Yes, indeed, I have been strangely silent of late, still in shock from the hacked election. I can't believe what has transpire in the last six weeks. Yes, just six weeks. And as I was reading my trivia calendar for the day the question was: According to one study, what professional position has the most psychopaths working in it? The answer is CEOs. That's Agent Orange. Is it any wonder we are in a shit storm right now.
Yes, the Russians hacked our elections and we have a puppet of Putin (that has a lovely ring, don't you think?) as supreme leader. I have been reminded this week of the Dunning Kruger phenomena, wherein the dumber one person is the more they overestimate their intelligence. Yes, you can look that up. Explains a great deal about this Trumpian nightmare we are in the midst of. Generals to the right of me, fools to the left, stuck in the middle.
The Alt-Right, alright, let's just call them what they are: White Nationalists. And the Men's Rights Movement thrown in for good measure. What they call being political correct, which is anathema to them, I call being civil. What I see as trending to greater equality, they see as a loss of their inherent rights as white males. And let's not forget the 53% of white women who voted for Agent Orange or Carrot Top, or what you will. But really everyone who voted for him, save for the 1% he has installed in cabinet level positions, voted against their own best interests. The workers who saw in him a savior who would "drain the swamp" has to see that he is not the savior. The deal with Carrier and all the tweets about the United Steel Workers Union not serving the workers well is the stuff of true hubris.
Vanity Fair had a great article about the Trump Grill(e) in the Trump Tower in NYC. They slammed it as being "...worse restaurant in America", calling it a poor man's vision of being rich. I can't help but to think of Jay Gatsby when I see the gilded Trump Tower Penthouse, him lusting after Daisy and the Old Money while he is a Vulgarian of the nouveau riche. Agent Orange, in his most diligent manner, starting Tweeting about Vanity Fair. Very mature. Graydon Carter of Vanity Fair has called Trump a "short fingered vulgarian" to which Agent Orange began sending Carter photos of himself with his fingers circled and the tag "see, not so short". So another shot of Twitter and we are off on a Tweet Storm.
Still I can't believe people actually voted for the short fingered vulgarian, or The Vulgarian. This all has a vague existential feel to it, a bit of the surreal. I have no idea if the Russian hijacking our election will play out after Obama leaves office. Will there be a Benghazi like commission investigating this or will this all be part of the national nightmare we call The Vulgarian? There needs to be a bipartisan investigation with full transparency. And the Democrats, who are so far in the woods they have the look of the Donner Party, need to grow a pair and obstruct The Vulgarian the way the Republicans obstructed Obama. Where is the outrage over the rigged election? The Vulgarian is calling it sour grapes but if the whine be sour then it should be ingested.
Everyday I see more and more the pendulum swing to the right, the hard right. KellyAnne Conway recently said that to call out Trump's pussy grabbing is sexist, and that is a rationalization that no one in their right mind could make. I almost believe the whole of the Trump Organization is psychopathetic. My new word. The whole of Trump's family, like a royal court, holds forth from Trump Tower. His son, Donnie Jr. picked the Secretary of the Interior for daddy because they went hunting together. Nothing like taking pot shots at the environment for the Secretary of the Interior. Big Donnie takes his daughter to work day and she will have the FLOTUS office in the East Wing of the White House, as the real FLOTUS stays in NYC so Barron, the next in line for the throne, can have as little disruption to his sheltered life as possible. Poor boy.
So all of this constitutes a rant of the first order. I need to awaken from this apoplectic reality. I am re-reading Thoreau's Civil Disobedience, which rings very true today. We must stand our ground where it comes to Him Who Shan't Be Named. Grow a pair, come in from the woods. Stand up to this bully of a short fingered vulgarian with an equally short fuse. I truly hope Trump Googles himself daily and finds this rant and starts a Tweet-Shit-Storm over me. The barbarians are at the gate and we must resist.
