Channeling Tom Joad *

This morning I found this true story I'd written in the early 2010s, which I don't think I ever posted.  I was dead broke at the time, and any spare dollar went towards BC's care. (Brief backstory: I'd recently returned from living on the boat; the Captain had wiped me out financially; and the Great Recession still affected the economy, so people weren't exactly buying fancy gourds.)  I remember the following supermarket visit as if it was yesterday. 

“Can I help?”

The cashier paused, and she and I turned to the 40-ish woman in line behind me.

“Can I help?" she repeated.  "With some money?  If you’re short?”

For once, I did have enough.  I'd picked up an unmarked pack of tamales and asked the cashier the price.  When she told me I said, "No, thanks"; not because I didn't have the cash but because tamales shouldn't cost so much.  And that was when the woman first spoke.

“No, thank you very much,” I replied, trying not to take notice of the number of strangers who suddenly expressed an interest in this random act of kindness.

“I hope you’re not offended,” (I wasn’t), “but a couple weeks ago I ran into an elderly woman who asked my opinion about the nutritional value of cat food.  We looked at several brands on the shelves, and I finally asked how many cats she owned.

“'None,' she sheepishly replied; it was for her.  I bundled her up and took her for some real grocery shopping, and ever since, I’ve been on the lookout.”

I held back tears; from empathy, certainly, but also acknowledging my perceived appearance.  I looked like I felt.  But her story - how can that be...in this country?  Will I be shopping in the pet food section one day, too?  Hope returned in the form of this stranger who was wanting to help.

“I figure we’re all in this together,” my Good Samaritan continued and I agreed, while surreptitiously presenting my Food Stamp card to the cashier.  Out of embarassment, I always tried to pull it out of my wallet with the silver strip showing; it could be an old American Express card, I hoped people might think.  It’s green, too.

“And we should help one another,” she added.

“I’m trying not to cry,” I began, “because that’s exactly how I feel, but I was beginning to wonder if anyone else did.  You have no idea how good you’ve made me feel, thank you again.”

The cart seemed a bit lighter as I pushed it towards my old pick-up where BC waited, wagging her Rapunzel-like tail, always happy to see me again.  Thank God for our pets.  END

My 13-year blog is full of examples of good deed-doers appearing at opportune moments.  Plenty of times I didn't think I could keep going, but you do.  I remain on the lookout, and Southern Californians need our help now...they're not all moguls and movie stars.

* Fictional character from John Steinbeck's, The Grapes of Wrath.

Don-Don's Agita

Look at this photograph.  Everyone, including Melania, is holding their hand in the traditional way during the solemn occasion of the funeral of  Jimmy Carter.  Everyone, that is, except our incoming felon-president, who has publicaly, shamefully blasted the former president.

Trump looks like he has indigestion; likely caused by (today's) hush money sentencing...or being surrounded by so many who find him loathsome...or is it because he doesn't have a heart? 

All of the above. 

Last Stop - Loutraki

It was a calm, peaceful overnight cruise from Milos back to Piraeus, the port city of Athens.  Strange to be waking up to concrete buildings instead of the beautiful blue Aegean.  I patted myself on the back for having survived each and every land excursion, without injury!

The night before was our last on the Celestyal Journey; and as usual, I went to bed early - skipping the nightly entertainment on board.  I can rarely stay awake past 8, and with a room to myself I always slept well on the ship.  Only thing I missed was 24-hr coffee.

Here's something I only learned while writing this blog, from Wikipedia:

"Celestyal Journey is a cruise ship completed in 1994 and initially sailed for Holland America Line as Ryndam. In 2023 she was resold to Celestyal Cruises and renamed Celestyal Journey."

I've picked up Holland America tiles for a couple of years now, and lo and behold, look what I've got.  2024 was also my 30th anniversary of life-and-death with Tino.  Strange how things come 'round.

The ship docked at 7am.  Following a tedious time waiting for baggage to be offloaded, we boarded pre-assigned buses for the ride to the Gulf of Corinth for our last few days.  It was an abrupt departure from all the history (we'd) seen for, what, 9 days now?  Crumbling marble and perpetual sunshine seemed normal.  I'd snapped a photo of this mosque during the taxi ride in to Athens, and here was a different perspective on the way out; seemed poetic.

I slept next to a stranger during the hour-long trip to the Club Hotel Casino Loutraki; advising her to give me a good nudge if I began to snore.

Happy New Year - Go Ducks!

The Oregon Ducks are in the Rose Bowl today!  

I don't really follow college football, so when the University of Oregon announced they were moving their sports teams from the Pac-12 conference to the Big 10 last August (I have no idea what I'm talking about), all I knew was that folks here in Oregon were p___'d!   

