Beneath the Wraps

  From my observation the best leaders are those who lead by example.  They don ’ t seek validation.  They lead by instinct.  Many have been put in that position because of their ability to take charge in a positive way – not because they bullied their way in. I suppose Donald Trump does lead by example – just not in a positive way. He is always seeking validation and would like to be worshipped by all and not just the uneducated.   If it weren ’ t for the other two branches of government, I suspect Trump ’ s picture would be plastered all over the place. His pictures would be no smaller than the size of buildings.   His face would be plastered all over Mt. Rushmore.   His face would be on currency and postage stamps.   What an ass.   And I don ’ t mean the four legged animal. A great leader will listen to those who he/she serves.  Donald Trump doesn ’ t listen to anybody – not those who are there to serve him, not his family me...

                Jenna required reading for her online English class has been focusing on an international high school in New York.   For each chapter Jenna is required to pull out a quote, comment on the theme of the chapter and turn in a short essay.   She has gotten in the habit of reading things out loud as it helps her better to think.   She seems to be even more focused if she can find someone else to read it out loud to her.   Often she has asked for my opinion about what I think the theme is or what I think is a good quote.    Usually the quote is directly attached to whichever student the chapter focuses on.   However I remember one quote that stood out which was not related to the student.   It was actually a description of snow he had seen in Connecticut.   It was white and beautiful.    The quote continued with a less than attractive image of snow that had been yellowed...

            I believe it was Corey’s senior year in high school when the student directory came out.   On the cover was an art student’s work depicting the mascot and school spirit.   He had signed his artwork “Zion” as he had with many (if not all) of his other pieces.   It wasn’t meant to stand out as the main theme of his drawing but rather blend into the design.   However an instructor who was anti-religion especially anti-LDS had discovered the “hidden” Zion and made such a great fuss over it that it drew much more attention to the drawing and the word than was intended.               It’s quite a small example of how even negative criticism can be used to boost something positive.   Take the Lincoln Project ( here ) for instance, a group of former Republicans no longer affiliated with the party either by choice or perhaps they were asked to leave.   Each m...

 It Rained! Beautiful Rain! Pouring over my roof. What a pleasant sound! Our thirsty world is  greatly in need.

  Jenna LOVES Halloween!  For her it is the most exciting holiday of all federal and non federal holidays. Halloween starts early each election year – especially in this decade we call 2020.  Halloween that started in March and has introduced each month with a new “ scare ” tactic.  California has denounced having Halloween this year.  Not so much to do with Corona but because of the wild fires. Our nation has looked at Halloween head-on.  The latest has been with the presidential and vice-presidential debates.  Is demonstrating childish behavior really a part of the politician ’ s criteria? “ I want to hear what your credentials are – not what crazy theories (or made up lies) you may have about your opponent. ”   When both opponents are slinging mud, it ’ s really hard to decide.   What is up with the “ leadership ” of this nation?   Enough with the mudslinging, name calling and so forth!   I would like to hear each side w...

  When I laid down on Sunday night I could see the stars I have not seen the sky since then. It’s hazy in the morning.   Eerie fog And when the fog disappears Hazy Sky Smoke from the California fires. And we still don’t have the worst of it. I could smell the smoke through the window Two weeks ago when it was combined with Oregon fires. I don’t smell it now.   But I can see the haze. It’s like a taking a beautiful scenic picture With a dirty lens.

  I failed to mention that Saturday was Roland’s birthday. It wasn’t much of a celebration.   Roland believes no birthday is complete without cake. He had handed a cake mix to Jenna the night before. On the box was a picture of chocolate waffles. She made the mixture Friday night and we made poured the mixture into the waffle iron.   I poured a pecan frosting over the best pieces and placed a candle on top.   We wished Roland a happy birthday and ate chocolate waffles for breakfast.   Later on the elders called to ask if Roland had a key to the television room.   They wanted General Conference to be made available for those who chose to watch it at the Church. Roland left the house to meet the elders at the church and learned he the key he has does not work in the room where the televised devices are kept.   Later we met our former bishop at the animal clinic.   Typical pandemic birthday.

                 Jenna started caring for Bonnie on September 11.  The initial plan was to go to her house to feed her and let her out.  The air was full of smoke when Jenna started.  Roland insisted that we bring Bonnie to our house for the next nine weeks – which will now be closer to three months as she will be with us at least until the first week of December.                  Bonnie had an itch.   She was always scratching and licking herself.   Roland told us to take her to the vets.   I first called the number of the clinic belonging to our former bishop.   No answer.   I tried his house.   No answer.   I knew that he had been looking to retire and perhaps he had.   Roland suggested I try the new clinic that just opened on Main Street.   The clinic workers had to talk with Bonnie’s “mom” before w...

               The media has picked up the story that Donald Trump has tested positive for Covid and he and Malania are going to quarantine themselves for the next two weeks.   The story says that Ivana Trumps personal assistant had tested positive and therefore Trump was tested too?   Of course FOX was probably the first to build up this story and I think that is all it is.   A story.   Another lie.   A scam.   Another ploy to build sympathy among his faithful followers.   The debates of course can’t possibly take place now.             My guess would be that after he screwed things up for himself at the debate – his new campaign manager or whoever had suggested that Donald Trump pose in front of a church holding a Bible (like what would Donald Trump know about religion?) told Donald to Tweet and others followed.   I have absolutely no proof, but I th...

                  I often wonder if Trump didn ’ t pay off the Chinese (or make another hollow promise to pay) to create a virus that would infect the entire planet (villain proof of course) knowing that it would eventually make its way to the U.S. before elections took place.  Trump would pronounce himself to continue as president and not hold an election until after the virus had disappeared.  What a JERK!  The absolute worst president in American history.  Should NOT be worthy of the title president.  Should be the part of history that gets erased.  Remove his name from the title.  He ’ s a villain!  Presidents should not be villains!         Donald Trump and Joe Biden are three and a half years apart.   Three years!   Not three decades.   Pharisees act like they ’ re decades apart and Trump has a much younger and fresher mind.   He is quite ju...

              When the stay-at-home order was given in March, there was a great number of people who did stay home but there were many who had the attitude that “I still have freedom . . . nobody tells me what to do . . .” and have contributed to American stupidity ever since. I don’t like Walmart for many reasons but Roland just so happens to have a Walmart card and Roseburg has a Walmart and so we have been there numerous times – though I have not accompanied him as often as Jenna who wanted to go to Roseburg last and I wanted to stay home with Bonnie (the dog) but Roland had me go and Jenna stay. Because there was no iodized salt offered at Costco, Roland wanted to stop by Walmart first to get some.   The last time we had gone to Walmart there was a line of people waiting for consumers to exit the store and were allowed so many at a time (depending on the amount leaving) maintaining a social distancing.   Everybody required to wea...

  https://ercare24.com/five-senses/            I had always been under the impression that if one sense stopped working another may be enhanced.    For instance, my mom has never had a keen sense of smell.   She lost it due to growing up in a smoke infested apartment.   (I think both of her parents were chain smokers) but had exceptional hearing.   Even on her deathbed I believe she could hear well.           None of my senses are sharp.   I control/plus each screen in order to see the font.   I wear glasses and hearing aids.   My sense of smell seems to be a thing of the past.   My taste comes and goes.   I suppose my strongest sense would be touch.           I know Jenna has bathed the dog, but evidently she still has an odor about her.   Jenna and Roland have both mentioned that she expels gas which lea...