Friday, December 16, 2016
Sunday, November 27, 2016
My parents
Are most likely rotating in their collective graves as I have been joining various left of center organizations they warned me never to affiliate myself. They came of age during the years of the Holocaust when it was ever so dangerous to be a Jew in any country and also during the McCarthy Era in the 1950s when it was just dangerous to be anyone with an opinion. They warned me not to let my politics be known. Too late, parental units, I have been busy being politically proactive to save my sanity. I think my parents were constantly worried that the Holocaust would never end so if they wanted to go to a "restricted" restaurant in say, St. Clair Shores, they made a reservation in a gentile sounding name, like Lee. To me if I am not wanted I am not going to give that business my money. My folks just wanted to belong and be Americans, not tied to the Old Country of their parents. I think that pendulum has swung back the other way with me as I very much identify as Jewish and have joined a synagogue and participate.
But my politics have always been at odds with my parents who were Goldwater Republicans. I have been more liberal in my world views. So in addition to joining the ACLU, the Anti-Defamation League, read the NY Times and Mother Jones. If the McCarthy Era ever becomes fashionable again I want to be with my conscience and not my fears. Fear is what has given us our current environment. Fear of becoming a minority in a nation of immigrants. Fear of being the wrong religion at the wrong time. Southern Poverty Law Center, B'nai Brith. Oh, they will come for me, those Agents of Orange. Planned Parenthood, Emily's List...and so on. Get the point? Basically my year end bonus has gone to financing my beliefs and the felt need of opposition to Agent Orange and his Minions. And they are not the cute one eyed yellow Minions. No, these are dangerous ones; the one like Steve Bannon who doesn't want his kids going to school with whiny Jews. Those like Betsy De Vos who believes in school vouchers and schools of choice, which would basically kill public schools and create ghettos of them. I am surprised, well, so far, that he hasn't made Ms. Palin head of the EPA only to have her disband the agency and let ecological havoc reign supreme. Jefferson Sessions as Attorney General...might as well write off any proactive voter of civil rights adjudications.
The fact that Agent Orange has told his supporters to treat people with respect, he has opened a Pandora's box brimming with hatred for people of color, people of non-christian beliefs, of people believing that political correctness has no place in civil discourse. He really can't unring that bell. Hence I want to be really upfront with my politics.
I was scared. I still am to some extent but the joinings have strengthened me to the point that I can read a newspaper, read news magazines (and thanks to whoever sent me a subscription to The Week...nice!) and watch the news again. And I am heartened by the fact that the restaurant in Washington, D.C. that did not know what event it was hosting (It was the NPI holding a whites only rally) donated the proceeds of that evening to the ADL. Kudos to Maggiano's Little Italy for doing this.
It is time to remember the words of Pastor Martin Niemoller.
"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Trade Unionist
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me."
It is time to speak out and speak loudly.
But my politics have always been at odds with my parents who were Goldwater Republicans. I have been more liberal in my world views. So in addition to joining the ACLU, the Anti-Defamation League, read the NY Times and Mother Jones. If the McCarthy Era ever becomes fashionable again I want to be with my conscience and not my fears. Fear is what has given us our current environment. Fear of becoming a minority in a nation of immigrants. Fear of being the wrong religion at the wrong time. Southern Poverty Law Center, B'nai Brith. Oh, they will come for me, those Agents of Orange. Planned Parenthood, Emily's List...and so on. Get the point? Basically my year end bonus has gone to financing my beliefs and the felt need of opposition to Agent Orange and his Minions. And they are not the cute one eyed yellow Minions. No, these are dangerous ones; the one like Steve Bannon who doesn't want his kids going to school with whiny Jews. Those like Betsy De Vos who believes in school vouchers and schools of choice, which would basically kill public schools and create ghettos of them. I am surprised, well, so far, that he hasn't made Ms. Palin head of the EPA only to have her disband the agency and let ecological havoc reign supreme. Jefferson Sessions as Attorney General...might as well write off any proactive voter of civil rights adjudications.
