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New York, Sept. 10, 2001

 

New York, Sept. 10 2001

By John Curran

 

I had been given this middle passage sort of time to figure a few things out while my case was being resolved. Still, I’ll be homeless again pretty soon, twenty five years later, from when I was in New York, homeless there too, but the time, situation, and circumstances were a lot different. For one, I had my good friend Steve steering me through it all.

New York New York. I had just arrived, first timer, up from Florida, where I was pretty much done. New York was for sure another rung to another era of the narrative, and even though I was a homeless guy I had means. Steve had a basement place we’d sneak into after dark, and the city itself was pretty darned good at social services. Steve was a working guy and had been in the city for a while. He’d done a few things, bartender, odd jobs, various things, but his main talent was as an expert on vegan cuisine. He was a full on vegetarian and knew a lot about all that. His was a living example of how healthy vegan eating is. He could whip up the greatest meals, totally vegan, and you would be satisfied. He had a job at the neighborhood health food/ grocery store situated right there, a block in from the famous Tomson Park, in the East Village, the heart of everything.

Steve knew a lot of people, homeless and otherwise. One of these “other-wisers” was this chick who I never met but was some acquaintance of Steve’s in some way or another. And this girl was a model, worked at it, got paid the real money, and had a actual apartment in a decent area up on like, the eighth floor of a nice complex. Swank place, great city view, lots of plants. So this chick she was gone somewhere for a few days, possibly a modeling assignment, I didn’t know. Anyway Steve was given the key and the deluxe gig of taking care of her plants while she was gone.

And so there we were, for a coupla beautiful early fall days, housesitting like kings, watching the U S OPEN on TV while the real tennis show was going on that moment live, right across the river in Queens. And Steve he took the job seriously, he watered them damn plants. I should mention this guy was a flat out genius with plants, he had a sense about them like nobody I’ve ever seen, and could grow anything, or figure out how.

I never got to meet this girl. I knew she was a cutie though, her framed professionally done model shot looked at us from the coffee table, and I never asked nothing, just glad to be there. Yes and for the moment we were happy with our little trickle down bit of cool comfort. I’d been in New York 12 days now and it was still all so new and exciting. And now, looking at homeless again all these years later, not too exciting, a slog, not really enough monies to just not worry about it, gotta hope I can find something at this poverty fixed income level, an old man now with a health condition. And I sure do miss my good friend Steve, one good friend he was, at a crucial time, I hope he’s doing OK.

We had a great time we did, in a time that was gonna really change, tomorrow.

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Trump’s Second Term Draws Fire Over Corruption

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Trump vs America

                                                   Trump is Phony as a Three Dollar Bill

Trump vs America

By William Jones

Trump’s Second Term Draws Fire Over Power, Profit, and Repeated Institutional Battles

WASHINGTON, D.C., September 2026 — President Donald Trump’s second White House has had a slew of issues concerning private enterprises, foreign gifts, executive power, government regulation, immigration, federal jobs, education, and trade. His first term already brought up questions of conflicts of interest, pardons, Trump’s properties, and the ouster of independent watchdogs. Those conflicts have now faded away. Trump, who has been in office since January 2025, has made a series of moves that have been rejected in court, attacked by ethics authorities, worried about by Congress and the American public, and that has raised multiple accusations from a variety of multiple  that he is exceeding the powers of the presidency.

Crypto Ventures Generate Billions

Trump’s family cryptocurrency holdings have emerged as one of the most obvious financial scandals of his second term. Four of the Trump-related crypto businesses have made an estimated $2.3 billion for the family from 2024 to April 2026, according to a Reuters investigation. The projects consist of World Liberty Financial and $TRUMP meme coin. Reuters reports that the losses were similar in magnitude for outside investors, but the Trump family reaped ownership and revenue-sharing benefits. Critics say the president has the ability to sway an industry where his family has a lot of money tied up.

Meme Coin Buyers Gain Presidential Access

The $TRUMP coin led to another ethical issue, as 220 of its biggest investors were invited to dine with Trump at his golf club in Virginia in May 2025. Additional access was given to the top 25 investors. Critics wondered if rich or foreign investors could buy up a seat near a sitting president when they could buy cryptocurrency using wallets that don’t release their names. Trump’s presence at the dinner was called personal time in the White House, and the AP made note of him speaking behind a lectern with the presidential seal.

