Security benefits. This time it's, "In 10 years, SS will only provide 80% of your benefits." So regardless of any formulas or theories about how I'm looking at this the wrong way, I've decided to start NOW to live on 80% of my current SS; or more precisely $950.00 a month. That doesn't include SNAP, which is currently $185 a month but I won't count on that for much longer. And as for Medicaid? Who knows, after the Feds stop helping and tell the States to take care of their own. I'm just glad I'm not terribly unhealthy; and since I'm over 64 I won't have to work 80 hrs per month. If I'm wrong (and don't touch a cent) I'll amass over $28,000. Which won't be worth that amount, but it's better than nothing.
Don't you love how they're constantly deflecting from serious issues, such as solving Ukraine and Gaza, by investigating Comey and grilling Biden's doctor? Nobody seriously believed Trump's promise to end both wars his first day; but after 6 months what progress do you see?
Trade deals promised? That's just Donnie's wet dream of achieving the Ultimate Dealmaker title. To hell with the consequences of his flip-flopping tarriff rates: businesses failing and prices rising...he's too busy opening his Etsy store in the White House.
What about the brouhaha over revealing, once and for all, the Kennedy Assasination File and the Epstein List? As I recall there wasn't any Ah-ha moment about Kennedy; and after Pam Bondi told us in February that she was reviewing the actual 'Epstein list', the Justice Dept now says it doesn't exist? (I think I got that wrong - they're just not telling.) No sense being bothered over that - MAGA supporters are peeved enough.
And don't you love them pushing this one: that our Secretary of Defense, former talk show host Pete Hegseth, decided last week to withold aid to Ukraine all by himself? And this week Trump reversed the decision, which he claims he knew nothing about? How can people close their eyes to all the lying they're doing to us all?
I don't want an electric car, Trump said the other day. He apparently forgot he bought a bright red Tesla not long ago in front of the nation, after Elon brought his showroom to the White House. And they talk about Biden. Don't believe a word he says, but follow every order without question. I believe the correct term is Boob.
Instead, Fox News and Republican Congressmen focus on anything BUT. Chasing after political and personal foes of our vindictive President. Ignore the money being made hand-over-fist by the First Family and their billionnaire buddies pushing Bitcoins - I'm still not sure what that is and I know I'm not alone; but you know it's going to come back to bite us in the como-se-llama. Just a few years ago Trump declared Bitcoins were a scam. Wonder what happened within the past 3 years?
I'm guessing most of Trump's supporters are not paying attention to anything other the carrot he's been dangling about lowering prices and making America great again through new manufacturing plants, I'll believe it when I see one. But tell me, who's going to want those manufacturing jobs? No one interested in real work.
So if (you) don't care about what happens to people like me, why should I care about what happens to you, either through natural disasters or the disaster on Pennsylvania Ave? Have we devolved to this extent? It's disgusting.
P.S. I've already donated to flood victims; how 'bout you?