The fact that Agent Orange has told his supporters to treat people with respect, he has opened a Pandora's box brimming with hatred for people of color, people of non-christian beliefs, of people believing that political correctness has no place in civil discourse. He really can't unring that bell. Hence I want to be really upfront with my politics.
I was scared. I still am to some extent but the joinings have strengthened me to the point that I can read a newspaper, read news magazines (and thanks to whoever sent me a subscription to The Week...nice!) and watch the news again. And I am heartened by the fact that the restaurant in Washington, D.C. that did not know what event it was hosting (It was the NPI holding a whites only rally) donated the proceeds of that evening to the ADL. Kudos to Maggiano's Little Italy for doing this.
It is time to remember the words of Pastor Martin Niemoller.
"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Trade Unionist
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me."
It is time to speak out and speak loudly.
Monday, November 21, 2016
Finding a voice
Made a decision to subscribe to the New York Times (Sunday only) and joined the Southern Poverty Law Center. Every step I take I am taking to empower myself to withstand the onslaught of Trumpiness and make sure that the singular voice I do have is heard. Education, read and support with be my first act of Civil Disobedience. I re-read Thoreau's classic essay on the subject and rather than continue to feel stuck and sullen over the turn of events I am choosing to radicalize myself and support the kind of organizations my parents warned me about. I understand there will be a march on the Michigan's state capitol on the 21st of January from 1-3 to coincide with the Million Woman March on Washington.
All this said I am encouraging all of you to take steps to "radicalize" yourselves. Sure, wear a safety pin, but more to the point educate yourself. Read Thoreau. Read. Just read. Read a newspaper, read several. Talk among yourselves. Join organizations Your Parents warned You about. Read, Radicalize and Resist. I encourage you to take up books and papers. Read. Read histories. As George Santayana (among others) has said "Those you forget the past are condemned to repeat it". So very true. I cannot recall an election that has had me this disillusioned about the course America is to take. Certainly I was disappointed with Nixon, Reagan, the Bushes. But none of them put me in fear of the sanctity that has been the American Dream, co-opted now by the Alt-Right and this demonic vision of a resurgent white dominated culture.
My three Rs are not reduce, reuse and recycle. No, they are Read, Radicalize and Resist. Read a paper, read a book. The Trumpians are not. They will not know what has hit them when they run into an educated class in this country who refuse to repeat the mistakes of the past.
And that, my friends, is the lesson of the day.
All this said I am encouraging all of you to take steps to "radicalize" yourselves. Sure, wear a safety pin, but more to the point educate yourself. Read Thoreau. Read. Just read. Read a newspaper, read several. Talk among yourselves. Join organizations Your Parents warned You about. Read, Radicalize and Resist. I encourage you to take up books and papers. Read. Read histories. As George Santayana (among others) has said "Those you forget the past are condemned to repeat it". So very true. I cannot recall an election that has had me this disillusioned about the course America is to take. Certainly I was disappointed with Nixon, Reagan, the Bushes. But none of them put me in fear of the sanctity that has been the American Dream, co-opted now by the Alt-Right and this demonic vision of a resurgent white dominated culture.
My three Rs are not reduce, reuse and recycle. No, they are Read, Radicalize and Resist. Read a paper, read a book. The Trumpians are not. They will not know what has hit them when they run into an educated class in this country who refuse to repeat the mistakes of the past.
And that, my friends, is the lesson of the day.
Sunday, November 20, 2016
I lost my voice
Yes, I have lost my voice as this country has lost its collective mind. Agent Orange, aka the Orange Ogre, has taken over. And I am scared. And I am not doing too well in accepting this new reality. What I have done is join the ACLU. I sent money to Planned Parenthood in honor of that great egalitarian Mike Pence. I have retained my membership in the local Democratic Party. Save for these actions I have been in a stupor. I still can't believe how stupid this country is to elect someone who hasn't taken a basic civics course and doesn't know the meaning of the word nepotism. But he probably knows depotism.
