Comments On The Attack On Congress

Many people have said most of what has to be said about the attack on our Capitol that Trump and his gang incited yesterday. It was the first time an armed force compelled Congress to suspend its constitutional duties since the War of 1812.
It was the first time that a force carrying, among others, the Confederate battle flag forced its way into our Capitol. It was the first time that insurgents tore the American flag off the outer wall and hung a rival flag - a Trump flag - which by that action became an enemy flag.
Reportedly, Trump is the first President to refuse to send troops in defense of Congress when it was under attack (reportedly it was Pence who finally authorized the DC National Guard to go into action, and that after VA and MD started sending forces.)
Enough.
We can all have political disagreements but when it turns to rebellion, a line has been crossed that cannot be uncrossed. Those who continue to support Trump after this are enemies of the United States so long as you continue. Protest all you want that you are "patriots", but you act like patriots only when you get to run things; otherwise you are just whiney baby bully wannabees, sad because you lost an election, credulous fools because you think you know the evidence better than 60 judges, and followers of the worst president that has ever disgraced the Oval Office.
And for what?
Thanks to your Maximum Leader, we will soon have 400,000 dead of a pandemic that could have been controlled if your master had only told us the truth in January. Our allies around the world have been alienated by his betrayal of NATO, the Kurds, and just about everyone except the sort of dictators that should disgust a freedom-loving people. The budget is more out of balance than ever, your jobs have not come back, and future generations will curse your name for not dealing with global climate change in time.
This is what you sacrificed your honor and your good name for?
There is no need to be cute about it. Trump is the orange-painted face of a fascist movement that won't go away when he leaves office in a few days, so perhaps you'll find someone else to worship. There is always someone ambitious for the weak-minded to follow. Mostly you're just afraid of losing the instant status you get for having had white parents - an achievement for which you had no personal responsibility - or for those few POC Trump fans, for letting your love of bullying outweigh your personal interests.
And so now we come to your role model, your ideal: the picture of one of you stealing public property in our nation's Capitol, a crime for which he proudly mugs for the camera, confident that he will never suffer because of his privilege.
This attitude drove the Confederacy to its mad rebellion so many years ago, and it will serve you no better.
Grow the fck up!

TBH The Misspelling Is Not Deliberate,
I Just Don't Follow Daniel Webster

Why My Home Office Has Two Desk Chairs

 

Shadow In My Office Chair

My home office/home studio has a lot of horizontal surfaces so that my cats can do their business, chiefly napping, in my company. They especially like office chairs, perhaps because they're cushy, perhaps because I pre-heat them by sitting on them, perhaps who knows? Merely because they see me there so 

Pie Dough Day

This evening, I made pie dough from scratch for the mincemeat that Hannah and Julie gave me - I didn't want to use a storebought crust - and it turned out to be not nearly as traumatic and experience as I recall. Of course, I was doing in it my own way....

In the morning, I had a enough of a walk to enjoy the fresh air; determined to take a picture, I was charmed by Christmas balls still on an Evergreen bearing berries. Later, I tinkered around the house until it was time to take a bunch of books to Pegasus.

Pandemic Payment Challenge

If (like me) you are fortunate enough to still have a paycheck & are wondering what to do with the $600 (a matter of survival for some), I suggest: spend it on a small business' website TODAY! Let's get that money back in the economy and helping our neighbors and friends survive. Today I spent (or rather invested in my community) as follows: 

• My niece's art studio (recommended!): https://www.winnieweaves.com/
• My nephews's art studio (also recommended!): His Etsy Shop
• My favorite book store (recommended!): https://www.pegasusbookexchange.com/
• West Seattle Foodbank (I'm sure you have one in your area): https://westseattlefoodbank.org/

Updating as I find places to go - where would you suggest?
Where are you putting that money? Give me recommendations ...

New Year's Walks

Yesterday and today I walked to the dog park to see if I could stock the doggy bag dispensers with bags that we can not otherwise recycle, e.g. bread bags. I had extra bags from someone who made the offer on Buy Nothing, and was sure I could put this nonrecyclables to good use - and it was true! It's a mundane and delightful example of community spirit and environmentalism.

