On Pizza and Politics

I don't post photos (or anything else) on social media, but I must celebrate this PERFECT slice of New York-style pepperoni pizza, extra grease, which I inhaled back in 'Jersey in April.  Served on a single, flimsy paper plate, that's part of the fun. It's impossible to properly explain this delicasy to others - you know, "Burns the roof of your mouth," as you utter, Ummmm.  I can die in peace.

It was Heaven on Earth stepping inside Mr. Pizza Slice in Red Bank.  I was teleported back to the 70's to fun times with family and friends popping inside one of these places for a slice. And here I was, popping in for a slice with Sis.  The only thing missing was the guy stretching and swirling dough in the air, cheap entertainment for kids.  But ouch!  I'd forgotten how intense is the scalding; then those pieces of hanging flesh in the mouth, so annoying.

It's hard getting back into writing.  I think I posted 2 or 3 since my return.  I've begun several with titles like, "Still $3.59 a Gallon," and, "Putin's Got Pictures" in response to headlines on ANY station, but I've decided instead to blend my views into a story from my recent cross-country trip, let's see how it goes.

I'd flown home to retrieve favorite belongings placed in storage in 2016, just before Mom died.  I meant to go back years ago but Covid hit; then I got my current position; but this year I finally said, "No more."  Not only had the rent gone from $25 to $60 a month for this 5x5 (l), but it's becoming increasingly clear that I've GOT to sell as much as I can to recoup what the government's about to take away, and maybe a little extra for a safety net.  At nigh on 70 it's a bit late to start again, but I hadn't counted on life happening the way it has.  No longer bitter (ok, 99%), I'm finally becoming practical, I hope.

I've touted since before November that it's only a matter of time before each of our heads are on this administration's proverbial chopping block, and it seems to be my turn in the form of cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and SNAP.  If I suddenly have to pay a Medicare premium and bear the increasingly high price of food by myself; and if tourism dries up because we've  offended so many countries so that I lose my current position; well, I shudder to think of what I'd possibly face in the form of housing, which is precisely what I faced on the trip.

100 Days of WTF?!

I've been biting my tongue about politics in Norteamérica; see, I can change names, too.  The absurdity President Trump is throwing at us during his personal Shell Game - can you believe?  Let's see what I can remember from the first 100 days:

Renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.  If you HAVE to change the name, why not call it the Gulf of THE Americas - that'll include North, South and Central.

Let's take over Canada, Greenland, Panama and Gaza - what real estate potential!  Did you hear that on the campaign trail?  "It's VITAL we OWN Greenland."  Yeah, to enrich our country's coffers.  Isn't that why he made a deal with Ukraine - to rape them of their precious minerals before Russia does?

Every time a Canadian comes into our resort I want to throw a party.  "Please don't blame us for our President" or "Bless your hearts" inadvertently pops out (we're non-political here, but sometimes you can't help it).  A couple that came in the other day explained that he's American, she's Canadian; and their siblings are all in mixed-relationships, too.  What mainly concerns them seems to be the hassle of crossing the 'ruler-created border,' not to mention dodging our crazies.

Let's ditch FEMA.  I received help from FEMA more than once in Puerto Rico, and their help was a Godsend.  If you haven't experienced a natural disaster firsthand, just remember that if they dismantle FEMA and a disaster comes your way, you're up the proverbial creek (unless you've got money).

How much has the Trump family profited since, say, September?  They're splitting hairs by claiming their bit-coin business began BEFORE he was elected.   If you only listen to Fox News, et al, then you likely haven't watched past clips of Trump denouncing all kinds of things, including bit-coins, followed by his 180 degree words now.  They're making money hand over fist, hoping eventually they'll pass even Elon Musk in wealth, is that possible?

I've written time and again that it's just a matter of time before we ALL hit the top of some list to limit our access, abilities and success; and here comes mine...in Medicaid and SNAP cuts.  As it is, previous treatments for skin cancer have been paid; but now they're telling me No, and I can't afford those 6 month treatments so I'll leave the spots alone until my skin falls off and they send me to a leper colony.

