Be Wary of Clipboard Holders

I was at work yesterday afternoon when an elderly-couple (60-ish) parked and started walking towards the clubhouse.  Wintertime is slow and the room was empty but for my managers and me.

"Uh-oh - they're wearing badges."  I hopped up to grab my personal safety alarm in the little room off to the side, just in case.

"We're from the Concerned Citizens of (_______) County, and we're checking RV parks in town to see if the people on our list are still here or have moved on - for voter registration purposes.  You can appreciate the importance of knowing who's really here and who isn't," the woman tilted her clipboard down a bit as she spoke.

The hair on the back of my neck immediately stood out - what the?  Who the ?

My manager, always the professional, engaged; but one of the first things she said was (sic)

"You understand our skepticism - in today's climate."

"Yes, yes, but look here," the clipboard again tilted, "the woman at the park down the road - Chris - completed their sheet."

"Who are you with?"

She repeated the group's name printed on their badges, adding they just want ballots to go to the right people, or something to that effect.  Oregon is a vote-by-mail state.

"Well, nothing can be done now without contacting Upper Mgmt.  Do you have a card?"

"No, they just gave us these badges.  What is your name?  And title?" She scribbled it down.

By that point I couldn't sit still, and as I passed behind my manager's chair I mumbled,

"Who are these people?  Where are their credentials?"

I returned to my chair.  The woman glanced at me, recognizing her Enemy at the Gate, but she continued pushing her mission on to my manager, who maintained her composure.  The whole thing sounded fishy; and the reason it sounds confusing to you now is because it was confusing to us then.  Totally unexpected.  They announce when Census-takers are coming so you're prepared, but this?

Nothing could be done at the moment, but they could return on Wednesday.

"We work during the week.  Would this time next week work?"

YES, PLEASE, I wanted to scream.  I don't want to miss a moment of this.

She handed over our list and they left.  It seemed to take forever for them to get out the door before we began exchanging notes.

I looked up the name of the group and all I could find was a Facebook page, which set me off even more.

"A Facebook page - A FACEBOOK PAGE!"  I hate the fact that nowadays policy is created and announced via social media.

"She must have said 3 or 4 times that other parks did it," the unsaid being so why can't we?

"It doesn't matter if every idiot up and down 101 provided information, this doesn't cut the mustard."  I looked at the list and there was my name.  "Where did they get this information?"

I half-heard her answer - something about DMV and public records.  Apparently it's available for a fee; at least limited information is; but then what other information is it the Government is asking States for?

"Beth and Bill (Workampers from years ago) are on this list, but they're from Idaho."

"I think at one time they registered something here..."

I keep thinking about it.  I don't receive my ballot here at the park - I have a Post Office Box.  So how does that fit with their little list?  A friend of mine who recently moved out of the park but still lives in the county was on the list - it just doesn't make sense what they were doing.

"What identification did they have?"

"Just those badges - Andrea can make those," since I make signs and what-not for the park.

There's no chance of the form being completed for those Concerned Citizens, but my manager is going to make management aware, regardless.  One of our other parks has ICE agents hanging around near their entrance, because there's a factory of some kind next door.  We don't tell people if someone is here in the park or not - some people have stalkers; and besides, it's simply a matter of privacy.

Perhaps you think I'm paranoid, but how can you not be suspicious of Yahoos with clipboards openly going around collecting information on us and our neighbors?

I can't wait for them to come in next week; and if they do, I'll post an addendum.  

As Old as Disneyland

I'm not tellin'...you'll likely see the same commercial which alerted me to this fact. I'm still stunned - somehow I imagined Disneyland was as old as time.  Surprise!

I keep thinking, "My (loved ones) now gone are the lucky ones.  They don't have to see what's happening to our country, and the world."  (Photo: 1970-ish, during a trip to visit relatives in CA; AJ on left with my That Girl 'do.)  It was one of my favorite shows at the time; when we were all learning about Women's Lib and the possibility of being something other than Nurturer. My young  hairdresser never heard of the show or Marlo Thomas, but at least she knew about St. Jude's.

