My dad is 94 years old today. On his birthday each year I have such an overwhelming amount of emotion, this one included.

I am the youngest of his 3 children. I considered myself Daddy’s little girl for a long, long time, especially after my older siblings went off to college and then moved on with their work and marriages. I too went off to college, but then after my sophomore year I moved back home and commuted to finish off my undergraduate degree. I lived at home with Mom and Dad. I Finally moved out after graduation, but only ‘up the road’ to an apartment with a dear girlfriend. I lived close by to my parents until shortly before getting married at the age of 27.

I have wonderful memories of growing up. It was a very ‘all American’ setting, as I was a child of a typical family unit, in the Midwest, and in a middle-income home. I had my share of friends, a pet dog, and I never felt I lacked for anything. My relatives from both sides of the family all lived in the state and we gathered for holidays.

Dad was a pastor, and he was serious at times, but he was also the one that liked to drive a sports car, and to play many games Of ping pong, and he took us all camping for vacations. He had a dark room in our basement and developed his own pictures. I always thought that was a cool hobby. He drove me anywhere I wanted to go. He was the chauffeur more than mom was. He loved Boston Terriers and we always had one.

Once I moved out, and was out living on my own, I worked full time and I handled my own finances, but I relied on Dad to help me with my first car purchase. I still remember being with him and buying the black Horizon with the red racing stripe! I called him when something would go wrong with it too.

When I got married I quickly left for the west coast with my new hubby because he had a really exciting job opportunity out there. This was in the mid 80’s and way before computers and cellphones, so communicating with my parents became a once a week phone call. We lived in California for 5 years and then moved to the Atlanta area. Again, my connection with my parents was mostly a weekly phone call. By this time my mother was having health issues and travel was not easy for them. Then by the time hubby and I, and our two young daughters, moved to Maryland, my mom was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. We lived in Maryland for 4 years. Our next move was to New Jersey where we ended up living for 12 years. Computers had finally arrived and Dad and I used to send messages back and forth. We used the AOL live chat. My family of four did occasional trips back to Ohio to visit Mom, Dad, my siblings and their families. Usually twice a year. But… Time just kept on passing…

Mom died. Dad stopped communicating. I felt awkward. I wanted him to travel since he didn’t have to be Mom’s caregiver anymore. But he didn’t. I felt left out on most things going on back where he was. I didn’t KNOW what was going on. Sometimes I felt it was easier not to know because it was painful.

Now I live in South Carolina. I have been here 14 years or so. A lot of years have gone by. Dad is 94. I’m still his little girl. I’ve just been away a very very long time.

So, when it comes to my dad, I feel like a bit of a fool. Sometimes people ask me about my dad, and I don’t really know about him. I say he is doing fine. No news is good news I guess, right? There is too much water that has gone under the bridge so to speak. Too much time has gone by. I’m a pretty together person in most aspects of my life, but this is the one place I feel like I’m an imposter. It’s the one thing I cry about just thinking about… because I know I am to blame. I could have ‘kept at’ the dad-daughter relationship better. I could have tried harder. Sometimes I feel I did – and didn’t get the response I had hoped for.

Believe me, I’m happy to know that my brother and sister are there for Dad. Also, my two nieces and their families are close by and connected. The pictures on Facebook yesterday of his birthday gathering were wonderful to see – but also sad for me.

Because, I’m still his little girl.

Happy birthday Dad! I love you.

We are all living a new normal these days. The CoronaVirus has changed where we go, who we see, and how we prepare.

Yesterday I had some errands to run, including stopping at the dry cleaners to drop off some clothes for cleaning. I hopped out of my car and grabbed my bag of clothes and went in to the dry cleaners. I totally forgot to put my mask back on. I chatted with the man working there, who was wearing a mask, and then left and got back in my car.

About 3 minutes later, as driving, I realized what I did, or should I say didn’t do.

I felt so bad. Why? I had a slip up and simply forgot. But, I felt that walking in without wearing a mask is now a statement that I don’t believe in. I know that if I wear a mask I am protecting me AND protecting who I come in contact with. I know that it’s a sign of caring for others.

