Rain!

 It Rained!

Beautiful Rain!

Pouring over my roof.

What a pleasant sound!

Our thirsty world is 

greatly in need.

Halloween and Elections: Both Haunting

 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 without the constant interruptions or immaturity.  At least the vice presidential debate was not as childish as the presidential.  That was shear torture!

Both candidates skirted around each question answering with the typical political “let me avoid the question by talking about the issue at hand without really saying anything” or else point fingers about how their opponent will or will not handle instead of volunteering what their own merits are.  The most interesting thing about the VP debate was the fly that landed on Mike Pence’s head.  

I wish they had picked Judge Judy to monitor the debates.

 Journalists had timed the fly’s landing for over two minutes.  Pence hadn’t even noticed.  Roland said he thought the fly was stuck in whatever goop Mike Pence had placed on his head. I loved Trevor Noah’s commentary here.

 

I am not near as bothered by the presidential as I am with the two running for congressman for district 4 in the state of Oregon.  I had never heard of Alek Skarlatos until he was made a “celebrity” on Dancing With the Stars here.  If that doesn't scream pollical choice, I don't know what does.

 He is one of two running for congress.  I told my brother he might have a good chance of being voted in as his was the only name that was ever mentioned either for or against.  The anti Skarlatos ads came with “This is Peter D. and I approve this message” – I wasn’t even certain I about his last name until Alek Skarlatos commercials started slamming whatever credentials DeFazio has or does not have - mostly his age and having been in office for far too long.  Way to go, Skarlatos campaigning.  Should have left well alone and allowed Alek’s name to remain without slinging (or trying to sling) mud about his opponent.  Thus I am not impressed with either one.  

I HATE mudslinging.  Again, I would like to know your merits based on the candidate who is talking. 

Here’s another great Trevor Noah on government hiding health issues.  I still have my doubts about Trump ever having got Corona in the first place, but did take down my “Suspicions and Disbelief” post for a few days until he made this “miraculous” exit from the hospital.  Trump is such an ass.  Elephants have great memories.  Perhaps he ran under the wrong party?

That may be for another post.

Smokey Haze

 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.

Typical Pandemic Birthday

 

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.

Healing Bonnie

                 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 we could take her in.

                We took her to the doctors during her first week with us.  Jenna took her into the clinic (after we had called to report our presence) and I waited in the car.  Bonnie received three shots – one for her itch.  We were told to come back for a second shot and had set up an appointment for today. 

Bonnie did stop scratching for about a week or so. She doesn’t scratch as much as she used to.  Meanwhile we received a call from Bonnie’s “mom” to inform us that today’s appointment would need to be rescheduled because of some conflict at the Canyonville clinic. ????  We had made her appointment in Myrtle Creek, not Canyonville.  I called to change the appointment but could not be found.  What???  You called us – or somebody did.  Somebody from Canyonville?  I made the appointment for tomorrow.

Meanwhile I have been picking up Jenna from seminary each morning.  Sometimes I will take Bonnie with me.  On Wednesday we had stopped at the dog park and let Bonnie loose in the fenced area.  She seemed to enjoy herself.  After we returned home Jenna noticed some redness on Bonnie’s paw.  Bonnie would lick her sore which made it worse.  And so when I rescheduled Bonnie’s shot appointment I mentioned her sore paw.  But by Friday she was limping – and even more on Saturday.  I did not want three more days to pass before returning to the vets.  I called our former bishop and met him at his clinic on Saturday afternoon.  He gave us two bottles of medication.  Jenna has been diligently giving her the medication ever since and Bonnie is feeling better.  As soon as I post this I will call the other vet to cancel the appointment that I just made and we will contact the former bishop on Thursday.

Suspicions and Disbelief

             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 think it’s a hoax.

            First of all, since when has he ever acknowledged anyone else in the Whitehouse?  Each time someone has tested positive he is always like, “Well I don’t even know this person.  I’ve never met this person.” And yet there are photographs to say otherwise.

            Secondly, since when has Donald Trump EVER been responsible?  He mocks the mask, even quarantine, and now he wants to give the impression that he cares?!?!?  I don’t believe him.  Everything that has ever come out of his mouth has been a lie.

            And third, as I have mentioned in my last post, Trump is a villain.  Villain’s don’t test positive for Coronavirus.  I’m not unsympathic if he really does have the disease.  But if this overweight 74 year old man with pasty skin isn’t hospitalized and magically survives this I am certain it will be to get out of finishing the debates and not because he really even took a test.  

    Granted, there were tight spaces, no social distancing, little wearing of masks - so it is possible but too "convenient" or "coincidental" to be at this time. What a kroc!!!! (I may have to repent of these thoughts as tomorrow is Conference)

Perhaps It Was a Conspiracy Theory

                 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 juvenile and bratty – I’ll give him that.  Except that he’ll end up in jail for tax fraud same as Al Capone.  Tax fraud is generally not a juvenile problem.  OMG.  We cannot do another four years under his (lack of) leadership.  This country is already in terrible condition.  No other country wants to deal with us!  Can you blame them?  What a bunch of spoiled babies!  Sadly Trump and his posse are not what make up the majority of values and decency that others would like to bring back to this continent.  Why can’t the IRS dump Trump in jail right now?

        Kudos to those willing to run against Donald Trump not so much because they want to be in that position but just to succeed in getting Trump out.  He already made it clear that he won't be leaving gracefully (was there ever any doubt?) God bless us all.  Our future depends on it.