And most of all I am scared of that anti-Semite Steve Bannon, who the Orange Ogre has made his senior adviser. I am scared for all the Jews, Muslims, Latinos, African Americans, LGBT community...basically all Americans who comprise the diversity this truly is this country and not the hatred of the banal citizenry who have spoken. Fully 50% of Americans didn't vote in this election. Fully more of them voted for Hillary but she lost the electoral college. The electoral college was designed by the framers of the constitution to prevent this type of demagogue from attaining power.
We must remain vigilant in the face of this incipient fascism that is lurking in the shadows. And what, pray tell, happens when the promises of the The Wall and Jobs do not materialize? I suspect the followers will follow others and move more to the right. I am scared.
This country is not a business. It cannot be run on the model of a business.
And just when I think things can't get worse they do. With each new appointment I shudder. Sessions, a racist of the first order, is Attorney General. That's what made me join the ACLU. I don't think the Democrats will grow a pair and oppose the new regime with the full force of the constitution. It is up to organizations like the ACLU, the Southern Poverty Law Center and the media to watchdog and safeguard us. We must use critical thinking and call out the racists, the homophobe, the Islamaphobe, the anti-Semite. But truly we are all targets of a regime that has the impetus towards fascism.
The media, which gave rise to Agent Orange, must make him accountable for his actions and make sure he abides the laws of this country. We must be vigilant and not vigilantes. I am sick unto death. I am scared.
And most of all I am scared of that anti-Semite Steve Bannon, who the Orange Ogre has made his senior adviser. I am scared for all the Jews, Muslims, Latinos, African Americans, LGBT community...basically all Americans who comprise the diversity this truly is this country and not the hatred of the banal citizenry who have spoken. Fully 50% of Americans didn't vote in this election. Fully more of them voted for Hillary but she lost the electoral college. The electoral college was designed by the framers of the constitution to prevent this type of demagogue from attaining power.
We must remain vigilant in the face of this incipient fascism that is lurking in the shadows. And what, pray tell, happens when the promises of the The Wall and Jobs do not materialize? I suspect the followers will follow others and move more to the right. I am scared.
This country is not a business. It cannot be run on the model of a business.
And just when I think things can't get worse they do. With each new appointment I shudder. Sessions, a racist of the first order, is Attorney General. That's what made me join the ACLU. I don't think the Democrats will grow a pair and oppose the new regime with the full force of the constitution. It is up to organizations like the ACLU, the Southern Poverty Law Center and the media to watchdog and safeguard us. We must use critical thinking and call out the racists, the homophobe, the Islamaphobe, the anti-Semite. But truly we are all targets of a regime that has the impetus towards fascism.
The media, which gave rise to Agent Orange, must make him accountable for his actions and make sure he abides the laws of this country. We must be vigilant and not vigilantes. I am sick unto death. I am scared.
Friday, November 11, 2016
I have been strangely silent
Blame it on sitting shiva for our country as Agent Orange (Thanks Green Tuna) has somehow been elected. In spite, or maybe because of, his racist, homophobic, xenophobic, misogyny and other less than "politically correct" attributes, he managed to get elected by people who wanted an outsider with no political expertise, no restraint (yes, they have re-opened his Twitter account) and a VP who is slightly to the right of, well, everyone. It is no wonder that some have taken to the streets to protest this foolish election. I have been clinically depressed since Tuesday night. In spite of running a positive campaign, winning all the debates, and not grabbing any pussy, Hillary managed to lose to a egotist who really only wanted to prove he could win and now doesn't have a clue as to what to do, other than to make American great again while Pence handles the political agenda. It seems to matter not that Wiki-Leaks and Russian intelligent has tainted our election, with Putin already reaching out to U.S. to establish friendlier ties.
So that said, I cannot bear to watch my beloved MSNBC, Bill Maher and SNL this week. I have on sack cloth and ashes, my mirrors covered. How, I wonder, can so many vote against their own self-interest and elect such a moron? Here is someone who won't raise the minimum wage, will use the old gem of trickle down economics (which is what put us in a recession in the first place, in addition to stupid trickle-down wars) to bolster the wealthy while the middle class continues to get squeezed. Yes, this was a knee jerk reaction to having an African American President. They want to take their country back (all the way to the 1950s it seems), before feminism, before civil rights, before the voting rights act, before marriage equality, before Roe v. Wade. Here we have the genial Mike Pence with his Religious Restoration Act which basically guarantees the right to discriminate based on one's religious bent.