I don’t think the dry cleaners had a sign on the door requiring a mask. And the man working there did not say anything to me about it. Had he, I would have apologized immediately and grabbed my mask out of my purse. Because… I am not one of those defying the importance of masks.

So, daily living takes on a new challenge now. When running errands it’s masks on, and then off in the car, and on again, etc. It’s getting back into the car and using hand sanitizer every single time. It’s thinking about how best to open a door… or pump gas, or pick up an item in a store.

I don’t know if this is a new normal. I’m guessing that after CoVid ‘goes away’ (whenever that is) and we relax a bit, we will fall back into our old ways. But, for now, wearing a mask is the right thing to do – and it is an expression of caring for another person. A visual sign of love.

Perhaps it should stay as part of our daily living.

But I sure miss seeing a smile.

I’m starting off today’s post with a plea to God. Please God, keep the citizens of the United States of America hopeful, and caring, keep them safe, and sane during these months as we prepare for Election Day. Amen.

I know I need some hope today. Everything I read and see is quite frightening, and I really worry about what is going to happen in these coming days. Part of me can not wait until Election Day gets here so we can be over all the horrible rhetoric, all the negative ads, and hopefully people will stop lashing out in violence. But, I really don’t know if Election Day will end the craziness. In fact, perhaps it will elevate it even more.

How did we get here? I have been listening to Heather Cox Richardson online. She is a political historian & professor, and she has studied all her life the political atmosphere that happens before elections. She has free lectures online about how our government was founded, why there was a need for the Electoral College back then, how our country has changed, how we work as a democracy and republic, and why our system must stay true to it’s laws of the land. It’s really interesting stuff. If you want to be an educated citizen you should listen.

We have had 4 years of a leader breaking rules, of a man in office who doesn’t care about America’s system of checks and balances. In fact, he tries to avoid them, and he slyly puts out rhetoric (simple as it is) making himself bigger than it all. He is chipping away at it all, of course the Executive branch – acting like a dictator, but also the Judicial branch. We should all be very worried about this. If he is given 4 more years he will continue to push us down a hole, and our democracy will suffer.

As I write this I know a large group of Americans Are out there who just don’t care. They avoid hearing the truth. They stick their heads into the ground like an ostrich and don’t want to know, or believe, what is happening. They continue to support the current president anyway. Maybe they are busy so they don’t watch him and listen to him on TV. They can’t just listen to their favorite ‘talking heads” Maybe they don’t look at the big picture. It makes me so sad, I try to figure out why. Many say it’s for their personal financial livelihood. Okay – I can get that they worry about bigger taxes and less in their paycheck. But, they overlook that more tax money will give more services and help to them. Oh, and to their neighbors!!! So, here’s the part that concerns me most. They don’t think or care about their neighbors.

So, I pray to God. I ask how I can be a messenger for Him, and how I can encourage people to get beyond themselves. How a little bit of personal sacrifice can make everyone better in the long run.

I’m ready for theI r push back. Because they will. They will call me out and say I’m wrong and say that they really do care. But actions speak louder than words. And, Just because they tell me they care, they support a leader that doesn’t. Again, actions speak louder than words – with him also.

We all have heard to ‘give it to God’… and many times I do, because I know God will be with me through the good and the bad times. I know His Word is re-assuring. This past Sunday’s Gospel and message was about dealing with conflict, from small ones to large ones. First, God says to meet with the person you have a disagreement with, directly. When it comes to politics that is hard to do. But we can send letters and emails expressing our concern to politicians. It recently worked with the US Postal Service issue. We can have a conversation with a person who thinks differently than you do. But, it has come to a point where nobody is willing to listen and change. So, if it doesn’t work then according to God we need to bring along a witness. Not to bully, or to gang up on someone, but instead to have a non-partisan viewpoint. Unfortunately, in today’s political world, I don’t think there are many out there without a definite viewpoint already. What to do then?

How do we get through this? How can we stay calm and sane in this volatile environment? What will happen to us in these coming months?