Qatar’s $400 Million Aircraft

Growing concerns about foreign influence became another issue after the acceptance of a luxury Boeing 747 from Qatar for the president’s use. The aircraft’s value is estimated at approximately $400 million. The snag of course is that it will need at least a billion dollars in significant modifications to its security and communications systems to be used as Air Force One, Reuters reported. Trump and MAGA brushed aside any notion that ethics should come into play and said it would be very foolish to turn down this valuable aircraft. Critics raised concerns about the possibility of an obligation or suspected influence by the Qatar government because of such an “extraordinary gift by a foreign government.”

Independent Watchdogs Removed

Trump also acted against those charged with regulating government misbehaviors. Independent watchdogs, such as inspectors general, were fired early in the administration, raising concerns that investigators of waste, fraud, abuse, and retaliation might be replaced by those more loyal to the president. One federal judge has concluded that Trump’s termination of Hampton Dellinger, head of the Office of Special Counsel, was illegal because of safeguards for independent officials, which were created to prevent improper pressure from the White House.

Federal Workers Face Mass Dismissals

Another major controversy for the administration was the attempt to extensively reduce the size of the federal workforce. Agencies went on a job restructuring campaign that resulted in the firing or elimination of thousands of workers. The Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and associated agencies were particularly hard hit in 2025, when approximately 10,000 cuts were made to these health agencies. The cuts were deemed to be long-overdue changes to bureaucracy by supporters. Scientists, regulators, and experts could suddenly be lost, leading to a weakening of key government services, critics said.

Supreme Court Rejects Sweeping Tariffs

Trump’s emergency powers to impose sweeping global tariffs suffered a major blow in court. His bid for emergency economic powers to implement broad tariffs was rejected by the Supreme Court in February 2026 and weakened one of the Trump administration’s key economic strategies. Trump attacked the decision and threatened to pursue other legal strategies for erecting tariffs. The debate also raised the broader constitutional issue—how much economic power does a president have without specific congressional approval?

Birthright Citizenship Targeted Again

Trump’s opposition to birthright citizenship has butted heads with constitutional arguments over the years. His original second-term executive order was to deny automatic citizenship to some of those born in the United States. The previous order was rejected by the courts, however, and in August 2026, Trump issued a “narrower” order. The federal judge was not so sure about its constitutionality, since the Supreme Court had already ruled the previous attempt unconstitutional in light of the 14th Amendment. The new challenge is still in effect.

Education Department Cutbacks Blocked

The administration also made a concerted effort to cut significantly the size of the Department of Education’s workforce and to shift significant functions to other departments. The plan was blocked by a federal judge in 2025, saying that the executive branch cannot effectively dismantle a department created by Congress unless Congress gives it its approval. Education authority is something Trump has long advocated should be handed back to the states. The restructuring was a risk to students who are protected by federal programs, administered by the federal government, and required to meet civil-rights requirements, opponents said.

Justice Department Reopens Trump-Era Grievances

Still another controversy involves the Justice Department’s review of those officials who participated in previous inquiries of Trump. In August 2026, the FBI began interviewing personnel linked to the search of his residence on Mar-a-Lago in 2022 as it expanded its probe into whether U.S. investigations have infringed on Trump’s rights, according to Reuters. The review is a required measure of accountability, according to supporters. There is a disturbing prospect in the eyes of critics that federal law enforcement abilities are being channeled towards individuals who investigated the president before he was sworn in.

Questions Grow Over Justice Department Independence

Former Trump personal lawyer Attorney General Todd Blanche has been under separate watch on the independence of the Justice Department. During an interview in August 2026, Blanche denied being Trump’s political attorney and not the country’s top law-enforcement official. Politically charged investigations and proposals that have worked in favor of Trump allies have been cited as signs of a diminishment in institutional independence. Blanche, our newest AG, says that he’s being fair and honest with the law.