On the walk back I saw an art truck.

Once home, I gave the cats their monthly flea treatment. Oh man do they hate that! Ginny is still avoiding me, but Shadow seems to have forgiven me and is begging for treats and affection as usual.

Refi 2 Tuesday and Art

Sunday more boardgaming, Monday getting not much done because I'd left the schedule open for the refinancing notary, which got delayed to Tuesday.
Picture taking is a bit weak, as decorations are coming down, most plants are hunkered down for the winter, and such flowers as there are (a few dandelions and the occasional nasturtium) look out of season.

I got an adequate haiku Monday:

Winter In Seattle,

Short On Both Flowers And Snow,

Finds Beauty In Moss.

I set up my cafe table and chairs on the porch, which the notary  found perfectly adequate. I might leave it there, as it is charming enough and a promise of something nice for spring. I never sit at it indoors anyway. 

The refi paperwork went smoothly enough; it was chill but not too cold, and not wet. We had to be outside to reduce the risk of COVID, of course. I'm happy to have the paperwork done; I'll never know if I could have squeezed in even a lower rate somehow but since costs were covered it makes sense to make this move even if there is theoretically a better one somewhere.

I took another walk and stocked the last of my available carrots at a pantry, but was still not find a good photo til I got home. I resolved to take a picture of myself so I can get over my appearance of age, and unexpectedly found one of the most popular pictures (going by Facebook likes) I've ever done.

Me and My House Numbers

One of my first art projects was upgrading my house numbers, repurposing cracked plates. I'd actually done this some years ago but the image was today. I guess art and crafting is something a lot of people relate to!

Christmas Break

 

Hannah and Julie made 2020 Holiday ornaments featuring a 2020 word cloud. So clever!

This "Merry Catmas" is from years ago, but still a favorite.

Kiara's at her mom's with the cat called Pawman

We had our usual walk Xmas morning. This week we had a very wet Monday, a very cold Tuesday, I think Thursday was so slippery that we didn't go up Frontenac to High Point, and Friday was just a nice day for a walk. The ladies are going on vacation so we'll resume walking in a week or two, but I have the habit so helpfully ingrained now that I'll just explore my neighborhood more.
Friday afternoon and evening was boardgaming, Saturday was cleaning a bit around the house and mailing the last of the Georgia GOTV letters. For the Senate election, through the Sierra Club, I sent  batches of 20 letters each (although the most recent batch was about a PSC election, which I guess is important - at this point, I trust the Club.) 140 letters sound like a lot, but it was over the course of six weeks, so really, not that much.

Drain-Cleaning Walk

Hannah and Julie

 This soggy morning Julie carried a small shovel for cleaning leaves off the drains. I helped a little; it turns out my fancy synthetic gloves act like a wetsuit - it got wet but warmed up so I could grab clods and toss them. We did not get in the usual amount of steps, but we did a lot of function exercise, and it was kind of fun! 

Tuesday there was a sprinkling of snow on the ground. some of the surfaces were slick but we made it up to the water tower just fine.

Wednesday my walk was on my own (as the girls have a special class). I did the little free pantry circuit, carrying my surplus foods in my backpack. I can tell I'm making progress because jogging 40 steps feels like much too little.

At home, I did some more exercising, upgraded 4freeCLE with the next month's programs, and did another Stage Time University class.

A Weekend of Gaming

Friday: walk a lot, play with cats, game over Zoom
Saturday: walk a lot, play with cats, DND over Zoom (came close to TPK but we pulled it out!)

Sunday: walk a lot, play with cats, game over Zoom.

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Tomorrow's the Solstice. I'll be more productive thereafter.

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I got the email estimate on the fence and, as I anticipated, got total sticker shock. I'm not feeling good about spending down that much of my cash, but I feel badly about cheapening out also. I emailed my hesitation, then another proposing some alternatives (e.g. gifting them the land under the fence, or splitting the cost).

Basically I feel badly because I make so much less money ?