I don’t know. So, at times like this, at times when I just get stuck, and can’t see what the future will hold, I turn to God. I pray… I plea…

Dear God, Help me get through the coming days. Give me strength to keep going, and to see goodness in people, and to spread a positive message. Let me be an example so others may have open hearts and look around and see your world. Bring peace and acceptance to all people. I know this too will pass, and that your love will see us through. Amen.

I don’t know what I’d do without social media.  It connects me and I get a lot of joy from it.  But, I also know that social media, Facebook in particular, uses everybody’s posting history and finds popular words used, to define them and to then send similar posts.  It’s called algorithms.  The definition is a process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or other-problem solving operations, especially by a computer.    Facebook first did this to connect people with advertisers that would be of their interest.    But now it is done with just about everything that a person  posts.

It’s especially concerning when it comes to politics.  If a person posts about a political figure, or policy, or issue, then the system ‘captures’ them and starts sending  more info and posts about it.     Facebook knows I lean left, and that I have certain important issues, and therefore they ‘suggest’ other posts I might like.   So, my timeline is filled with things that appeal to me.   There is so much I see but decide not to re-post because I know it might be offensive to some that don’t believe as I do.   I probably only re-post about 1/20th of what comes on my feed.

The same goes with others who are conservative, or who are posting about a deeply concerning issue to them.

In time it’s easy to fall into thinking that it is what everyone is seeing.   But it’s not.  It’s easy to start believing some of the ‘suggested’ sites you, even when you may not have originally thought it was important.

I consider myself savvy enough to know that this is going on, and to hold back from getting in too deep.  At the same time I am confident in my personal beliefs and I can weed through what Facebook thinks I might be interested in knowing more about.

But, not everyone does.

It’s worrisome because I think that some Facebook users who lean extremely left or extremely right get information that can be dangerous.   There are sites out there that support violence.  There are sites that promote intolerance.   Sites created to bring out evil.

Congress has had this concern and has had the top people of all social media platforms come to respond to it.   But, we are a land of deep belief in personal freedoms and to tell you the truth I understand that.  I love that I have Facebook and my blog here to express myself and to know I will not be held back by the government.   We know of countries that do not have this form of freedom of speech.  These countries are oppressive.

The irony is that our president is the king of Twitter and uses it to his advantage best he can.    And recently here where I live, a mayor used it too and now has consequences that may come to his resigning his office.

In the next two months all social media will be bombarded with political messages, sent out due to the results of algorithms.   It can certainly sway people.   But, it can also ignite more division, and send some who are not always rational, to act in inappropriate ways, even to the point of becoming deadly.

The 17 year old who went up to Kenosha learned of a call for a citizen’s militia there from social media.  He also had used social media earlier to post pictures, and to find like-minded people.   It turned into killing.

So, as much as we all may love many things about Facebook, and freedom of speech, we must be acutely aware of algorithms and how they effect what is seen – and what is believed.

Scan and be wary.

 

First, I have to say that I am beyond thrilled that my baby is having a baby!!    Daughter Kristen and her hubby have announced to everyone that a little girl is on the way!!    Kristen has gotten through her first trimester so she felt it was now okay, and safe, to let the family, their friends, and work know.   It won’t be too long before she will start showing so it was time to tell – before people wonder “has Kristen put on weight?” Ha!    I have known about the baby since the 4th of July weekend because they were visiting here, and right before arriving she took a pregnancy test (and then another one – ha) and both were positive.   So, keeping it sort-of quiet was hard.   (I told a few people.  I’m bad at keeping secrets.)   These two will be great parents, and everyone will shower this little one with lots of pink!  Jeff is one of three boys and this is the first grandchild for his parents.    Our family has 4 boys in this generation so far – the twins Logan and Roman, and Ohio cousins Luke and Daniel.   The newest family member is to make her arrival sometime around the beginning of March.   So, this Mimi is excited – and hopes to be helpful however I can.