A Presidency Under Continuing Scrutiny

What unites these 10 controversies is an underlining theme: the growing permeable boundaries of presidential power and hyper-public and personal and familial interests. Trump’s supporters believe they were given a mandate by voters to have a president who is aggressively working to fulfill that mandate, to dismantle bureaucracy, and to challenge institutions that they view as being unaccountable.

Critics see something more worrying. As Trump-affiliated businesses continue to generate massive private profits, they contend that the courts, watchdogs, career officials, independent prosecutors, and disclosure regulations are all being run over by a lawless executive branch.

Larger than any of Trump’s lawsuits, firings, cryptocurrency business, or executive orders, is the central question of his second term. It is whether the institutions established to check the power of the president will survive if the president keeps opposing these institutions. In a democracy, accountability must be based not on the goodwill of the occupant of the White House. It relies on the ability of the law, independent oversight, Congress, courts and an informed public to say no.

 

References

https://www.reuters.com/investigations/parsing-trumps-crypto-profits-investors-losses-2026-06-09/

https://apnews.com/article/0e2d7ca5170bf594d44a391884ec52b3

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-formally-accepts-luxury-jet-qatar-trump-new-york-times-2025-05-21/

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-judge-declares-trumps-firing-watchdog-agency-head-illegal-2025-03-02/

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/trump-administration-begins-mass-layoffs-health-agencies-sources-say-2025-04-01/

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/g20-countries-should-consider-more-trade-barriers-with-china-cut-imbalances-2026-08-30/

https://www.reuters.com/world/us-judge-wont-immediately-block-trumps-newest-order-limiting-birthright-2026-08-28/

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-judge-blocks-trump-administration-plan-gut-education-department-2025-05-22/

https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/doj-seeks-question-fbi-officials-tied-search-trump-mar-a-lago-estate-sources-say-2026-08-20/

https://apnews.com/article/37c32a3751aaeac09fde5e415c1d4879

 

 

 

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What We Can Do To Get Our Nation Back On Track

What We Can Do To Get Our Nation Back On Track

By Cate Rees-Hessel

 

Fight For Our Freedom…

As we commemorate the 25th anniversary of 9/11 with sadness for our losses and praise for those who sacrificed, during the 250th year of our nation, we must remain steadfast in our convictions and not lose God’s hope. I pray daily for our country and I post anti-Trump material each day, also. Here is what we can all do to bring our nation back from the brink:

  1. VOTE and encourage others to vote
  2. Choose Blue no matter who
  3. Sign petitions
  4. RESIST
  5. Write to your elected officials and newspaper editors

BE FIRM AND MINDFUL – WE CAN BE THE CHANGE…

  1. Boycott businesses and institutions that don’t share your values
  2. Educate our youth about politics and ethics/morals
  3. Pray more than you breathe
  4. Stand firm in your convictions
  5. Complain when things go wrong

BE FIRM AND MINDFUL – WE CAN BE THE CHANGE…

  1. Post against the Republican lack of morality
  2. Attend rallies to peacefully protest
  3. Know your rights, especially where ICE is involved
  4. Educate yourself – knowledge is power
  5. Don’t waiver, keep the faith

BE FIRM AND MINDFUL – WE CAN BE THE CHANGE…

  1. Campaign for Democrats
  2. Host a political event or fundraiser
  3. Become an election judge
  4. Do what is right even if it is not popular
  5. Donate to liberal causes

BE FIRM AND MINDFUL – WE CAN BE THE CHANGE…

  1. Step away from unnecessary drama
  2. Block those that push your political buttons on social media, email lists, and the like
  3. Attend town halls and political events
  4. Read anything you can that will bring about change
  5. Follow Democrat influencers

BE FIRM AND MINDFUL – WE CAN BE THE CHANGE…

  1. Use your local library as a resource
  2. Purchase from liberal stores and websites
  3. Arguing with MAGA’s often does not work – they are brainwashed and can’t be reasoned with
  4. Avoid purchases with tariff
  5. Wear pearls each day for Kamala Harris, the rightful winner of the 2024 election

BE FIRM AND MINDFUL – WE CAN BE THE CHANGE…

  1. Watch or read local and national news at least once per day
  2. Write a blog
  3. Give a speech
  4. Write postcards to voters
  5. Keep reading Calamity News and Politics – we are all here to support one another…

BE FIRM AND MINDFUL – WE CAN BE THE CHANGE…

 

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Dollywood

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Dollywood

 

Dollywood

By John Curran

Broke the mold on that one, there won’t be another Dolly Parton. Fantastic in every way. Even in passing, quick, clean, complete, loved ones at her side, loved ones worldwide. If there was any smallness or meanness in her ever; she sure was a master class in holding that in check. How many can say that? Be cool, don’t be a drag, try not to let ’em see ya sweat. Try to have something still to live for, to look forward to, be vibrant til the end.

