...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'.

And may I just say, I'm sick of commercials reminding me how stinky a man's crotch can be; don't try to fool me by holding up an arm.  It's been so long, I'd forgotten, thanks a lot.

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."

And Now They're Killing Us

What a surprise.  Offer a signing-bonus to some Yahoo, give him a gun and set him loose on our streets.  Blue streets; Red streets; we're ALL victims to these loose cannons.  If they're not doing anything wrong, why all the wrappings?

Consider the statement by our Commander in Chief - immediately characterizing Renee Nicole Good as a domestic terrorist.  Come on...  Here's what I wrote last October:

"What concerns me is the matter of qualifications of recruits being enticed to ICE with signing bonuses up to $50,000.  Hell, who wouldn't be tempted, if only for a moment?  What basic requirements must they possess, besides blind loyalty to the President?  Haven't they already eliminated the need for a college degree to join the FBI, which will whitewash any imbeciles appointed?  How much and what kind training do they receive, or are they quickly thrown into menacing outfits and into our midst?  Can they belong to the Proud Boys or another extremist group?

"We all know there are good cops and bad, and the good far outnumber the bad.  But we do need high caliber people who can think and protect us without accidentally killing us in the process.  An emergency is not the time to discover how someone will react."

No one is surprised, but everyone is shocked.  I'll certainly be protesting again, with more of a threat of reprisal, but I won't be alone.  Kristi Noem seems more interested in which HAT she's wearing for a press conference than the specifics of her job; or more correctly, the truth..

At least SOME of them could have said (sic), "Let's wait for a thorough investigation."  Sure, that's frustrating, but at least it's more responsible.  Even Tom Holman held back on a definitive answer.

The shooting was the worst, but have you seen other shots of ICE thugs grabbing people who have merely pissed them off and throwing them to the ground?  I can't help but wonder what's going to happen to the people in the Administration once they're out of power.  Will they leave the country, or remain to suffer reprisals from the type of society they have created?  

They're running out of countries to flee to, other than Russia, China, North Korea...no, what a dope:  VENEZUELA!!

Let 'em have 'em.

NOT a Garden Party

Hard to believe it's been 5 years since our current President instigated the potential overthrowing of the Government.  A dear relative does consider January 6th as nothing more than a Garden Party; as I learned while surrounded by a dozen leather-clad motorcyclists.  I'm fearless, more-or-less, but that didn't seem like the time to share my opinion.  Besides, it was a funeral.

But they're not around me now, and I'm free to speak my mind.  But I won't.  By this time, people have made up their minds about whether or not a crime was committed that day, or it was a rowdy party.  I've called our President Teflon Don before; if you're unfamiliar, that's what they called John Gotti in the 80s in New York.  I was there, and so was Trump.

He'd just gotten caught fooling around with Marla Maples on his first wife, Ivana.  They were on the front pages of New York newspapers, we'd notice while zipping around the Big Apple on the way to work.  I always found it revolting that the headline was, "Best Sex I Ever Had" while the release of Nelson Mandela only rated the bottom right corner.

Trump hasn't changed - he's only gotten worse, and larger, and now he's getting us all embroiled in some bullshit 'war' in Venezuela.  What I'd like to see first is proof in the pudding:  what are the numbers?  What percentage of deaths from Fentanyl has decreased in, say, six months from now?

None of this should be surprising to any of us, unless we're completely blind and stupid.  I thought we'd have more time.

Recently at work, we've received written instructions as to what to do if ICE comes on to the property.  They are allowed to go anywhere considered Public spaces without proper paperwork (signed, officiated).

Someone joked that we (Workampers) were all legal, but my question was whether our rented spaces are considered public or private?  We have Hispanic guests, and I'd hate to think they're sitting outside their RVs, enjoying a drink and the weather, when some masked gunmen, strolling through the park, decide they want to check their papers.  We don't require people's passports upon arrival.  How fast could they scramble back into their RV?

Long/short the Spaces are public, but they cannot enter our RVs.  

I was given a pop-quiz the other day, which I failed:

"What would you do if ICE walked through the doors?"

I'm 70, and I'd hoped never to live to see Stormtroopers at my door, despite earlier predictions of that very thing. 

I answered,  "Ask to see their paperwork?"

"NO!  Don't do a thing - tell them they need to speak to the Managers."

Don't engage - fine with me.  but it wasn't supposed to happen so soon.  I'm not ready.

People also laughed when I said I'd be hedging my bets by obtaining proof I could be considered Russian; and also documents relating to my New Zealand ancestors.  Doesn't seem so funny, now that the globe is being divvied up.