Last week I pulled my back out.  I started the day very enthusiastic about getting outdoors and doing yard work.   I decided to cut the reeds up and down the dock that were falling on it, and I decided to do it manually With clippers – to get a little arm exercise.   Then I got out the battery operated hedge trimmer and started in to shaping some bushes In the yard.  Reaching, stretching, twisting.   Then *yank* – and there it went.   If you have back issues you know how it feels.  You have no support, and Even taking steps is hard to do without shooting pain.  I had to get myself into the house, and then immediately put ice on it.   I did.   Then heat… then ice again.  I have done everything right to heal it.  But, back injuries take time to heal.   I need to give it a week and I need to be careful with moving and lifting.    Physical ailments are not good for the brain.   It is the hardest part.  Feeling old, and feeling useless, and feeling unproductive.   Struggling with simple tasks.     I’ve been here before, so I know I will heal.  But, in the meantime it’s hard.

So, as I sit and heal I continue to watch too much TV.   So much is going on now!!   The natural disasters….  the wildfires and the huge hurricane!   Our country is reeling from them now.  I pray for so many in their paths, and for those who will have to rebuild, and start over.     And, then of course we have other disasters…  the pandemic continues, another white cop killing a black man followed by protests In Wisconsin.   And, locally we had a senseless shooting in our little town. A man, who obviously must have been mentally sick, with a gun, created a minor traffic accident and then got out of his car and shot into the other car killing a dad and his step-daughter.  Seriously injuring another person in the car.    He did not know them.

I continue to shake my head about the lack of mental health awareness – and the freedom of guns in America.   We can do so much better.  We need to do so much better.

I know there is always violence and there is always suffering, but it seems we have seen our share of it lately.

I continue to support the Black Lives Matter movement and I feel so bad for how it has been twisted, and has been blamed for so much that it has had nothing to do with… including the Wisconsin shooting, and the local shooting.

I hate how political it all is too.   It shouldn’t be.   And, now due to inactivity from leaders and from others in denial, it seems professional sports figures have had to take a stand.   How many years ago was it that Colin Kaepernick tried to make people aware of the systematic racism and the injustices in our country?   And here we are now.    I continue to pray that people see beyond themselves and their own lives, and feel the heartache of others.  A little sympathy can go a long way.

Yesterday was National Dog day.   So, here’s an update on our Honeybee.   She continues to be on two meds each day which seems to help keep her going.  Some days she has more energy, some days not as much.  Her vision isn’t good.   But, she is hanging in there.  Miss Daisy still has weird moments of attacking her and I know it has to do with jealousy and maybe wanting to be the alpha dog.   It continues to frighten me.

Babies and pets keep life balanced.    Thank God for them.    During these hard times babies are still coming in to the world, bringing joy to families.  Pets bring unconditional love to their owners.

Other positives…  to end this post with…

beautiful sunsets, special online music events, a stack of books still to get through, and safe-distanced live worship.

 

 

 

 

Did I get your attention with this post’s title?

Do you believe in white privilege?     I kind of thought everyone did, because here in America the Anglo-Saxon white people (those who came here from Europe) have always been in control.   All of our nation’s founders came from Europe.  (Yes, the native Americans were here first.  I’m not disputing that.)  The people who arrived on the Mayflower and those who followed came across the Atlantic Ocean from Europe and settled here. Pull out any history book and you can read about that.   We all learned it in school.

I’m a proud descendant of German people who did just that.  I have what is called white skin – I’m Caucasian.   I’m a European American.  Proud to be.  My great great grandparents came here through Ellis Island and they eventually settled in Ohio.  The family back then cleared land, and they farmed.  I had a great grandfather who ran the small town’s store.    They came by choice – for a new challenge, for a better opportunity, and to settle with their family.

As time went by the family’s children went to schools that were built.  I had one grandparent that went to college and on to the seminary.  My dad did too.   By the time my generation came along, it was common:  white kids went off to college.   White people could move anywhere.  They could go for a job anywhere.  They could make choices from lots of options given to them.   Suburbs bloomed for the white families.   No white person was ever held back for his or her color.