I fear for out nation. It just doesn't make sense to me. How can I make sense of all of this? The Pandora's Box of racism, antisemitism, homophobia and xenophobia has been opened and will not get closed any time soon. I am waiting for the mass deportations, the Muslim ban, THE WALL. Will this shit actually happen? God only knows. And God only knows what the hell will happen in the next four years. This is like the Brexit Vote, where people didn't understand really what they voted for. All they wanted was "change". Wait until the ACA is repealed and the uninsured want their medical insurance back. The damn insurance companies who dropped out of the program because, guess what, profits were down and basically killed the program. No one should make a profit on health care. We need a single payer system, like Medicare, only that ain't gonna happen, but people are going to be clamoring for help. Who will champion the underclass? The Millennials who voted or didn't vote will suffer with more student debt. The great unwashed won a Pyrrhic victory that will be short lived.
I am saddened by all this and can't deal with the truth...that we have elected Agent Orange and he will be just a deadly for the country as the chemical bearing its name. So, those of you who voted your conscience, be careful of what you wish for...you just might get it.
So that said, I cannot bear to watch my beloved MSNBC, Bill Maher and SNL this week. I have on sack cloth and ashes, my mirrors covered. How, I wonder, can so many vote against their own self-interest and elect such a moron? Here is someone who won't raise the minimum wage, will use the old gem of trickle down economics (which is what put us in a recession in the first place, in addition to stupid trickle-down wars) to bolster the wealthy while the middle class continues to get squeezed. Yes, this was a knee jerk reaction to having an African American President. They want to take their country back (all the way to the 1950s it seems), before feminism, before civil rights, before the voting rights act, before marriage equality, before Roe v. Wade. Here we have the genial Mike Pence with his Religious Restoration Act which basically guarantees the right to discriminate based on one's religious bent.
I fear for out nation. It just doesn't make sense to me. How can I make sense of all of this? The Pandora's Box of racism, antisemitism, homophobia and xenophobia has been opened and will not get closed any time soon. I am waiting for the mass deportations, the Muslim ban, THE WALL. Will this shit actually happen? God only knows. And God only knows what the hell will happen in the next four years. This is like the Brexit Vote, where people didn't understand really what they voted for. All they wanted was "change". Wait until the ACA is repealed and the uninsured want their medical insurance back. The damn insurance companies who dropped out of the program because, guess what, profits were down and basically killed the program. No one should make a profit on health care. We need a single payer system, like Medicare, only that ain't gonna happen, but people are going to be clamoring for help. Who will champion the underclass? The Millennials who voted or didn't vote will suffer with more student debt. The great unwashed won a Pyrrhic victory that will be short lived.
I am saddened by all this and can't deal with the truth...that we have elected Agent Orange and he will be just a deadly for the country as the chemical bearing its name. So, those of you who voted your conscience, be careful of what you wish for...you just might get it.
Saturday, October 29, 2016
Bored, bored, bored
I am sported out and politicked out. Bored. Nothing is really on, SNL is a repeat and the cats have taken to sleep. I am kinda off my feed, satisfying myself on popcorn and Cokes all day. Just that nothing sounded good for dinner and I am sure Sophie will take me to task for my poor appetite.
I just had to give up my symphony tickets again as I realized I had a commitment to my synagogue to do an acoustic service. We are rehearsing this week, the cantorial student, the Old Duffer and me. Old Duffer wants me to play louder , essentially to drown him out so he can appear to be playing but have me cover for him. I am hoping the cantorial student will get Old Duffer to slow down on some of the songs of the service. He just rushes through things and has no sense of time or melody as even I can read music better than he. And then there is the issue of him not being able to hear well enough to turn his guitar, even with a Snark Tuning gizmo. I committed to this service so no symphony for me.