Myself, I’m working on it now as my own days are drawing to a close. I feel that now; and know that accepting some things that you don’t want to have to accept can be a lot harder than you think. The best I can hope for probably now is that my condition won’t get any worse than it already is because I’m sure that I ain’t seen nothing yet as far as suffering.

Personally, I’m just hanging on long enough to see this idiot president shown the back door, right now is motivation enough to carry on. And while one still can say some things, to have the mind still, more mind than ever on account of if you live long enough to see more and more and come at that with the experience of everything you have been privileged to have witnessed, well your voice can still carry weight.

Got to pay the dues if you wanna sing the blues and singing them blues can sure be a beautiful thing. Blues got truth, honesty, the real real, can be what ‘ya need to hear, cause it can purge doubts and demons, sadness and heartache and pain and help you carry on with that load, whatever it might be, and go on if not faster at least a little further.

Thinking about Dolly and the great, really great example she set takes my mind away from what has become otherwise a pretty dismal landscape. The thing about political leadership or lack thereof is not just the nuts and bolts of it all-but the overall tone that is put out there. Do you want to hear a lying bullying con man rattle on everyday with that mountain of garbage that is his ongoing MO? Doesn’t it suck, bad? I knew this about this guy right from the start and my question always has been why didn’t everybody see it? Or, did they just not care, about that. Like… that was not important? Well, so we sho’ living with it now.

Still though, there’s Dollywood, and all those great songs she’s left. Did I mention, she was pretty damn funny, had real wit. Gotta have that, it’s just too hard without a good joke or two thrown in here and there, with all the rest; she was great like that, Dolly was.

 

 

 

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Things I Thought I Would Never See

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Things I Thought I Would Never See 

Things I Thought I Would Never See

Seeing the Unbelievable

 

By Cate Rees-Hessel

 

Seeing The Unbelievable…

As a woman of a certain age, there are so many things that I never thought I would ever see or experience;  some bad, some good, and some in-between:

  1. Donald Trump in the White House-not just once, but twice
  2. Talking to a small round device named Alexa
  3. Setting alarms through Alexa, not an alarm clock
  4. Donald Trump in the White House
  5. The White House torn up and tacky as can be with hideous sprayed gold furnishings
  6. Storing all my files in the palm of my hand, if not smaller
  7. Dealing with a generation of people that have no idea how to read or write cursive
  8. Donald Trump in the White House
  9. Mail delivery arriving after dinner time
  10. Eggs over seven dollars a dozen, hamburger seven dollars a pound
  11. A global pandemic
  12. Donald Trump in the White House
  13. Medicare advantage plans (but are they a disadvantage?)
  14. Smart water, watches, jewelry, phones, plugs, televisions, and appliances (I remember a time when these things weren’t smart but people were…)
  15. Electric cars
  16. Donald Trump in the White House
  17. Sport Utility Vehicles
  18. Global warming – a very inconvenient truth
  19. Online learning, banking, and entertainment
  20. Donald Trump in the White House
  21. E-books on Kindle and the like
  22. Video doorbells
  23. Botox, Radiesse, Juvederm, glycolic and TCA peels, and non-surgical facelifts
  24. Donald Trump in the White House
  25. Video streaming services
  26. Retinol, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid
  27. GMO foods – the majority of store shelves contain Genetically Modified Food
  28. Donald Trump in the White House
  29. Out of control racism, sexism, and anti-semitism – back in the day, we stood on street corners and marched for equality, but unfortunately we have turned back time
  30. Geocaching – I still don’t fully get this
  31. Computers in everyone’s home (and hand)
  32. Donald Trump in the White House
  33. Over five dollars for a cup of not very fancy coffee
  34. People that call themselves Christians or even human beings wanting to see elderly, disabled, low-income, and children go hungry and without healthcare
  35. Artificial intelligence rampant in our world, including our medical and financial records
  36. Donald Trump in the White House
  37. Masked immigration agents terrorizing our nation, killing citizens on the streets of Minneapolis
  38. SPF lotions and oils to protect us from the sun’s rays, when we used to lay out to tan with baby oil and iodine
  39. Bottled water costing at least $2.00 because unfiltered tap water is unsafe
  40. Donald Trump in the White House
  41. The Epstein Files, where “adult” men have sex with children and brainwashed individuals think it’s okay
  42. The MAGA cult that can’t see the truth about a man with dementia and a complete lack of morals
  43. An insurrection because a great man and his great female VP were elected president
  44. Donald Trump in the White House
  45. Flat screen 50 plus inch televisions hanging on a wall
  46. Red light treatments, hydra facials, dermaplaning and microneedling
  47. Social media, including very cute talking cats, and silly dogs on Facebook
  48. Donald Trump in the White House
  49. Lab grown diamonds and gemstones, make mine a big one.
  50. Nose and belly button rings – I thought I was wild and crazy with double-pierced ears
  51. People that that support a convicted felon as “president”
  52. Donald Trump in the White House
  53. A demented psychopath as “leader of the free world”
  54. Java as a computer language, not just my morning coffee
  55. Umami in cooking – I honestly don’t get that
  56. Donald Trump in the White House
  57. Kimchi, kale, and pumpkin spice being all the culinary rage
  58. Water parks with slides and raging rapids, and splash pads/patios
  59. The world wide web with e-cards, e-signatures, and a wealth of information at our fingertips, some good, some bad, and some in-between
  60. Did I mention Donald Trump in the White House?

Editor: The sight and experience of Donald Trump walking the halls of the White House still creeps me out, hopefully his reign of terror is about to end. Vote! 2026 could be out last chance to save democracy.

 

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Pet Safety Advice

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Pet Safety Advice From the Experts

Pet Safety Advice From the Experts

Editor: Information from SPCA International/ Global Animal Rescue. PO Box 96222-Washington, D.C. 20077/ spcai.org/ Please, donate as often as you can-SAVE A LIFE.

By D.S. Mitchell

  • Avoid feeding your pets human food. It is not healthy for them and is a primary cause of significant weight gain, which is not good for our fur babies. The food can also contain allergens that you may be unaware of and will increase the danger to your pets.
  • Be sure to avoid giving your pet any food that contains Xylitol (an artificial sweetener). This chemical is extremely harmful to animals. Yummy human treats like ice cream can be bad news for pets. Most adult pets are lactose intolerant, and as we all know ice cream has a milk base. Furthermore, ice cream contains high levels of sugar and fat that can cause severe stomach upset, obesity, or painful pancreatitis. Certain flavors and sugar-free options also contain fatal toxins.
  • Changing seasons is a great time to check your pet’s ID tags and microchip. Just take five minutes to make sure all your pet’s information is current and in proper order.
  • Be sure to check you pet’s collar frequently, ensuring that it is not too tight causing pain and discomfort for the animal. Just as important, make sure the collar is not loose, which could cause your pet to lose the collar and possibly escape with no identification.
  • When walking or hiking with your dog be aware of wildlife, for your safety as well as your pet’s.
  • Adult deer ticks are prevalent in the late summer and fall. Deer ticks are responsible for spreading Lyme disease-which can be a danger for you and your pet. Use a tick and flea preventative spray to keep the bugs away. Ticks live in long grass, so mow your lawn regularly and confine your pets to help keep your tick problem under control.
  • Whether it is summer or winter don’t leave your pets outside for prolonged periods of time. It doesn’t take long for a pet to become overheated or too cold; particularly puppies, kittens, senior pets and smaller breeds.
  • Abandoned animals are, sadly, a part of our culture. Go to a rescue shelter and adopt an animal-SAVE A LIFE.
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The Window in Time

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The Window in TimeJimmy Carter with Anwar Sadat of Egypt.