Lately, we have been looking back at history a little more carefully, and we are trying to make a point that it is important to include everyone in history who came to live in this land, by choice or not.   White, black, and all colors of brown  have history in our country.   The people who came to America from Africa were forced, or coerced, to come by the white men.  They were brought over on ships to be ‘property’ of whites.   At one point they were considered to be 3/5’s of a person.   Again, we know the story:  the civil war, and Abraham Lincoln, the Emancipation Proclamation… and the end of slavery.

But, we know it has taken decades upon decades for African Americans to slowly earn equal status – And they are not there yet.  By any means.  The Civil Rights movement is back because more work needs to be done.   Blacks were not given the same rights coming here  (voting, owning property, attending schools, and more) as the European Caucasians. They have catching up to do.  Their stories were left out of most of the history books.

Please, tell me.  You know this, right?      I’m not telling you anything new.

Well, today, in a Facebook post I saw someone write  that they were not able to ‘get’ why ‘everyone’ doesn’t totally respect the police, and why people want to run from an officer with a gun.  It bothered me – enough to respond.  Oh, yep.  I did it.  I responded with a comment about how this Facebook person has “white privilege” and therefore does not get the kind of fear a black person can have when even stopped for a simple traffic violation.    I tried (unsuccessfully) to state that we have ‘white privilege’ and we don’t get treated the same way.  I personally have never had my car searched when I have been stopped for a traffic violation…    which I can also say, hasn’t been very often.   I have never had a gun drawn and pointed at me by a police officer.   I am a white woman driving a family car.     Now, if I was a black woman, Or a black man….   or a teenage black man wearing a hoodie –   will the traffic cop act the same?      Most likely yes.  Truly  –   I believe that most cops are good.

But, we have known for a long time, and now with video we have seen, that some cops do not treat white and black the same.   It’s called ‘systematic racism.’   It comes from having ‘white privilege.’   It’s deep.  It’s been carried down from generation to generation.   It takes effort to change.

Let me just say that I got some mean spirited comments from what I wrote.  I was called names.  Someone said I ‘spewed’ out my own racism by telling someone they had the luxury of whiteness.

That post and the thread Of comments that followed scared me.  It saddened me too, as it seems so much does these days.   To not even acknowledge that white people have been given a better chance to succeed, and to choose what they want to do with their lives just seems like an ostrich with it’s head in the ground.   And, to not have a little empathy for the pain and the fear African-Americans feel even today – STILL today – because of  systematic racism…. well, it’s just sad.    Without understanding it, and calling it out, and looking for ways to continually improve the situation, it can never get better.

Yes.   I was told I was wrong for thinking there is ‘white privilege.’

Really?           Yes, really.

 

PS:  As with all my musings, this is my opinion.  This is my place to write.   This is my therapy.

Well, the DNC ended their convention last night and I watched most of it.  I have to admit I dozed a bit here and there, not because it was boring, but because I was too comfortable on my couch and it was late.   I’m an early riser, and an ‘early to bed’ person.  Thankfully I can catch what I missed online.

Technology has made the conventions a whole different ballgame compared to how  it used to be.   This year, due  to the pandemic,  people were sad that the delegates and the politicians were not meeting together In a big arena.  But, after watching the Democrats’ four nights I think I can say that I liked this new style and the way it flowed, and how no time was wasted with showing crowd hoopla and silliness.  It was a more serious convention.   Some of the video packages were excellent and quite moving.

We all know I’m a Democrat so I felt allegiance while I watched, and I was uplifted.  I heard hope.  I felt connected and saw some amazing people speak about a better future.   Because, you know, I don’t think this ‘present’ right now, is all that good, especially when it comes to who leads us, and how we are in this horrible pandemic, and we have stubborn and dividing voices in our Congress, making nothing happen.

Lately, as we watch the news, my own hubby interjects comments that makes me stop…   like this one: You know people don’t care about morality.  Most care about money. The economy.  That is what the people who voted for Trump in 2016 care about.  That’s how they will vote again.

