I'm One of the Anti-American, Antifa, Radical Insurrectionists They're Referring To

Because I plan to attend the second No Kings demonstration this Saturday in my little town?  I'm not going because I'm anti-ICE, but because of what the President is doing to erode our government.  For those of you who have been paying attention to Trump's never-ending edicts and lawsuits, and what's been going on in the courts, I don't need to explain.  For those of you who are scratching your head at WHY we're demonstrating - well, all I can do is show you the threatening terrorist Trump is willing to send armed troops to put me in my place.

Aren't I scary?  Look at the people around me - this was from the first No Kings Day last June; and even then some drivers thought it was funny to speed up and drive very close to the curb to scare us.  Our fellow citizens.  I can't imagine what the 18th will be like.

Someone came in to the office the other day, and while talking about himself ad nauseam, he mentioned his two dogs used to bark when he said, 'Commie.'  I thought I misheard him, until he added,

"Now they bark when I say 'Democrat' - it's more fun."  He left before I could say anything - not that I can say anything at work.  We've got a nice working environment without overt religious or political interruptions.  But will the President and his Cabinet's haranguing of Democrats lead to more and more instances of crazies watching out for people wearing too much blue?  I even hear things like (sic) we're Demon-driven or Satan followers.

Note, top photo:  In 2007, I was living in Puerto Rico.  One day I was driving to the Mayaguez Mall, and at a stop light I saw this tattered flag, took the picture, and sent it to the San Juan Star (left).  It was not an easy time to be an American on the island for a number of reasons, including the Navy leaving Vieques.  As I wrote, 

"Regardless of politics, it is a crime to display ANY flag in such a condition.  Please, someone, either replace or take down this insulting eyesore."

I've always been patriotic.  I cry at the Star Spangled Banner.  A student of government and history, I did learn about such things as the Separation of Powers and the Hatch Act.  Which is why I've been alarmed at what's been happening to government employees (as a former one myself) and the idea that the President will lay off employees of Democratic persuasion.

That could have been me.  Toiling away, typing forms, day after day, President after President, but without worrying about being fired for my personal beliefs.  There are reasons for rules and regulations of which our President is completely ignorant; he wants what he wants and the hell with the rest of us.  He's publically gleeful to be laying off thousands, sick.

I've been writing and warning about so many things over the past several years, from the increase in Christian Values being forced upon us to Trump's retaliation campaign backed up by his own Storm Troopers.  I wrote that he'd eventually get down to the 'little people' and that's exactly what he's threatening today.

(Following the piece in the paper, within short order the flag was replaced, and a follow-up response was printed in the paper apologizing for the slight.)

I could have ignored the flag and done nothing, but I happen to feel strongly about the proper handling and display of Old Glory.  I don't feel the need to wear my patriotic spirit on my sleeve, or lapel.

My 70th birthday is some time this month - I never publically post the exact day, and always make up a birthday when some online thing requires it.  I don't need a Happy Birthday from my bank.  But to me this nice round number is significant, and I would regret it terribly if I didn't stand up for our rights/myself on October 18th.

I can't speak to Chicago or LA, but the President is LYING about Portland.  As I wrote last week, outside agitators who are intent on creating havoc ANYWHERE have finally made it to Portland, after drinking their way from whatever yahoo-place they come from.  Please, don't believe that Portland's a war zone.  The only things resembling a war zone are the camouflage fatigues.

Whistles will be distributed on Saturday to alert others of any trouble, but I'm not planning on doing anything other than singing and an occasional shout.  But I'll tell you one thing - if anyone covered head-to-toe, without any identification or badge, tries to force me to move a single step, you bet I'll be pissed.    Amy will most assuredly emerge and compound my trouble, but think about it - -

When I was young, I was warned that if I'm driving alone, especially at night, and a flashing light comes up behind me, to continue driving until I could safely pull into a public place - ideally to the nearest police station.  Nowadays things are much worse.  Have some strange guy try to throw me into a van?  Are you mad?