The Window in Time

By John Curran

 

If you’ve ever seen a photo of the late Jimmy Carter in his dress whites, his formal Navy uniform, well you saw a man who looked good in uniform. And naval officer Carter also knew a little something about higher level military functioning; with a Bachelor of Science degree from Annapolis in 1946, and post graduate work in nuclear physics, Carter was well-prepared for service on the future nuclear submarine fleet. Sadly, when his father died in 1953 Carter was forced to resign his commission and return home to run the family peanut business.

He he had real first hand knowledge of what it takes to be on a serious long term deployment at sea. It’s like, he’d been there, and he knew. Carter knew what it was and he cared. Such that when he became president in 1976, right after that long nightmare called Vietnam, the people were definitely ready for some respite from all of that. The nation had to heal. With Jimmy stepping in right then, whatever else did or did not occur, healing from that rupture did begin.

Jimmy did not want war and he delivered on that. For four years it was quiet. There was no reckless misadventures occurring anywhere.  No provocations; like the stirring up of that old hornets nest in the Middle East when there was no need.  No, there was no egging ’em on just because of some misguided ego driven power play.  Jimmy would never make our troops fodder for misguided, reckless and even corrupted grand schemes. No,  Jimmy Carter knew what it was to serve, and he cared; it was evident by how he conducted affairs during his time in office. He was responsible for the Camp David Accords, the most positive bit of almost there diplomacy concerning that Arab-Israeli mess that has been achieved, before or since.

And myself, I had the great good fortune to have done my service time during his four year single term. And even though mine was a combat job, infantry rifleman, I wasn’t sweating it. It was peace time now and it felt like peace time; it really did. For one damn moment in recent time the whole damn world was not talking war shit constantly and let me tell ya’ it was sure a nice change of tone; that it was. And ya’ did even get the feeling somehow that Big Guy there in Washington, DC did give a damn about even little ‘ol line troops slogging it out on some rainy muddy hill in Hawaii in the dead middle of the darkest night ever. Not shortchanged, nor forgotten, as we soldiered on with our dummy ammo and our plastic M16’s on our little war games practice mission. No more, no less, than what we had signed up for. And we were gonna make it through ’cause this ain’t asking us to do too much, only what is really necessary, to make sure we are good and ready, for if and when the time ever does come, God forbid. Jimmy knew this. I believe that Jimmy knew this very well. And I believe too, that Jimmy really cared, cared about each and every service member, as flesh and blood.

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Women of a Certain Age-Culinary Delights

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Women of a Certain Age-

More Culinary Delights

Women of a Certain Age-

More Culinary Delights 

 

By Cate Rees-Hessel

 

