"All Things Considered..."

...I said to Manager Rhonda, "Considering our cable TV service has ended; I owe the dentist $700; and my best buddies are all leaving, I'm doin' OK."

These past 5 months have been tough:  coming to grips with the fact that my managers of 4+ years, Miss Rhonda and Mr. Jimmy, are moving on.  I can't say enough nice things about their management styles and personalities, so I won't.  Like many Workampers, they didn't intend on remaining in one place as long as they have; and so after 6 years they are ready to move on.

Always supportive, Rhonda and Jim helped me through my grief over BC.  If it wasn't for them I probably wouldn't have gotten my Smart Phone, theirs was my first photo.  And I'm FAR better at hospitality than I was 4 years ago; although Rhonda jokes,

"Well that's a pretty low bar."

I was devastated but enthusiastic for them; for like the boating lifestyle, RV'ing means people come and go on to new adventures.  Lucky them - they'll be leading a caravan down to Mexico for the winter, they taking time to explore more of the U.S.

The "D's" have travelled throughout the world more than anyone I've known, exotic and otherwise.  With years of experiences guiding groups for travel firms, they now plan trips through the Next Big Adventure, check out their website.

Our friends typically travel with an older black Lab such as Ryder (bottom rock), rescued the day they arrived. After I painted a rock with BC's portrait I asked Rhonda if she'd like one, and the next day she came in with 4 photos. Our rocks needed retouching after years of weathering, but this time Rhonda coated them all with epoxy; a skill she learned last summer for a guest project.  The memento will be all the more poignant, for sadly, Ryder's time has come.  We're all grieving with them, yet appreciative how new surroundings will be beneficial.

They leave November 1st and time is growing short, but I've grown accustomed to the idea, more or less.  Shortly after delivering the blow to us all, I cried as I told them that while I'm sorry to see them leave I am also grateful to have had them for 4 years, boo hoo.

Last winter we lost a couple of maintenance Workampers who had become like brothers, and more my age.  One was 9 days younger which gave me permission to push him around. They'd both been here 7 or 8 years, and moved south for health and family reasons.

This year summer Workamper Rosemary (all these folks here with their spouses) and I worked on a quilt she presented her husband at the end of the season. Each year she and Richard park in the spot next to mine from mid-April until September; at which time they return to their home outside of Las Vegas.  It's the closest thing I have to bonafide 'neighbors' and I love it.

Another Workamper who has been here one year less than me suddenly announced that she, too, was leaving the 1st of November.  I had to steady myself.  We always have lots of fun; too much at times, we're scolded.  At least she's only moving about 10 miles down the road.

"If Dave says he's leaving, too, they y'all just tie my extremities to your bumpers and pull - get it over quick!"

Dave assured me he'll stay; although he and Chris have yet to return from their lengthy vacation visiting family, that's always risky.  Grandchildren tug at Workamper's hearts, I've seen it before.

The dental bill was a surprise last week, for I discovered I'm now considered one step UP from indigent and therefore kicked off part of my medical plan, like so many others.

Surprise! the receptionist said when I went in a for a cleaning.  "You're already up to $700; I didn't think you'd want to add (insult to insury)."

That amount included an emergency visit - I'm not even covered for that?  I was completely gobsmacked and vowed to pay whatever I owe after speaking to my insurance people, there must be some mistake.

There had been a glitch in my records last year which caused some incorrect billing, but this time it was my fault for not comprehending their insurance information - when you're wrong you're wrong, but ouch!

So I whipped out a credit card and paid them, lesson learned. Still, it's difficult to endure while watching our President host grandiose events profiting his family, cronies and foreign dictators.  Trump's taking from people like (us) to fund his propaganda commercials and labeling me an enemy of the people?  Doesn't seem right.

And finally, cable TV?  It was antiquated and the park recently upgraded our (free) WiFi, which is great; but no more CNN or MSNow, just as well.  My antenna picks up air channels including the 5 major networks, that's enough.

Free Ice Cream!

I don't pay for any cable subscription nor do I watch podcasts and such; so fortunately Rosemary recommended those Amazon Firesticks.  Works great for watching Prime's LiveTV channels on my TV instead of the laptop.  I did figure out how to read/watch snippets from those other networks later in the day, which is fine with me.  Not having 24/7 availability is a good thing.

So as I say, all things considered, I'm doing fine, thanks!

Getting Real

I don't know if that's still an 'expression' but it sums up what's happening at this moment.  We're being led by someone who, if not certifiable, has a bad case of Dementia.  He changes his mind and our policies on a dime, even within one Tweet.  Of course, we're not paying $100,000 a month to read his mind first so we can't get him to change his mind before he tells the rest of us.  Here's the first thing AI spit out:

"Institutional investors and high-frequency trading firms pay between $60,000 and $100,000 per month to read Truth Social posts first."

Something as important as controlling AI before it controls US matters to him not in the least, but that's not how he felt not too long ago.  Before understanding how much money he could make.

You can say that about almost everything Trump talks about.  Yet still, what he says and does matters.

How can responsible citizens comprehend and VOTE if we're blocked from knowing what's going on; which is why our President continues to squash our liberties by denying CNN, MSNow and Politico access to the White House.  Good or Who Cares says you?  How would you feel if a future Democrat said the same about Fox or Steve Bannon's channel?

The worrisome part is that so many people DON'T care, which is exactly what the President wants.  Talk about gas and grocery prices and people know what's true and what's BS; but foreign negotiations being conducted by a couple of businessmen over our Secretary of State - that't not troubling?

Nor is it troublesome that a Russian oligarch so close to Putin was a guest at Don Jr's exclusive wedding of 50 guests?  Maybe that's all he could get - like his Dad trying to find performers for his 250th Flop Celebration.