So yes, I'm one of the people who the President claims is an Insurrectionist, threatening the rest of you.  In addition to crime, we'll be blamed for the bad economy; going to war; and any other woes HE AND HIS BILLIONAIRE BUDDIES inflict on the rest of us.  He won't think twice about having me arrested, but will consider pardoning Gislaine Maxwell?

I hope to make it through the No Kings October 18th event without anything bad happening.  Even if Trump manages to federalize some police force, I'm going, and so are loads of other harmless people, older maybe, but intent on retaining our health care and First Amendment rights.  I really wish I had one of those Dinosaur costumes to wear, but I'll have to settle for my Halloween Witch hat Mom sewed for me, recently retrieved from storage.  And, of course, my kazoo.

Ooooooo......

Expat Life in Puerto Rico

My other blog, Ruff Life at Sea, contains posts describing my cruising adventure from Florida to Puerto Rico on  a 1971 33-trawler.  It was written during Covid, and I've rarely posted there since.

But while cleaning up my website the other day I saw how many photos included really need stories attached, so I've begun with Ruff Life in the News, here's a snippet:

Tour boats would slowly putter by in the hopes of catching 95-pound Czar lounging along the gunwhales, nonplussed by the attention he'd grown accustomed to.

One day I heard,

"Saw you on the news last night. It was a story about people having fun on the water, and it showed you in the dinghy with Czar."

While you're there, look around for stories you may have missed.  Enjoy!

"Don't Take the Bait!" - Troops in Portland

Saturday night seemed surreal: at home in my RV, switching channels, I saw Portland's Mayor Keith Wilson speaking, backed by a number of dignataries.  I stopped to listen.

(sic) "We read on social media that President Trump is sending troops in to Portland.  We didn't ask him, and we don't need them."

Senator Jeff Merkeley started speaking, (sic):  "Don't rise to the bait.  The President is depicting Portland like what we saw in LA in the '60s (my interpretation); and it's just not true.  They WANT us to react (negatively) in order to justify the troops being sent in the first place.  (Again), DON'T TAKE THE BAIT!"

I wasn't surprised - we all knew they'd come to our CRAZY RADICAL LEFTIST city, but still, it was a bit alarming to watch it begin; like waiting for a hurricane.  I wished I had someone sitting next to me to help process all this.

Gov. Tina Kotek immediately called the White House and finally was able to speak to the Man himself.  The morning news (local affiliate) reported Trump asked her (sic),

"Isn't it what my people have been describing to me?  Fires all over, riots...it isn't?  We'll talk more."  In other words, he'll continue to spew falsehoods.

There was a small demonstration last night at the ICE facility, where the troops are supposed to be deployed; but it wasn't violent and they went home early to bed.  I was glad to see that people were heeding, "Don't take the bait!"

But the crazies from out-of-state are still traveling to Portland; just as they do with any conflict between citizens and the authorities.  I suppose those are the 'Antifa' guys; disorganized and f__'d up in their dull lives, but able to come together to behave badly in matching outfits, like the KKK.

I always think back to eastern Oregon during the (second) standoff with the Bundys about cattle grazing on federal land.  Here's a brief bit about the ongoing lawlessness-in-the-West, which may make some people think twice befoe taking a roadtrip out here: A decade after armed standoff, the Bundys appear to be above the law.

What I remember most were the complaints from the locals about the influx of agitators in the guise of Patriots, and how disruptive they were in the lives of 'decent, God-fearing souls.'

It will take a little time for the out-of-towners to get here - they've first got to fill their pick-ups with yahoo-buddies; guns and ammo; and beer.  The last will delay their arrival.

So I have no doubt, unfortunately, that Trump will get what he wants; and if by some miracle he doesn't, he'll create the crisis he craves.

Our beautiful state, desicrated by the likes of Trump, Noem and Hegseth.  Blind followers of a power-crazed maniac who is systematically destroying the lives of public servants doing their jobs.