"They moved who where; and why?"  I'm being lazy by quoting AI:

"The Oregon Ducks left the Pac-12 conference to join the Big Ten, primarily due to the significantly more lucrative media rights deal offered by the Big Ten, which translates to more revenue for the university and athletic program."

It's always about money.  For weeks I heard a variety of reasons and consequences of the move; including the increased costs for attending games.  It's fine for the football team, but what about the lesser funded cross-country team?  I'm sure I positioned that somewhat innacurately, but you get the idea.

But the biggest heartache, I gathered, was the loss of the annual rivalry, once known as the Civil War.  From the Register Guard:

"Once called the "Oregon Classic" or the "State Championship Game" in its early days, one of the oldest college football rivalries has been played between the Oregon and Oregon State football teams since 1894.

"With athletes, alumni, boosters and others questioning the use of the name, the usage of the "Civil War" name was discontinued in 2020 following a wave of name changes across the country sparked by the George Floyd protests."  No suitable replacement has been found:  formerly known as the Civil War - sounds like Prince.

Fans here watched their last Ducks-Beavers game with tears.  The two schools (UO and OS) are only 47 miles apart, so it was easy to attend games at one school or another; no wonder they're peeved. 

The undefeated Ducks have undoubtedly surprised a lot of people, and I'll be cheering later on today.

But I just learned of the massacre in New Orleans.  Helluva way to begin 2025, and definitely puts a damper on all of today's celebrations.  We must stop accepting these mass killings, beginning with not publicizing the assassins.  We'll see if social media lauds this killer like they have Mangione and others.

Boy, this is sure a different ending than I imagined when I started typing.  I propose this New Year we offer more than thoughts and prayers following these tragedies.  Instead of investigating motivations, why not find out what the killers are AFRAID of (anonymity; bullying; SNAKES?)  Then, if they survive, torture them for the rest of their lives; if President Trump doesn't have them killed outright.  How many would object to that, I wonder?  

But the Rose Parade is on; I predict the Ducks beat Ohio State later on; and I'm about to head out for Eggs Benedict and a Bloody Mary, life is good.  Happy New Year, everyone!

P.S.  The Ducks got their tail feathers kicked:  41-21, Ohio State Buckeyes.  Oh well, they did well this season and there's always a next time.

For Your Entertainment...

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Kwanza to all!  Wow, a triple-header this year!  To avoid repetition in my annual holiday post, it was necessary to 'Search' my blog, guessing at possible labels I may have assigned at the time, oy vey!

That has taken its toll on my brain this morning, but also produced smiles.  So here's a trip down memory lane, perhaps you've missed one.  Enjoy!

Kris Kringle - Barrel-Rider: 

"It began with a barrel.  One afternoon I discovered a wine barrel perched not far from my door.  A relative is storing various items with my landlords, and ever since The Desolation of Smaug, I couldn’t get barrel-riding dwarves out of my head."  Read more...

Let's Have Some Hygge:

“This Danish concept cannot be translated to one single word, but If you've ever enjoyed reading a book indoors on a rainy Sunday or a cup of hot cocoa on a snowy day, you've experienced hygge without even knowing it.”  Read more...

Dead Santas (for the photos, if nothing else):

"This morning I half-watched a program about renewable energy and urban conversion.  A  good looking young family putters around their newly-fashioned, old-style farmhouse: grade schooler raking muck; toddlers playing with chickens; Mother sniffing her compost pile. Ugh. I scoffed at the show’s premise.    Read more...

And finally, from 2016, one post particularly poignant to me: 

The Night Before Foodstamps: 

‘Twas the night before food stamps, and all through the house

Not a creature was stirring; no scraps for that mouse.

The Green bags were hung by the front door with care,

In hopes that the Co-op had samples to spare.

My rescue dog shuddered, all snug in her bed,

While visions of Frisbee-toss danced in her head.

She’s lucky she’s fed; her tummy don’t groan,

I’m wrackin’ my brain to pay for the phone.

Read more...

I'd forgotten my one Comment was from Ex-Man #1, who unexpectedly popped back in to my life via this blog, now passed.  This past year, several near-and-dear to me's also passed, it's always a shock.  At least they're at peace.  The rest of us will keep praying for the worldwide-kind.

I'm typing while listening to beautiful holiday music on the radio; thankful even more, after re-reading events of past Christmases, to be safe, warm and surrounded by loving people...some living alone in RV's like me...but who have come to appreciate the little things---like the kindness of strangers.

So Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Kwanza.  And to those who choose to celebrate holidays in their own fashion...or NOT...remember...

IT WILL SOON BE OVER!

Idiots on the Ground

So did y'all realize you were electing Elon Musk when you cast your vote for  Donald Trump?  Back in October I wrote about Our Greatest Threat, so I'm not surprised.  I can't imagine Congress, by the end of the weekend, pulling together a revised bill to extend the government, so how many will be celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanza without money or jobs, Ho Ho Ho.  As my parents would say,

"How do you like them apples?"  On to other topics:

Unbelievable how many people are celebrating the despicable murder of CEO Brian Thompson on a city street.  I agree that the shooter, who I won't celebrate by using his name, should be chared with an act of terrorism - this is sure scaring corporate execs and their families.  It should also scare everyone in proximity of anyone wearing a suit; whether in the office or on the street.  If people are feeling justified with indiscriminate violence to solve economic problems, what do you think will happen once all those billionaires are in power? (Think guillotines.) Do you really think they care about OUR welfare?  Apparently 77,284,118 voters do.

Switch:  Here's my theory about the drone-hysteria bandwagon:

Lots of aircraft are incorrectly identified as drones plus there are loads of drones operating for legitimate purposes, like giving us more weather info, I know I couldn't live without that.  Add to that legitimate hobbyists who follow the rules.  OK, and maybe a UFO or two.

But MOST of them, at least at the moment, are being flown by complete idiots copycating other idiots who're getting a real laugh by f__king with the rest of us.

I never thought selling drones like candy was a good idea.  Owners are supposed to register drones over .55 pounds, or 250 grams, but that's relying on a person's integrity, bad assumption.  This from the FAA:

"Failure to register an unmanned aircraft that is required to be registered may result in regulatory and criminal penalties. The FAA may assess civil penalties up to $27,500. Criminal penalties include fines of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment for up to three years."

Yeah, I know, the FAA's another goverment agency not to be trusted, but how are people going to react as Amazon's drone-delivery services grow?  

"Amazon drones carry packages weighing five pounds or less and can deliver them in under an hour. The drones use sensors to ensure safe delivery and are designed to be quieter than previous models."

To me that's right up there with driverless cars.  Laser strikes are on the uptake, interfering with aircraft operations.  Will you feel safe flying home for the holidays? 

Switch:  I can't take RFK Jr's appointment seriously, but I don't believe Trump does either.  He threw out names of unqualified people just to stir things up, and see how much (the public'll) swallow.  Sure, I get that (some) don't like Fauci and hope he burns in hell, along with anyone else who made life inconvenient under Covid; don't worry, they're making lists.  But does Junior have any medical qualifications for the job?  Maybe it's too much to ask for a licensed physician to head the country's Health and Human Services, but at least we should have a Candy Striper.

Polio vaccines were first adminstered in 1955, the year of my birth; and I'm sure glad I didn't suffer what prior generations did.  From the WHO (World Health Organization):

"Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus. It invades the nervous system and can cause total paralysis in a matter of hours."

Shall we play Russian Roulette with that?  Here's a famous reminder:

"FDR was diagnosed with infantile paralysis, better known as polio, in 1921, at the age of 39. Although dealing with this crippling disease was difficult, many believe that his personal struggles helped shape FDR, both as a man and as a president."

Despite all his family's money, Franklin Roosevelt spent the remainder of his life in a wheelchair.  Perhaps some hope polio will build character in their kids, too.

Switch:  I don't trust Elon Musk not to reduce Social Security in the name of DOGE; an agency which has absolutely NO authority, but he's already throwing his weight around.  Of course Jeff Bezos, Mark Zukerberg and Sam Altman are donating millions (combined) to curry favor.  Don't you find that bothersome?

But Trump seems perfectly fine with Musk doing what he wants; what RFK Jr wants; what anyone in a position to destroy government agencies wants, like the Dept. of Education and the FBI.  That'll please parents who suspect their children are being transgendered during lunch break.

Number 47 will be too busy suing people from hereon out, after ABC handed over $15 million.  His legal bills oughta be paid PDQ, but I, for one, believe the Republican National Committee's coffers should be reimbursed, seems only right.  But the 21st Century's Teflon Don will likely pocket all the overages; sorry Rudy.  Money, money, money, that's all people like Trump care about: how to acquire more wealth the fastest way, to hell with principles.  Seems like some of that attitude's trickled down to TikTok.

Sadly, Republicans will try to blame Joe Biden for everything that goes wrong in the future, even though Republicans are at the helm and hold majorities in both houses.  But they will..  The scary part is how many people are following the naked Emperor.

Whaddaya gonna do.