Simcha Cat is doing very well. His last set of blood work and urinalysis came back normal and since he has been off medication he has been perkier. And even brother Yankel is treating him better. We are all digging in for winter. Lawn furniture and hoses are in the garage. The last of the flowers has bloomed and withered.
As for me I continue my healing process. I can walk pretty well without the cane but when I am out in public I need to use it to keep me stable. I am walking more and more. And after two weeks am getting a little bored with work. See, aside from the fact that I was in pain, I did come to like being off of work,without an alarm clock to rouse me in the morning. I could see being retired. And especially after I was more mobile and could go out for breakfasts or lunches with friends I really enjoyed being off. Of course I had no money coming in but at least I preserved my vacation time. Oh, well.
Tomorrow I am going with a friend to my first Spartan Spectacular Halloween is Monday. I have an appointment with the hand doctor on Monday to get injections for my various and sundry trigger fingers. Seems I have a doctor for every body part. The injections I have been giving myself for the osteoporosis aren't as bad as I anticipated them being. In fact they are downright easy to administer. And I think I have multiple conflicting doctor appointments on the 18th of November.
November!!! Geez, another year come and going. Another year of fractures, and another summer spent indisposed. Simcha was my unofficial doctor when I returned from the hospital the first time this summer, never leaving my side for the first week I was home. Now as we prepare for winter they are all sleeping in the big bed with me. Cheek by jowl all snuggled together.
Okay I really have a bone to pick with a barely a cousin person. Seems she is the Michigan co-chair for Trump and I am embarrassed. A closer cousin sent me the article from the Jewish News and I quickly read it, rolled it into a ball which the cats then sent to the confines of the litter box. The article, which she wrote, trivialized the process of "coming out"... as a Republican. If she listened to Trump and all the dog whistle terms he uses to defame Jews she might not be so supportive. But you know, you gotta beware of the great Jewish Communist International Bankers who are destroying the world through their media. I have heard it and seen it before and it is just antisemitism in wolf's clothing. She should be ashamed, but she did the courageous act of coming out as a Republican and that was so hard for a woman of her wealth and standing in the community. Money attracts Republicans and Republicans attract money. Yep, that must have been hard to come out as a Republican. What I can't figure out is how the people that support Trump who are working class, somehow consider him to be their champion, once again voting against their own best interests. I just don't understand. Even the Soul Sucker has been making overtures to some Democratic friends that what we need is change. I tried to warn these Dems that she would do this but she was talking a good game. I wonder how deep a rift this will cause amongst them and their little bowling league. Maybe Jack will even come out of hiding and rear her ugly head.
Anyway, I digress, as I often do. Maybe I can find something wholesome to eat in the kitchen other than sucking on another Coke. It could happen...and Bob's your uncle.
I just had to give up my symphony tickets again as I realized I had a commitment to my synagogue to do an acoustic service. We are rehearsing this week, the cantorial student, the Old Duffer and me. Old Duffer wants me to play louder , essentially to drown him out so he can appear to be playing but have me cover for him. I am hoping the cantorial student will get Old Duffer to slow down on some of the songs of the service. He just rushes through things and has no sense of time or melody as even I can read music better than he. And then there is the issue of him not being able to hear well enough to turn his guitar, even with a Snark Tuning gizmo. I committed to this service so no symphony for me.
Simcha Cat is doing very well. His last set of blood work and urinalysis came back normal and since he has been off medication he has been perkier. And even brother Yankel is treating him better. We are all digging in for winter. Lawn furniture and hoses are in the garage. The last of the flowers has bloomed and withered.
As for me I continue my healing process. I can walk pretty well without the cane but when I am out in public I need to use it to keep me stable. I am walking more and more. And after two weeks am getting a little bored with work. See, aside from the fact that I was in pain, I did come to like being off of work,without an alarm clock to rouse me in the morning. I could see being retired. And especially after I was more mobile and could go out for breakfasts or lunches with friends I really enjoyed being off. Of course I had no money coming in but at least I preserved my vacation time. Oh, well.