I love the way these Bozos talk about being strong and going to war when they've never served a day (Trump; Miller).  Of course they want the oil.  Of course Trump's pissed that woman won the Nobel Prize... but this just in from Euronews:

"Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado said on Monday she wants to share her Nobel Peace Prize with US President Donald Trump and personally thank him following his administration's military intervention in Venezuela."

Half a prize is better than none, I guess she thinks.  Look at how everyone is bowing down, but in this case she's probably smart.

All he needs to do is change the terminology in order to grab other nations with impunity.  Greenland's practically screaming,

"If you want to build more bases here (to solve the Security of America problem), just ask!"

People like me are not against the idea of getting rid of a scumbag like Maduro; but the fact that there's no plan for what's next is...incredulous doesn't seem strong enough.  And throwing threats around to a growing list of countries only risks Americans abroad, and it doesn't have to be IN threatened countries.  I told you about the abuse I received at an art show, of all places, following the release of the Abu Ghraib photos.

Well, they're not my sons and grandsons.  I hope the best for yours.

A Foghorn-Leghorn Year

I realize that 50 percent (or more) of the population isn't paying attention to current events other than the price of groceries; such a sweet word, Foghorn Trump recently discovered and announced to the world, the idiot.

He keeps bringing up the lower price of eggs since he's been in office, but I thought the rationale was because all those chickens had to be slaughtered due to bird-flu or whatever; and the chicks wouldn't be old enough to lay eggs for 6-8 months, at which time there would be plenty of eggs and prices would go down.

How did that become political?  Trump takes the credit, just as he does for everything else he blows out of proportion; and if he can't bluff his way out of something, he blames Biden and the Radical Leftists.  What bullshit.

I'm still planning for the inevitable:  when I'll feel the need to flee the country in order to feel safe, independent, or free; they're all rolled together.  At least I'm not being scarfed up off the street...yet.

Unless you've been listening exclusively to Fox News and the like, you will have heard story after story of people whisked away who are here legally, or at least they were until last January.  They never imagined they were considered part of the dangerous criminals who would be rounded up by crackerjack, newly minted ICE agents.  Why don't they round up dangerous Americans, without provocation or thoughts of civil rights, and deport them instead of the Taco Lady?

I can't wait to see how they treat the first white South African (who Trump waltzed in this year) commit a heinous act against an American citizen.  But I suppose it will depend on whether the American is a White/Christian or Black/Brown/LGBTQ.  Am I wrong?

Switching gears now:

A Totem Christmas

My RV is too small for a tree, but I did manage to add some festive whimsy by decorating my Totem Pole with a beaded tie.  Recently retrieved from storage, I didn't want to put my friend outside for it to split any more than it has over the past 30+ years.  Some day I may stain or varnish it, but I always liked it natural.

I can't attach the Raven's wings nor can I see the Beaver on the bottom, but he's very special to me, and one thing I'll keep until I drop.

Tino and I picked up Totem during our 1993 round-the-country-trip to find a new place to leave.  I believe it was along 101 in Oregon that we spotted this chain-saw carver, the size of a mountain with a bear claw necklace, hawking his carvings while working on a new one.  (My totem's wingspan resembles the tall one in this photo.)

It was hard to pass up a sight like this, especially for Tino, who'd become fond of All-Things-Western.  The artist was friendly and funny, and happened to have a 4-foot carving which fit perfectly in Trigger, our Honda Civic.  His body fit perfectly between the front seats with his wings propped on the back seat.

We must have been a sight to the Colorado State Trooper, planted behind a billboard, who stopped me for speeding.   He looked at my 'Jersey license, Tino's Dutch passport and Totem lounging against the back seat.

"Tourists, huh?"  he asked and it was all I could do not to be sarcastic; but Tino's VISA had expired and we didn't need any additional attention.  The officer waved his hand, told me to slow down and enjoy the rest of our trip.

Tino passed in 1994 and Totem remained in storage in Oregon while I lived on Ruff Life, but once I returned, out he came.  As time wore on the splits and aging began, which only add character; but too much character can be a bad thing.

After a couple of years my travelling began, so  I had a bracket made which attached to the bumper of my 16-foot travel trailer (below).  The wings had to be mounted backwards and a pillow shoved behind for stability, but he hung on.

At some point I left Totem at my mother's house with the rest of my stored treasures; then transferred everything to a storage locker to await my eventual retrieval...which I finally accomplished last April.

And so I'll cap this story off by wishing everyone a (belated) Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad and Joyous Kwanza!