I don’t know if he’s trying to calm me down, so I don’t get too excited. Or, maybe as a businessman he sees the lack of empathy in this country.   Profits over people.  Individual success over the greater good.   Thankfully he once worked for a company that knew if people came first, and if the employees were listened to and treated with respect, then great profits and success followed.   He worked in an environment that realized that the company’s ‘man on the street’ was the most important person.  They were the ones that had the direct relationship with stores and customers.   Everyone else was ‘back up’ to them. That philosophy was what created loyalty, dedication, and positive attitudes.  Oh, and financial success!

I think that same philosophy can be found in the Democratic Party.   In fact, I heard it said many times during the convention.   Speeches were about lifting everyone up, and about equality in America, and the need to change the political direction that has got us where we are today.

I have pledged to tune in for the Republican Convention next week because I want to be an informed citizen. I want to watch their video pieces, and hear the speeches of the GOP leadership.   What will be their ‘talking points’?    Will they emphasis the same beliefs in equality?   Will they rise up – and not talk down, or cheaply to their audience?

I’m not sure if I can stick with it all four nights.  And, not just because I’m not a night owl.   But, if the GOP convention turns into a Trump rally my head and HEART will hurt.   I already know who Trump is, and I know how he operates.    But, if I hear talk of coming together, and of acceptance of all…   if I hear ways to better lives, not just financially, but in quality of life through education, fair housing, and more…    it will keep me listening.

Our government is not supposed to make us rich.  Our government should not care about the stock market except for the fact that businesses that do well then employee good people, and pay them.   Most Americans are not invested in it anyway.   Our government, and it’s elected leaders, should be establishing laws that keep us safe, and at peace, and able to live a life above poverty.   They should encourage morality – yes.  They should.  Because moral people CARE and they look to help their neighbors, and want to support each other as we live together in this beautiful country.   We do NOT need leaders who talk about one-up-man-ship, or beating someone else or another country, or being stronger and a bully.    It’s not a contest.

The national conventions each 4 years give a wide eye’s view into each political party. For that reason I am glad we have them.    It can be a bit of a pep rally, and a civics  lesson, but it also shows what kind of future each party envisions.

Did you watch the DNC?   You still can online.    And, will you watch the GOP?

As an American you should.

 

 

Good day everyone!  It’s a beautiful sunny day here in the Lowcountry.   Perhaps it will be a bit a little less hot and humid here today.  But, it’s August so anything can happen.

Mid-August.     A time of celebration in some ways.  Why?    Even in the middle of the pandemic it’s important to continue to think of the positives of life and to look at each day as a new and beautiful gift.

So, today I celebrate…

Hope.  Yes, hope.   I continue to be hopeful that we will see better days ahead.

Friends.  I have had some sweet connections lately with some and I am reminded that even though we are living apart, we are still there for each other.

Differences.   The world would be pretty boring if we didn’t have different likes and dislikes, different hobbies and ambitions.   Yes, even different politics.   It’s easy to get upset at differences, but it’s more important to rise above them.   I’m a work in progress on that.

Health.   We know ‘when you have your health, you have everything.’   I do.

Music.  I certainly miss the live events, but I am thankful for Alexa bringing me music at the asking.  I also love watching my old videos from concerts I went to, so I can go back in time and re-experience them.    I’m celebrating all kinds of music too.  Yes, my ‘go to’ is feel-good country music, but I also love church music, and classical, and popular, and bluegrass.  I celebrate the talent of the amazing musicians.

Reading.  I’d be a whole lot more bored during this pandemic without a book to fall into, and to escape in, and to learn from.

Faith.   I know I have strong moments, and then some weaker moments too, but that’s how faith is.   In general I still truly believe.   I sure don’t understand everything when it comes to God, but that’s okay.  Again, I’m a work in progress.   Sometimes I think God keeps me around to give me more time to experience Him as He works on earth.

Action.   I celebrate action too.  Because with true faith there must be action.  Response.  Giving back.

Family.   I know mine is not perfect, and I know I am to blame with some dysfunction, but I love my family.  All of them.    The core group is such a joy – and fun, and just overall a huge blessing in my life.   And, I celebrate that it is increasing…   and that right there is known as a ‘tease.’

