Whatever Happened To Hairnets?

I was watching a morning piece about a new bakery in Portland.  The doughnuts sure looked yummy and I was enjoying the shout-out, UNTIL...

The gal filling the 'nuts flipped her 2-foot ponytail out of her face before she began squirting for the camera.

Ugh.  I instantly flashed back to the time a fellow volunteer invited me to a local Austin coffee shop.  I didn't have my own car  (just my motorhome) so it was always a treat to go anywhere outside of the Community First Village.

I've been intimidated by modern Coffee Shops since 1994, when I was introduced to my first Starbuck's, in Portland, OR, by a co-worker. Tino and I had recently moved to the city, and we usually drank the plain-old at-home kind, with cream.  You know those confusing menu boards; I stared like a deer in the headlights.  Ms. Vicki ordered her iced-double-shot-espresso-hazlenut-whatever; and when it was my turn I pointed and said, you know already,

"I'll have what she's having."

It's been that way ever since,  for I never order alone.  Fast-forward to 2017 and it was pretty much the same experience with Lesslye; except for my horror at the kids behind the counter: 20-somethings, one who was sleeveless (with underarm hair, I'm not certain now) and her wild head-hair without a net.  The young man preparing food was similarly netless.  Lesslye might remembers it differently, but it's my story...

I thougt it was the law, but I don't eat out often enough to know for certain.   It seems a sensible policy to help ensure public health, like no rat droppings in their kitchen; but perhaps hairnets are as aversive to wear as masks were during Covid.  And what about gloves?

"Anything to eat?"

Were they kidding?  I felt old and out of touch amidst Austin's COOL crowd. I felt the same in Eugene; and Portland, I suppose.  I remember the original Hippies, and what we see nowadays are cheap imitations.

I don't know about you, but strands of my hair fall out all the time. Not all at once, thankfully; but regardless, would you want to eat my DNA?

So that's today's rant.  Maybe it was just a crack I made to Lesslye about, "What's next - underarm hair?"  I wouldn't be surprised.

$19 Left in SNAP and Three Weeks To Go

I was about to turn this off for the night, but I'm p...d.  I went shopping this week (after receiving my SNAP) and I've got $19 left until next month.  I'm sick of hearing about billion-dollar ballrooms and the idiots who have no idea that's even a 'thing'.  Or the fact that the Saudi Prince got p...d at Trump after he said we'd escort ships through the Strait without consulting them; so President DJT called it off  within 24 hours (plus he can't risk his royal son-in-law's business dealings).  Kinda surprised his Generals, but what do they expect?  That's how coups begin.

I thought we were supposed to be the biggest and baddest?

So Trump caved for Prince Slit-their-Throats; but when NATO countries were mad they weren't consulted what did he do?  Threaten this-and-that like a child having a tantrum.

So anyway, we're supposed to be footing the bill for all this with shit-eating grins on our faces.  I've said before that since I'm not getting a tax break, how about helping a bit with (our) SNAP instead of cutting our benefits.

I am SICK TO DEATH of hearing stories about the uber-wealthy.  SICK TO DEATH of those who think what's going on is fine.

"Yippee!!" they say, "...the stock market's soaring and  more people are using credit cards!"

DUH, that's how you survive when you don't have cash to buy the things you need.

I was recently hit with a close-to $4,000 car repair, which is about what I paid for it in 2018.  Partially paid with cash; much with a credit card.  Perhaps, because that's still stinging, that's why I'm so angry at the Upper Class; who can easily toss $4,000 for a bottle of wine, and easily stroll past misery without a glance.

Thanks a lot, ever-Trumpers. May you reap what you sow.

Cheap Imitations

President Trump may have remodeled the Oval Office to resemble Buckingham Palace,  but it's as genuine as a Rolex knockoff.  Our President is likely the only person unaware much of the world is laughing at his bad taste and Superiority Complex:

"A superiority complex is a behavior that suggests a person believes they’re somehow superior to others. While not an official diagnosis, symptoms of it can occur with some conditions. People with this complex often have exaggerated opinions of themselves. They may believe their abilities and achievements surpass those of others. However, a superiority complex may actually be hiding low self-esteem or a sense of inferiority."

We knew that already, didn't we?