Tomorrow I am going with a friend to my first Spartan Spectacular Halloween is Monday. I have an appointment with the hand doctor on Monday to get injections for my various and sundry trigger fingers. Seems I have a doctor for every body part. The injections I have been giving myself for the osteoporosis aren't as bad as I anticipated them being. In fact they are downright easy to administer. And I think I have multiple conflicting doctor appointments on the 18th of November.
November!!! Geez, another year come and going. Another year of fractures, and another summer spent indisposed. Simcha was my unofficial doctor when I returned from the hospital the first time this summer, never leaving my side for the first week I was home. Now as we prepare for winter they are all sleeping in the big bed with me. Cheek by jowl all snuggled together.
Okay I really have a bone to pick with a barely a cousin person. Seems she is the Michigan co-chair for Trump and I am embarrassed. A closer cousin sent me the article from the Jewish News and I quickly read it, rolled it into a ball which the cats then sent to the confines of the litter box. The article, which she wrote, trivialized the process of "coming out"... as a Republican. If she listened to Trump and all the dog whistle terms he uses to defame Jews she might not be so supportive. But you know, you gotta beware of the great Jewish Communist International Bankers who are destroying the world through their media. I have heard it and seen it before and it is just antisemitism in wolf's clothing. She should be ashamed, but she did the courageous act of coming out as a Republican and that was so hard for a woman of her wealth and standing in the community. Money attracts Republicans and Republicans attract money. Yep, that must have been hard to come out as a Republican. What I can't figure out is how the people that support Trump who are working class, somehow consider him to be their champion, once again voting against their own best interests. I just don't understand. Even the Soul Sucker has been making overtures to some Democratic friends that what we need is change. I tried to warn these Dems that she would do this but she was talking a good game. I wonder how deep a rift this will cause amongst them and their little bowling league. Maybe Jack will even come out of hiding and rear her ugly head.
Anyway, I digress, as I often do. Maybe I can find something wholesome to eat in the kitchen other than sucking on another Coke. It could happen...and Bob's your uncle.
Friday, October 21, 2016
I'm back............
I have finally returned to work this past Monday to the hoots and hollers of the throng. And I have successfully made it to the end of the week. This weekend is the open mic night I organized at KI, my little synagogue on the prairie, or more to the point Forest Road. Starts at 7 and anyone can come and be part of the festivities. Come and hear me play and sing nontraditional songs of heartache and moving on. Starts at 7 and if you are interested contact me and I will hand out directions. Dessert to follow so it should be a great evening. My co-organizer, Karen, had major back surgery in April and we are like the Gimp Sisters with our canes. She is turning 70 and I had a strange thought, i.e., why is this grown up woman even conversing with me, much less playing music together? And then I realized I am only eight years out and even though I rarely feel grown up I am about as close to that as I can get. Anyway, the Old Duffer and I are playing three songs which I would like to winnow down to two as he goes on quite a bit. Ending the evening will be an ensemble performing Ashokan Farewell, with me on my Martin guitar making sweet music. Before dessert I will perform my classic hit "I got some place to go" and that will segue into dessert. And, my goodness, the desserts are always phenomenal so that alone is worth the price of admission, which is free. And, truly, yes, friends and families are most welcome. KI Synagogue (Kehillat Israel) is the most welcoming of venues. Aunt Marilyn is always so grateful that I affiliated. I occasionally go to services, especially when I am playing when it is kinda mandatory. Next Friday service I am playing for is in two weeks.
This Saturday's performance will open with the Havdalah and I am playing on this as part of the ensemble. We have a young widow who has two kids and is studying to be a cantor singing lead on the Havdalah. It is a beautiful way to end the Sabbath. And then on to the music and jokes of the evening. Mrs. Post will kick us off with her telling of jokes, which is expected to be a hoot as she is older than God with a bawdy sense of humor. Some of those old Yiddish jokes get pretty racy. I remember growing up (yes I in fact do remember that) in Detroit with the aunts and uncles telling jokes in English and, because the punchline were so filthy, they would revert to Yiddish so us kids never knew, until years later, what bawdiness we were missing.