I'm sure you've had to explain something-or-other to someone younger.  I do it all the time.  It annoys the hell out of them but they annoy the hell out of me plus it reinforces my memory, so too bad:  the Oscar Meyer jingle; chicken salad; Mozart; searching for a pay phone.  OK, explaining chicken salad was more a regional thing (and Mozart's a cultural).

Explaining spectacles like Ringling Brothers or this Horse Diving show raises eyebrows, and scorn.  Try justifying letting kids ride bikes without helmets, driving without seatbelts or walking home alone after dark and you'll receive condemnation.  Playing games with Winners AND Losers?

I know people still aren't paying attention to what's happening or what's imminent, there's nothing you can do.  I haven't gone to a demonstration lately, and so I figure to do my part by continuing to express my opinion the best way I know how - writing.  It'll last longer than me standing on a sidewalk.  I didn't used to think that meant much, until I received confirmation that whatever I'm doing to keep doing, let me explain.

My Freedom or Amazon Prime - Which Do I Value More?

It's extremely disappointing that Jeff Bezos had nothing to say about one of his Washington Post's reporter's home being raided and her phone, laptop, etc, confiscated...in the name of National Security, or some such hooey...same as they're saying about the Epstein files.

Bezos, at one time, had a spine and backed the people who worked at his 'hobby,' but since the rumblings of Trump returning, he's been eating too much Jello.

OMG, you can't write that...what if Amazon catches wind and my 1/2 price subscription to Prime is suddenly cancelled?  That was Andrea.  How will I replace their Free Live TV, I know there are other sources, but Prime has a really great selection, to my old and tired eyes.

Really, Andrea, you're weighing $6.99 a month compared to your civil rights...your FREEDOM?  That was Amy rising up, supplying some chutzpah.  I need both of us; maybe people should be searching for their own Amys.

Shame, shame, shame on me.  There's NO debate, so here I am.

Today there was another person shot and killed in Minneapolis by 'federal law enforcement'; and I happen to agree with one opinion that regardless of whether the victim was armed or not, illegal or not, no one's going to believe anything our so-called Justice Department has to report.  Nothing should matter other than it's another lamentable, deplorable death at the hands of our own.  There's nothing to excuse that.

Inexperienced, masked, a bit too enthusiastic; someone needs to really do something about DHS's hiring practices - I don't believe all ICE agents are thugs.  But probably like every other federal entity, the experienceed, competent officers have likely been retiring early or quitting, if not fired.  Where have those ethical officers gone?  Who's going to protect us?

So this is what I'm doing to contribe to support our Democracy, to hell with Bezos.

What's your PRIME?

What Shall We Talk About?

Annexing Greenland?  Mobilizing the military to battle our own?  Ignoring the Jeffrey Epstein files?  Stealing Venezuelan oil?  Melania's biopic?  Pardoning real criminals while gunning for the good?  No More Elections?

Gee, I didn't realize that was what people wanted.

Discouraging vaccinations?  Rewarding the rich?  Turning hamburger into haute cuisine? 

"Let them eat dogs!"

Destroying NATO?  USAID?  The Balance of Power?

Aw, c'mon, you're nitpicking.

Remodeling the White House?  Renaming the Gulf of America, Department of War, the Kennedy Center and 9 military bases back to Confederate names?

Why is there money for all these things, but not for food, shelter and health care? 

How is it our Dufus-in-Chief has time to study blueprints, compose insulting plaques, and plan his next revenge-tour but can't take the time to examine what people REALLY need?

"Civil Rights led to mistreatment of White People,"; "I've slashed prices on drugs and pharmaceuticals by as much as 400%, 500% and even 600%"; and finally, revealing his true motives:

"Considering (Norway) decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace."

Considering his penchant for adopting White South Africans, why would he knock a Nordic country?  Well, it's not my grandchildren who will be sent to fight in some unnecessary war.  I'm not worried about being jailed, sterilized or worse because I'm queer.  I'm long past worrying about needing an abortion because some straight but whacked relative decides to 'do me'.