Sure, I can watch Trump and Xi shake hands on ABC or NBC, but I prefer the commentators on CNN and MSNow, for the most part.  PBS doesn't seem to have the same punch as they used to.  I don't want to watch a bunch of puppets spew our government's propaganda like they do in Russia, China, and North Korea (do people even have TV's?).

I do wish ALL networks would boycott covering the White House, you hear that from every angle.  Apparently they did it during '45 - so they can do it now.

UPDATE PRIOR TO POSTING:  Apparently the news media are solidifying to boycott, YAY!

Is RFK Jr. REALLY a Kennedy?

I've asked myself this question more than once.  Sure, he resembles the original Robert F. Kennedy but it could be AI; they're really good at that now.  Another conspiracy theory: touting a man who claims connection with the Kennedy dynasty; just like Anastasia (of the Romanovs; an imposter later identified as Franziska Schanzkowska, a missing Polish factory worker).

I wonder if he's said anything to DJT  about putting his name on his uncle's sole living-memorial or tearing it down; talk about distasteful.  Think what you will, but Jackie certainly added taste and culture to the White House; something Donald and Melania can't possibly match so therefore must tear it all down.

But back to the topic:  what can you say about someone who solicited the Harris campaign for a Cabinet position and then switched sides when they didn't jump on the idea?  Lack of character, commitment, I can't find the right word; but add that to his Dead-Animal stories.  Now just another hoarse mouthpiece for the President; it hurts to listen to the man.  Does he sound anything like John Fitzgerald or his (supposed) namesake; champions of the downtrodden?

He may have had good ideas at one time - notably his work on cleaning up the Hudson River, which was certainly toxic; but like Drs. Oz and Phil, something happened between the time Oprah introduced them to the world and now.  

"(Phil) Mc Graw spoke at a Trump campaign rally at Madison Square Garden, defending Trump supporters against what he called "bullying" and "cancellation". He later claimed that appearance was an "act of rebellion" after the Kamala Harris campaign turned down his multiple interview requests."

What's with these guys?  Never learned how to handle No?  What does that say about Phil's advice?  Fame and Ego have corrupted them; so it's not surprising they're drawn to a man who can't get enough of either.  Never mind the dead bodies they leave in their wake.

Lord help us.

Remembering Mummy

My mother passed away 10 years ago today.  I've previously written a couple of stories about this remarkable woman you might enjoy:

What was Good Enough for Mom is Good Enough for Me

A Lifetime of Letters

We love and miss you, Momma -

The America in Jeopardy Show

If you haven't paid much attention to where taxpayer money is going, or what we're unknowingly supporting, you're not alone.  I know, it's boring to research every shady deal; so here, in perfect 2026 communication format, is a YouTube video from Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley, which places the Golden Goose Eggs in one basket:

America in Jeopardy, featuring participants Senators Elizabeth Warren, Chris Van Hollen and Tina Smith, is highly entertaining.
Certainly enlightening.
Definitely alarming.

Time To Ponder

It's been a couple of weeks since my mental shift, so how's it going?  Pretty well - I make a conscious decision each morning that I'll either have a good day or a crappy one, my choice.  Any time my mind drifts to unpleasant subjects or people, I nudge myself to turn off the tube or change the radio station.  I know horrible things continue to occur, but I also know I'm doomed to breathe for another 30 years so I'd better learn to deal with my reactions.

This is my Tino, who I'd hoped to introduce to all my friends and grow old with.  Didn't happen, for one year later he was gone; that was 30+ years ago.  I mention it now because last night I had a dream, something I rarely have.  I used to dream all the time - vivid technicolor movies with me being an active participant, often flying.  I could wake up several times and always return to my place in the dream, like pausing a VCR.

But finding Tino's lifeless body on the floor shocked my system such that I stopped dreaming but once in a blue moon.  I always thought that was God adding insult to injury, but what can you do?

Anyway, in my dream I got hit by the proverbial bus I keep talking about; after which I was immediately enveloped by Tino's presence, that's the only way I can describe it.  That was all, but it was enough.  Didn't care about the unfinished project nor my unsold possessions.  Nothing - not a care - just Tino's love.  That was enough to reassure me that he, and others, are waiting for me; I choose to believe.  My turn will come.  Nothing to do but keep plugging away like everyone else, but at least since I've been ordering up a good 'tude each morning, my spirit has lightened, and that's nice. Pretty easy, too; what's taken me so long?

I was going to write about things like our Patriot missile aresenal being decimated to shoot down drones; for what if our enemies decide to hit all at once?  'Caught with our pants down,' I can't be the only one thinking that; and getting rid of experienced Generals and Admirals in favor of Stepford Husbands doesn't seem like the smartest move.

People are worried about Abdul El-Sayed in the same manner others would react to Charlie Kirk being elected to the Senate.  The idea of socialists taking over the country doesn't frighten me, for there are different kinds of socialism, just like any ideology.   We've got to acknowledge that people with similar sentiments exist all over the country, and we'd better work together before we blow it all apart. 

It wouldn't be difficult to prevent if Checks and Balances still existed, but they started by getting rid of Inspectors General and worked up to the Supreme Court so that, unfortunately, we no longer seem to have anything of the sort at the top.

I also pondered to myself, "If Donald Trump dies in office, does that mean Melania will take over?  Or one of his sons?"  That's why we have the VP, you say, but will we have one in the future?

Before my, Gonna have a GOOD day - day, I spent too much time wondering about stuff like that; or how many people are going to vote for Donald's picks; how many election-deniers are in influential positions; will the Post Office deliver my ballot?  I hope I'll still be allowed to vote.

So I'll brush off my negativity and head for work, which is slow because the Canadians aren't coming down to visit and gasoline prices are so high.  Takes mucho dinero to fill a monster RV.