Cross-Country WITHOUT Google Maps

THIS is what you use, if you're like me.  When I picked up the Chrysler Pacifica van at Newark Airport I asked for help with instructions (no manual provided), for it was such an intimidating cockpit and my car's a 2004.  I kept the fellow for about 15 minutes. Once I understood pushing a button starts the engine, the dashboard lit up and I saw what looked like a close-up map.

"Get rid of that, please!  Just the radio will be fine."

He laughed as he talked me through which icon to press to perform my request.  I'd only packed a carry-on for my expected 2-week traveling and it was already too heavy when I considered packing my trusty 2017 Walmart Atlas.  I figured I'd pick one up somewhere, no problem.

I made the same mistake when I left Florida on Ruff Life and figured I'd pick up charts along the way through the Caribbean; like stopping at a gas station in olden days.  I grew up in New Jersey so figured navigating the (sometimes confusing) roadways would be Duck Soup until I purchased one.

I was wrong, but I'm getting ahead of myself.  I flew from Eugene, OR to San Francisco, then a red-eye to Newark.  Halfway through the 1-1/2 hr flight to San Fran, the young gal sitting next to me, also traveling alone, stopped using her laptop, tapped me on the shoulder and said,

"Excuse me, I think I'm going to faint."

There were just our two seats in the row.  I turned and tried to look into her face, except my right side's my blind side and it's hard for me to turn my neck that far.  She looked Asian, and very tiny. "What?!"  (I've got tinnitus.)

"I think I'm going to faint," she repeated, and promptly slumped onto my shoulder.

"I'm Not Good, but I've Got Guts"

Dad passed away on Good Friday almost 40 years ago, and since that time I've vowed to teach myself to play his Ukulele.  I don't know whether he learned to play chords or simply strummed to amuse us as kids, but I loved it, and him.

About 5 yrs ago I took it to a music store to replace a broken string, and as soon as I was home and STRUMMED, it broke again.  I put it back on the shelf, but took iti down a couple months ago thinking, "Either do something or get rid of it," for I'm off to 'Jersey tomorrow to retrieve my goods in storage, finally and I've been making space for weeks.

(Photo, right: this was the 1960s, when one of the world's first supermodel Twiggy's hair was in style.  Of course I looked nothing like her plus I had braces; it was a rough pre-teen time.  Anyway, there's the uke on one of those rattan shelves popular at the time) I digressed, but even my hairdresser never heard of Twiggy, what a shame.

I debated for years how I'd paint the mahogany-colored instrument (it's not a Stradavarius), until I looked at something I'd painted which now holds my combs and brushes, painted Tiffany-style, like the gourd lampshades I made in Puerto Rico, here's a link to some more.

It's a Tempo brand, which I couldn't find online except for a mention in the Ukulele Underground Forum - someone had one and asked if anyone heard of it.

"I HAVE," I shouted excitedly but no one else had, so I joined the group but have yet to post.  The paper label was shot, and after debating painting around it, I took a picture and yanked it off.

More "Told You So's..."

This, from last June's The Emperor Has No Clothes:

"After he's emptied the jails of January 6th 'Patriots' and Rappers for Trump, he'll have room for Democratic leaders, journalists and public figures.  Then, because he'd have to face judicial consequences after he leaves office, he'll work like mad to amend or remove completely the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, limiting the number of terms a President can hold office.  Imagine his first argument:

"They meant three terms in a row - I've had a break between mine." (Note today: that's exactly what Steve Bannon's throwing around.) To continue,

"If that doesn't work, he'll promote his sons as the rightful MAGA successors: 

"They still want to muzzle me, but I'll continue fighting for you through Don Jr., Eric and later Baron."  (Note today: Trump will never agree to the VP becoming President and then stepping aside.  Vance has too much ambition, that's evident; but we're assuming Trump keeps him the full 4 years, I doubt it. 

Here's another disturbing one, from Trump's Third Term Is Coming:

"I'm waiting for them to make Obesity a crime.  Don't be surprised when (our) excess pounds wind up on their chopping block.  It'll be under the guise of Make America Healthy Again.  Public weighings...right next to the gallows."