So that is what awaits the weekend. Tonight, Master Simcha goes in to the vet clinic urine test for which he has spent the better part of the night studying. Seems they found some E. coli in his initial urinalysis and they want to be sure he doesn't have a UTI. I need to order more of his special food. He loves the canned food, even cold from the fridge. And he is so easy to pill. Just shove it down his throat and he is ready for a treat. Meanwhile the in-fighting continues, with much hissing and fur flying. No, it wasn't just the debate that put them in a foul mood. The mood continues. And speaking of debate, did you happen to catch the Donald at the Alfred Smith Dinner being booed for his "humorous" remarks. Booed I tell you. Never before has that happened that a speaker had been booed. Hillary was a little stiff but she was sincere and did her best to tell a joke. No boos for her. My gosh it was like watching a car accident in slow motion with the Trumpster. Awkward.
So, here's the deal. Monday was a very hard first day. I went home and slept for four hours, got up and ate and then when to bed. Tuesday was better. I had to finish working on the program for the open mic night and was able to finish it up on the cloud. Gotta love that cloud. Wednesday and Thursday I have spent practicing and rehearsing with others for Saturday. Today is the great cat adventure. No rest for the weary until Sunday, when I hope to have some help with straightening up the music room. Maybe laundry. Do some home automation with my Amazon Echo and Dots and hook up the sound bar. Monday it all starts again, work that is.
All I can say is I can't wait until retirement. It will be nice to have unlimited time off, money coming in and the wherewithal to move and socialize without too much pain. Let's see if I can do another three years.
This Saturday's performance will open with the Havdalah and I am playing on this as part of the ensemble. We have a young widow who has two kids and is studying to be a cantor singing lead on the Havdalah. It is a beautiful way to end the Sabbath. And then on to the music and jokes of the evening. Mrs. Post will kick us off with her telling of jokes, which is expected to be a hoot as she is older than God with a bawdy sense of humor. Some of those old Yiddish jokes get pretty racy. I remember growing up (yes I in fact do remember that) in Detroit with the aunts and uncles telling jokes in English and, because the punchline were so filthy, they would revert to Yiddish so us kids never knew, until years later, what bawdiness we were missing.
So that is what awaits the weekend. Tonight, Master Simcha goes in to the vet clinic urine test for which he has spent the better part of the night studying. Seems they found some E. coli in his initial urinalysis and they want to be sure he doesn't have a UTI. I need to order more of his special food. He loves the canned food, even cold from the fridge. And he is so easy to pill. Just shove it down his throat and he is ready for a treat. Meanwhile the in-fighting continues, with much hissing and fur flying. No, it wasn't just the debate that put them in a foul mood. The mood continues. And speaking of debate, did you happen to catch the Donald at the Alfred Smith Dinner being booed for his "humorous" remarks. Booed I tell you. Never before has that happened that a speaker had been booed. Hillary was a little stiff but she was sincere and did her best to tell a joke. No boos for her. My gosh it was like watching a car accident in slow motion with the Trumpster. Awkward.
So, here's the deal. Monday was a very hard first day. I went home and slept for four hours, got up and ate and then when to bed. Tuesday was better. I had to finish working on the program for the open mic night and was able to finish it up on the cloud. Gotta love that cloud. Wednesday and Thursday I have spent practicing and rehearsing with others for Saturday. Today is the great cat adventure. No rest for the weary until Sunday, when I hope to have some help with straightening up the music room. Maybe laundry. Do some home automation with my Amazon Echo and Dots and hook up the sound bar. Monday it all starts again, work that is.
All I can say is I can't wait until retirement. It will be nice to have unlimited time off, money coming in and the wherewithal to move and socialize without too much pain. Let's see if I can do another three years.
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