Nature.   This slower pace of life has let me view and listen to all kinds of nature around me.  I sit here now listening to roosters crowing, and I look upon the placid river slowing moving by.  I see the birds and squirrels at the feeder.  I Get to watch my flowers grow and bloom.

I woke up this morning in the mood to celebrate – thus this post.   I admit that not every day starts this way.   Perhaps if I printed this out and put it on my nightstand it would remind me and that would be a good thing.

Today is a new day, and it’s time to celebrate!

 

 

 

 

First, this surprised me.  I googled “Marla’s Musings” and found that there is another Marla (Woodward) with the same blog name and her posts popped up.   If you are reading this post, I am not her, although thankfully she seems like a nice person.

I have several things on my mind today. Actually, I have a question that perhaps someone can help me with.   Most of you know that I have two pugs and I love them dearly.  We got Miss Honeybee 9 years ago from a breeder in North Carolina.   About a year or so later we ‘adopted’ Miss Daisy after she had been left on her own in Kentucky.  Both girls have been wonderful and adorable.  Of course!   But…  the past few months things have been ‘different.’   Miss Honeybee has not been feeling well and has gotten lethargic, wasn’t eating, and just out of it at times.  Miss Daisy has taken it upon herself to lash out, to attack her – especially Honeybee’s ears!  Daisy got a grip on one and an infection occurred from it.  It got bad.   I took Bee to the vet – and since then Honeybee has been on various medicineS.  Antibiotics. Creams. Oral syrup.    Here’s the crazy thing:  Daisy continues to attack Honeybee and always goes after her ears.  It’s been serious. Drawing blood.  Yanking. Biting.   I have learned to throw a towel over Daisy to get her to stop. I have to gently pull her off – and then I put her in time out.   My question:  WHY is this happening?   These two dogs have lived together for years and have been fine.  And even now they sleep together on our bed, and they have times they are fine.  But then Daisy gets this ‘crazed’ attitude and attacks!   I’m really not sure what to do.   I’d love to hear your thoughts.

 

Next on my mind:   So, the amount of false information spreading on social media is really starting to scare me.   It’s always been there but it seems worse now.  I just read something that a friend shared that was totally false and of course it was written in a way to provoke fear.   I know she posted it because she believed it.   That worries me.   Also, yesterday I responded to an on-Facebook question of the day that our local TV station does.   it was political.  Most of the daily questions are.  So, I expected some backlash….BUT!  I was asked By a ‘commenter’ if I ate lead paint as a child, and if I had a brain.  And, I had a number of other comments that we really unkind.   I’m not sure which is worse – the false info or the horrible way people respond.   Both are bad – and wrong.  But both also open my eyes to a sad thing about humans…  trying to ‘one up’ no matter what.  And, then typing freely (and sometimes anonymously) even without any substantial reason.

 

Maybe it’s the summer heat, and certainly the pandemic, and then all the political meanness – but we humans are not looking too good these days.

Did you see the sheriff who is requiring his officers to be mask-free?   And anyone who enters the building too?    Seriously?   What is wrong with him?

I need John Krasinski back with some Good News!!

I also need to feel the joy of coming together due to music.  The last hold-out music festival was just cancelled here.   I knew it wouldn’t happen – but the announcement two days ago made it final.   There is something so wonderful about people who are different in so many ways able to come together for the love of music.  In country music circles it becomes family.  I really miss it.

And, yes, I get mad about people not working together (wearing masks, washing, safe distancing) so we can bring concerts back – and To make it safe for local bands and choirs to meet and rehearse.    We are in such a terrible situation here in America, where some people refuse to do something to help the greater good.  To make schools safe, and to let the artists perform, and athletes to play.   I can’t help but think how selfish some are.  Or, how they have been given the false information (as I talked about before) and believe it.     It makes me want to cry.

Well, I can not end this post down in the dumps.

So, let me say:  Kamala Harris was not my first choice for Biden’s running mate.   But, I am glad to see this woman of color, well educated, someone who has served in the judicial system, and then in Congress, get picked.  She has worked hard to be here.  She is smart.  She is tough.  She believes in fighting for those who need help.   Biden needed a strong VP Choice…    and he got one.