Or anyone speaking their mind.

Charlie Who?

...I asked when I first heard the news of the despicable assassination of Charlie Kirk.  I'm no longer young, nor do I engage in social media, so Charlie wasn't on my radar.  Like most of my generation, I flashed back to childhood assassinations: JFK, Malcolm X, MLK Jr, RFK and even the attempt on George Wallace.  I remember watching the shooting of Lee Harvey Oswald by Jack Ruby in that hallway on Nov. 24, 1963.  It was the first time such a thing was seen on live TV.  I was 8.  At some point I stopped being shocked.

That does not mean I didn't feel profound sadness over Charlie Kirk's murder in Utah.  Now I think you'll agree that this is a dangerous time for people to speak their mind AND be on the wrong side of our current Administration; and I am also terribly despondent over the fact that I had to wrestle with the idea of writing anything at all about Charlie Kirk (CK).  This kind of 'moment' doesn't happen all the time - how can I remain silent?

But after hearing one newscaster note that for the week following the assassination, the stars of ABC's show, The View, which I've never watched, never uttered a word on-air, I considered the current atmosphere of fear in our nation.

Well, I don't want to live the rest of my life (or even the next 3 years) feeling fearful every time I open my laptop to type.  Not all of my friends agree with my views, nor do I expect them to.  By now they know me and my sarcasm, and it's easy enough not to read my blog.    I try not to offend fellow citizens personally, but I do poke fun and direct harsh words towards those who make decisions and influence policies for the rest of us.  That's my right.

Therefore, I will try to be the best Libran I can be and look into both sides enough to gain a general understanding of Charlie Kirk's legacy.  I don't have to have an opinion, that's my prerogative; and if I do, I'm allowed to change it - that's what freedom's about, and what I want to keep. But in the spirit of Full Disclosure, I'll begin by sharing what I've already heard from diametrically opposing views.

"He brought it on himself." Wow, that sounded scary.  The person did add they didn't think anyone should be shot for their views, but CK has said some alarming things, like women belong in the kitchen.  That POV didn't originate with him - it was Barefoot and Pregnant when I was young.

Backstage at the Antiques Roadshow: A Tale of Two Shoes

When I opened the email from Oregon Public Broadcasting, offering one last chance to volunteer at a taping of the Antiques Roadshow at the Lane Event Center in Eugene, I thought it was SPAM.  (Note: story from 2011.)  I’d done PBS telethons in Portland during the 90’s and signed up again when I returned to Oregon in 2010; but I'd moved closer to Ashland so thought that was that.

This was one of those once-in-a-lifetime-opportunities and I wasn’t about to pass it up, despite being a starving artist.  I’d get there somehow. I, 'Yes, please'd immediately and received my handbook, release form and a map of the fairgrounds.  Mandatory volunteer orientation would be Friday evening, with Saturday's shift beginning at 6:30am and running all day.  The taping would be divided between 3 shows.  Unfortunately, cameras were not allowed inside during filming.

Volunteers would be allowed two items for appraisal.  I didn't have anything in my 16' trailer, so I asked Sis in N.J. to mail some of my stored jewelry and a Mizlou Sports poster from Dad’s old advertising business, slightly tattered. We’d be fed and given a blue polo shirt to wear and keep.  Comfortable shoes popped up in every communiqué:  "It’s going to be a long, but fun day."

I (was) 55 and in pretty good shape, but during the 12 years I was absent from Oregon I lived on my boat in Puerto Rico and shoes hurt my feet.  The starving artist reference is not just a joke; I was trying to accumulate enough to drive back & forth to Eugene (3 hrs one way) and hopefully a room for one night.  Buying shoes wasn’t in the budget, but Wednesdays are Senior’s Day at the local Goodwill so I decided to take a peek. 