By all means, let's Make America Healthy Again; but how about leading by example?  Donny looks like an overinflated balloon which will burst at any moment, his ankles are poised and ready.  How will he stand up?  Even his HHS Secretary RFK Jr said recently,

"Trump has the most 'unhinged' eating habits; I don't know how he's alive."

But double-standards are integral to Trump's manifesto, let's talk about subpoenas:

"Rep. Jim Jordan defied a subpoena from the House January 6th Committee in 2022, refusing to provide testimony about his communications with President Trump leading up to the Capitol attack."

I don't recall anything happening to him.  What do they intend doing to Bill and Hillary, lock them in a pillory?

Those who feel the shooting of Renee Good was justified are probably waiting for their ICE applications to be accepted; or running for re-election.  I don't believe I've heard Trump refer to Renee as anything other than, "That woman," whose father voted for him, that's what's important to him.

Whatever happened to Ukraine?  And why are we debating the actual size of a $3 meal?  Simple to do if you're on the opposite side of the table.  

SHAME!  SHAME!  SHAME!

...If They Stop Acting Stupid

This is a continuation of my last post...which didn't last very long.  Some of my readers are happy about that; the ones who aren't don't have to read, as one friend reminded me.

I'm up at 3am - the heat shut off (that always happens in the middle of the night), but it's just a matter of going outside and switching to my second propane tank.  Each tank lasts about 4 days in the winter.  I'm not complaining - this is life in an RV, I'm just sayin'.

My SNAP balance for this month was $28 after my shopping trip on the 12th, I'm just sayin'.

I have a $50 budget for gasoline each month.  That's more than enough, so long as I don't go out of town.  We're still paying over $3.50 a gallon; closer to $4, I'm just sayin'.

I just glanced at the screen and couldn't tell if I was looking at Iran or Minneapolis.  Things are escalating because, once again, the out-of-town-Yahoos (always on the lookout for a good riot) took a bit of time finding Minnesota.  Doesn't the President  have his indignation over the treatment of demonstrators backwards?  He's taking credit for the killings in Iran stopping, but not here, 

I'm just sayin'...

I'll Stop the Loony Tunes

I recently had a break with someone with whom I should be the closest.  A friend, whose opinion I value, suggested I might want to tone down my rhetoric; especially if I'm looking towards future employment.  I don't need dozens of pokes to recognize an undesirable behavior I'm already noticing myself.

I suppose this is how people become radicalized.  I won't use the excuse that I don't live with anyone who might help me control my words, because when it comes down to it, change must be desired BY ME - no one else.  It's not something I'm particularly proud of, but I better learn NOW rather than really shoot myself in the foot one day.

So here's the dilemma:  should I go through old posts to determine super-inflammatory prose, or leave them up?  They say nothing is ever totally deleted, but I can't imagine myself in the position where the media is trying to dig up dirt on little old me.

But what about prospective employers, partners, or editors?  Believe it or not, unless I'm particularly riled up about an ongoing event, I do spend considerable time editing out some of my more inflammatory opinions, and do take my time before hitting Publish.  I've deleted countless Drafts for that very reason.

My mindset has been, "If a future employer, friend or lover (??) is turned off because of what I believe, then that's not the place or person for me.  I may be angry about the state of our country and the direction we're heading, but I'm not about to get behind the wheel and start ramming people.  I'd hoped my words were less instigating than what I'm watching on TV, but maybe I'm wrong.  I sure don't condone violence.

So what I'm going to concentrate on are the stories I've been 'meaning' to write for REAL publication, before it's too late.  My stories about homelessness and other social issues will remain available should anyone be searching, and I suppose that's what really counts.  And if anyone wants to read my B.S., the right side of my blog has hundreds of posts listed, but I think you have to use something other than a phone.

This is a good thing, as Ms. Stewart would say.  Stay safe and well everyone!

P.S. Jan 15:  Well, that lasted about 48 hours, "...If They Stop Acting Stupid."