I read that during the King's visit, Trump had Jackie Kennedy's portrait hung in the Oval Office.  I don't know what anyone else is supposing, but I think it's a set-up to have Melania's portrait hung opposite, as if to suggest their good-tastes were equal.

We know the truth to that, too, don't we?

All in all, you have to hand it to Charles's constitution - how he could sit in that gaudy office and be fondled by Donald - must have really turned his royal stomach.

Americans are quite grateful for his visit; most especially his speech before Congress, touting the importance of Separation of Powers.  And the Republicans stood up!  So either they were grateful the King spoke the words they're too afraid to voice; or else they're imbeciles who don't know any better.

We know the answer to that one, too, n'est-ce pas?

Madame Defarge and the Epstein Class

If we were in the late 1700's, Paris, A Tale of Two Cities,  I'd be Madame Defarge, sitting with my knitting at the base of the guillotine.

40,000 Oregonians are losing their SNAP benefits, and it's happening in every state.  Not me - I'm over 64 so the work requirement doesn't apply.  But not everyone under 64 requiring SNAP to keep from starving is able to meet the 80-hour/mo work requirement, usually due to physical or mental disabilities. This, on top of fuel prices and everything else.

So the absolute GALL of Mike Johnson to ask us to pay $400 million for Trump's gaudy ballroom in order for him to host his billionaire friends and their Epstein-Class buddies.

Anyone who doesn't think we won't have a Second American Revolution isn't paying attention.

The Correspondent's Shooting

Two things came to mind after the assassination attempt at the White House Correspondent's Dinner (and the subsequent discussion of rescheduling):

1 - All those women are going to have to find another dress.  Men have it easy - they're all Penguins - but the gals?  Show up in the same dress after the entire world has seen it?  No, no, no...

and

2 - I wonder how many people BET on the chances of a shooter gaining access; and whether the shooter was successful or not.  Who's looking into that?

I'm very glad everyone's safe.  What a cluster.

Hanky-Heads

For some reason, a former neighbor popped into my head this morning while listening to news about the Iran non-war.  It was 1991 and 'Pat' had taken a new corporate position, making the move from Indiana to New Jersey.  As a cultural reference: it was the latest incarnation of Star Trek,  and Pat preferred Captain Pikard's bald pate while I'd have jumped Riker's bones if given the opportunity.  I made it a point to befriend her...East Coast people have such a bad rap...but gradually I placed more distance between us than the common wall of our living rooms.

I don't remember the conversation but I remember the moment I heard her call the peoples of the Middle East, Hanky-Heads.  I didn't have the confidence to call her on it at the time, shame on me.  She liked to drink and so did I, and during one of our 'stupors' she shared this story:

'Pat's' two sisters liked to drink, too, and they'd all go partying in Indianapolis.  One sister she described as beautiful, blonde, buxom (and well-married).  Snockererd and giggly one night they stumbled upon a wake, of all things.  Everyone's seated, soft music playing, when Blondie, in her up-to-here, down-to-there outfit, staggers up to the casket and begins sobbing and sobbing.  She finally turns and leaves the building held-up by her sisters.

Sure, it's a funny story, but can you imagine the widow?  Poor woman, she's probably been haunted by their prank the rest of her life, and likely has a very different recollection of her late husband; questioning innocuous memories.  Naively, I was shocked; for Pat appeared to be quite conservative during the daytime.

Anyway, that all popped into my head following Iran and the news (correctly) thrashing the latest White House loss:  Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the former Labor Secretary, who's leaving for personal reasons, uh-huh.  Hopefully she's not coming back to this neck of the woods, for prior to D.C. she was a Representative from Oregon who lost her bid for re-election.  She flunked out of Trumpland so I imagine will come home to lick her wounds (with her creepy father in tow), ugh.

When you hear the allegations against these people - their extracurricular (and extramarital) affairs - sure, it's not uncommon, but you'd think they'd have a higher level of decorum in their positions.

But we're a nation run by a Pig with a capital P who has no morals; who's trying like hell to reshape the future of our country regardless of him being in power: a Christian Nationalist nation, where women are once again chained to the kitchen while undesirables are chained in ICE facilities.

Nice goin' Mr. President.