Did you hear or read what RFK Jr said the other day about the Governor of West Virginia needing to lose weight (about 30 lbs) while they were co-hosting some event:

"Morrisey, 57, introduced Kennedy, 70, to the stage for the event. During his speech, Kennedy began to fat-shame Gov. Morrisey, as seen in a video published by The New York Post. He made several comments about the Republican politician’s weight, even suggesting public monthly weigh-ins."

I thought they were trying to teach kids not to do that kind of thing.  Ho-hum, I've already begun my diet but if I hadn't, I'd sure get going fast. 

A Matter of Principle

The latest: the release of sensitive/classified/JUST SHOULDN'T BE OUT THERE material which Pete Hegseth and the others put out via Signal, complete with 😮😨😶's.

Well, that's what we get when television personalities are put in charge.  Reagan was an actor but at least had relatable experience between Hollywood and Pennsylvania Ave, but these guys?  The majority of rational people are saying they should have just taken responsibility and said, "Oops, our bad. Won't happen again."  Not that they wouldn't still have gotten grief, but at least we could have found a smidgen of something to admire them for: character; ethics; integrity...but what they're trying right now?  Telling us outright that they think we're STUPID ENOUGH TO BUY THEIR LAME EXCUSES

...by first passing the buck amongst themselves, then denegrating the reporter, Democrats, everybody but those responsible.  Ah, well, I'm not surprised, nor am I concerned about the possibility of them releasing any more state secrets - that's a given.  As a poor person with limited belongings, I don't have as much to lose as the rest of you when we go to war, another given.

If any one of us had made an equivalent blunder during, say, the negotiation of one of Donald Trump's real estate deals, do you suspect he'd simply shrug?  "Don't let the door hit you in the," you know the rest.  If you don't think that's true, then you're reading the wrong blog.

I've joked in the past about possibly becoming a political target, once they get around to coming after the 'little people' who disagree.  People here cheered on those in Tiananmen Square, Hong Kong and for a time, Ukraine.  How many people are languishing in prisons around the world for their political views; and will we create the same?

They're already swiping people off the streets like Stormtroopers; don't get me wrong, scary people should be deported or locked up, illegals or natural born; but six officers for one female student protestor?  Talk about Waste, Fraud and Abuse.  They said they'd be going after hardened gang members - how long did that assurance last?  Will people stand up for non-celebrities, or only cute assassins? Or will people be too afraid by that time to stand up to bullies?

What Trump really wants is the Nobel Peace Prize - that's why he's bound and determined to fix things in Ukraine and Gaza - not because he feels badly about (sic) 'all those poor people being killed'.  You see how he and his cronies took no time making money off the Presidency/our backs.

I'd really hoped that whichever incoming administration would really try to pull this country together, but all I hear when I pause on Fox is utter contempt for Democrats in general.  Every time I try to listen to what the 'other side' has to say about a particular issue, they're either denegrating Dem's or ignoring the issue completely, which immediately tells me the story's true.

Democrats are responsible for everything wrong: past, present and future. We're responsible for Teslas going up in smoke; couldn't possibly be a pissed Republican who got canned by DOGE.  Trump's following the Dictator's Playbook by directing people's anger towards a particular 'group' responsible for society's ills.  I'm sick of his Whiner-Baby rants, "It's all Biden's fault!"  They're looking around now for just the right target:  Palestinians; Trans-Genders; Medicaid Recipients.  But I think they like the way Radical Leftists plays.

I never liked being arbitrarily lumped into a group and I don't appreciate Republicans doing that with all Democrats:  we're ALL leftist radicals; we're ALL Wokes (a term they still can't define: it's awareness, particularly relating to social jutice.)  Well yes, I support tolerance; along with equality; declaring Economic Position and Property Protected Classes; and helping the Homeless and Lower Class.

God, I'm a horrible person.  Oh, you don't mean me but people like AOC and Bernie Sanders; why is that?  Who are they fighting for, those terrible radicals?  POOR PEOPLE.  That's why the current Billionaire Boys Club decry such voices - they're afraid of a rising demagogue (look it up).