1995

A brand new pair of white canvas Keds, no laces and a size-and-a-half too large, felt great for $2.99 minus 20%.  Plain shoelaces brought the total close to a gallon of gas, but as luck would have it, the afternoon’s mail brought an unexpected, “I know you’d do the same,” with a check from a friend in Washington who was unable to meet me in Eugene.  Bless her heart, the heat was off.  I stared at my sneakers.

I knew that once a spot got on my nice clean shoes it would make me nuts, so I considered how to 'mask' any stains or scuff marks.

White canvas screams for decoration; so why not paint Roadshow icons for different categories, and maybe leave space for some signatures?

It didn’t take me long to dive into the project, and once I added the beads to the laces on Friday morning, they were finished.

Just Ask the Secretary

 

I'm tired of the Epstein mess, too.  By now this isn't a matter of which side, Republican or Democratic, finally decided to DO something about the predator, but more about watching our President squirm his way out of his lies.

I don't believe Donald penned the note or drew the doodle.  Why not?  Because, based on personal observations from that time period (and surely today, too), no 'boss' would have put that together on his own - he'd have shifted it to his Secretary or Assistant to prepare; based on, perhaps, his guidelines or notes.

I'm an artist, but I doubt I could have drawn the woman's outline as symmetrically as it looks.  In my old company, whose owners were as sleezy as Jeffrey (the stories I could tell!), the Secretary would have gone down to the Art Department for one of the guys to draw the outline.  Then, if (she) couldn't do it herself, yet another person would have inserted the typed words - in just the right position to fit in the sketch.

Whether or not Trump signed it, he surely would have APPROVED of its insertion in the book.  No assistant would make that sort of unilateral decision if (she) wanted to keep (her) job; not to mention asking the obvious:  Could our President really have accomplished all that by himself?

Did he sign it?  Don't screem FORGERY without showing differences in curvature, letter-leanings and then similarities.  But hell, cursive isn't taught anymore, so how could most people tell the difference?  

Listen hard to their suggestive words denying the deed:  "HE didn't draw or write it."  You see how that can be true and not-really.  And they've twisted the "That's NOT the way he signs things."  Haven't we all seen enough TV where signatures have been compared?  Look at the FORCE used in those signatures for proof, if you don't believe the distinctive up-down with the Sharpie.  I've tried forging signatures - my parent's for a school note; my husband's if he wasn't available.  It's not that easy.

But the birthday book looks damned close, considering it would have been the first time Trump's forged signature was attempted; or was it?  Maybe someone else was signing all kinds of documents for him.  I was told plenty of times, 'Go ahead and sign it' when my boss was out of the office.

Consider:  what if someone else WAS pretty good at forging his signature to the extent that Trump passed off a portion of his inane correspondence, or something which might possibly incriminate him?  That would certainly explain why, if there ARE two distinct signatures from that time frame, we see others like this one, and some which are like his current signature.  I think that's a pretty good possibility.

I don't like him, but I don't think Trump engaged in pedophilia.  He seems to prefer more developed anatomies; plus he's got daughters - not necessarily a deterrent, but it would have at least given him pause, one would hope.  Epstein seems to have had no one but who?  His Assistant Ghislaine.

I suspect that was pretty much their relationship after he tired of her sexually; although she can, now that Jeffrey's dead, portray their relationship any way she chooses.  Again, I saw that in my old company in Manhattan (and Yes, I told Sis everything, every night on the hour-long bus ride home.  She was simultaneously amused and appalled.)

Owner Mike kept his Secretary/Lover, Susie, close by for decades.  Susie remained single and infatuated with Mike; and who, over the years, became complicent in Mike's sleezy, behavior: using-then-tossing some young Receptionist or other.  Ghislaine (likely) arranged Jeffrey's calendar, made travel arrangements, went to the bank, forged his signature when necessary - so my original point still stands:

ASK TRUMP'S THEN-SECRETARY OR PERSONAL ASSISTANT about the Birthday Book.  If not bound by any non-disclosure agreement, (as I witnessed; accompanied by a nice fat check), I'd bet (they've) got lots to say,  Office workers gossip, period.  

Go talk to THEM.