Have a nice day.   Again, any help with my pugs??   Tell me please!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I remember as a young adult, first time living on my own, and getting really excited each day when the mail arrived.  This was way before email, or Facebook, or Instagram.  Back then there were only two ways to communicate with someone who was far away: the phone or through the mail.

Everything was sent through the mail: letters, bills, magazines, small packages, Christmas cards, store flyers, and more.   We had to go to the post office to buy stamps.  We waited in long lines at because everyone at some point in their week had to go.  The weeks before Christmas were the worst times as everyone bought special holiday stamps and then dropped off cards once prepared and ready to send.

Well, as we know it is not like that anymore when it comes to the mail.   My local post office has reduced its hours of operations and it struggles to compete with all the  electronic communications, and the other package delivery companies.   Rarely is there a line in the office and if there is one it takes  five minutes at most to wait in it for service.

The US postal service has always been around.   Hasn’t it?   It’s been around since the early days of the pony express when our country was just organizing itself.   It’s always been a big part of America.  In fact, the post office is what connected us to the whole world.

In recent years we have listened as some people say that the postal service is obsolete and just too expensive to run.  It is slow and not very reliable.   It can’t keep up with the competition.

There have been talks about how to save It, to somehow keep it going, for a long time.  The price of stamps has had to go up periodically to keep it afloat.   And, really, how much  money will we pay to send a letter?

Now, lately, the US Post Office has gotten into the middle of another battle.   As we find ourselves living in the Covid World, many people in the country worry about the November election and how best we can safely get out and vote. Voting is our right, and our duty, our voice, and one of the most important things we can all do in a democracy.  But, standing in lines, and sharing polling machines is now a dangerous thing to do.   This time to vote we will have to safely distance in line, wear masks,  and the machines will have to be cleaned between each and every voter’s turn.  It will make the process slower, longer, and it still might not completely delete the possibility of spreading the virus.

So , sensibly, for safety,  the idea of mail in voting has become an issue. A hot issue.  A political issue.  Some people say…no way! mail in voting ballots can be lost, or people will forget the postage, or there could be an element of fraud with false ballots sent in, or duplicated.  When in doubt, throw it out!   It will take too long to count and announce the winner.   And, yes, those are all valid points.

Electronic voting also has concerns beyond the worry of spreading the virus.   Voting machines can breakdown or malfunction.    Sending votes electronically relies on the safety of the grids.  Using the internet opens the chance of fraud through hacking.

Neither way is perfect and each way has concerns attached to it.

The American people want and need to know everything that can be done is being done to make sure we have a fair and accurate election.   It is August and we are only a few months away from Election Day.  we are running out of time to prepare for whatever way is decided.  And, let’s not forget that the voting procedures and machines are different from  state by state.   Does this sound like a potential mess?  Oh yes, yes it does!

I hear the talking heads on the pseudo news programs talk about bringing back mail in ballots and I think it can not be dismissed.   Political rhetoric aside. We need to get back to a simplified, and unified way to vote.  Even if the final count may take days.   We have to look at states like Oregon who have been sending out ballots that can be filled out and dropped off in mailboxes. They have been successful in voting that way for a good while.   I think they use specific temporary boxes just for ballots.  But we have the post office system up and running round this country – and face it, they need help.  Let’s use them!

It would alleviate the problem we are having this year with the need for poll workers, who are mostly older folks who do not want to take a chance getting the virus at in-person poll locations.

Ballots are mailed to everyone in mid-October.  People can then mail them back anytime up to and through Election Day.   The US Postal Service collects them and the Office of Elections around the country pick them up, counts, double checks, verifies, and the system works as it should.

Once again the United States Postal service and all its workers will become vital in the American way of life.

Will I miss going to the poll and pushing the buttons and casting my vote that way?  Getting my “I voted” sticker? Yes I will.  But for too long I have not liked ” early returns” and polls closing in the East before the West coast has voted. I have not liked gerrymandering and other ways to twist voting around.

I still believe my vote is all I have and I want it to count. Perhaps it will if I can mail it in, keep myself safe, and wait for the returns.