  1. If you remember that choosey moms choose Jif (peanut butter), you might be a woman of a certain age…
  2. If you know who helped with the Shake and Bake Chicken…
  3. If you know what an aspic is…
  4. If you ever watched Julia Childs on PBS…
  5. If you ever ate beef Wellington…
  6. If you ever ate beef Bourguignon…
  7. If you call frozen entrees TV dinners…
  8. If you ever used a loaf of unsliced white bread to make an appetizer salad cake with layers of egg, tuna, and ham salad, frosted with cream cheese and scattered olives…
  9. If you ever ate a croquette…
  10. If you eat quiche…
  11. If you use lemon or lime Jello…
  12. If you make Jello molds for the holidays…
  13. If you have made lemon curd…
  14. If you have made shepherd’s pie…
  15. If you ever had chicken ala king…
  16. If you ever had pasta primavera…
  17. If you have a recipe for tuna casserole…
  18. If pot roast was your Sunday dinner staple…
  19. If you ever had Jiffy Pop…
  20. If you know who Chef Boyardee is…
  21. If you made pizza or spaghetti from a Kraft box…
  22. If you know that Now and Later is a confection…
  23. If your holiday dessert dish contains pretzels and strawberries…
  24. If you call stuffing dressing…
  25. If you ever ate inside a Pizza Hut…
  26. If you know what plop plop, fizz fizz relieves…
  27. If you refer to mixed drinks as a cocktail or highball…
  28. Dinner at 8?
  29. If you call appetizers hors d’oeuvres…
  30. If you ever drank tonic water with lime…
  31. If you ever drank a Manhattan…
  32. If you know what a slow gin fizz is…
  33. If you drink tap water with ice…
  34. If you just don’t get cucumber water…
  35. If you don’t understand oat milk…
  36. If you drank Tab…
  37. If you swivel off one side of your Oreo cookie to lick the white cream center…
  38. If you recall Pop Tarts with no frosting…
  39. If you know Big Boy is not just a huge steam locomotive…
  40. If you ever had an egg cream…
  41. If you like a good malted…
  42. If you know what a soda jerk is…
  43. If you ever ate at a Woolworth’s restaurant…
  44. If you have ever been to a Woolworth’s store…
  45. What makes the water smart? Did it go to school?
  46. If you know pumpkin spice is for pie, not coffee, cat food, foot scrub, or motor oil…
  47. If you ever had a chocolate Popsicle (not a fudge bar but an actual Popsicle)…
  48. If you had Spaghetti O’s with fried baloney for lunch…
  49. If your baloney had a first and last name…
  50. If you remember fruit float with Dream Whip…
  51. If you still eat Chicken in a Biskit Crackers…
  52. If you make strawberry shortcake with a biscuit…
  53. If you know what an Automat is…
  54. If you have a recipe for turkey tetrazzini…
  55. Grilled cheese with Kraft singles and Campbell’s tomato soup – need I say more? An American mainstay.
  56. Fruit Loops, Captain Crunch, Fruity Pebbles, Cookie Crisp, or Count Chocula while watching Scooby Doo, Roadrunner, Tom and Jerry, Mr. Magoo, or the Banana Splits on Saturday mornings…
  57. If you know what a banana split is…
  58. If you know what a Peanut Buster Parfait is…
  59. If you had Mr. Misties in the summer time from Dairy Queen…
  60. If you ever baked a fruit cake from scratch…

 

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Monarchs and Memories

  By , , , , , , , , , , ,

Monarchs and Memories

Monarch Butterfly

Monarchs and Memories

D. S. Mitchell

 

A Public Warning

Across his two terms, President Trump is responsible for removing protections from more than 100 million acres of public lands.  He has abolished safeguards on more than 86 million acres less than two years into his second term. Trump has slashed conservation agencies’ funding while purging land management jobs. Trump is putting beloved public lands and waterways across the country—and America’s conservation legacy—at risk of being permanently altered or destroyed. Do we really want oil rigs springing up around Yellowstone and Yosemite? I don’t think so, and if you agree, it is imperative we get this guy hog tied with congressional oversight. Please vote blue in the mid-terms.

Sharing Something Beautiful

With all that said, you might think today I would stoke up the fires on that story, but instead I’m going to discuss a lovely short essay, by Jennifer S. Kushnier. I originally saw it printed in one of those little books you see at Hallmark card stores. You know, the kind. They are usually really small and are filled with cool art, quotes, short stories or essays. Anyway, this little essay by Ms. Kushnier  reminded me of my childhood. When I was a kid, even in city neighborhoods there were plenty of vacant lots, some were quite big, really open undeveloped fields where beautiful things happened. Thank you Jennifer, your piece was lovely and brought back beautiful memories.

Butterflies by Jennifer S. Kushnier

Jennifer began her essay with the lines, “All kinds of wildflowers prospered there, from ivory Queen Anne’s lace and purple Clover, to yellow Buttercups and Black-eyed Susan’s, to burnt orange Indian Paintbrushes and those light-blue flowers that seem to be so rare these days. To this field came dozens of butterflies.”

Island Life

That little essay takes me to another time, a distant point in my childhood. When I too was very young. At that time my father managed a dairy farm on a picturesque island. Sauvie’s Island is an amazing piece of land caught between the Willamette River and the Columbia River in NW Oregon, about 20 miles west of Portland, Oregon. Most of the island is a designated wildlife refuge with a few farms, even today, in this busy industrialized time.

Protect What We Love

I can remember when the birds would take to the air, a sunny day went black. Today, on this protected island the sky will never again be so full of birds that the sky is black with their bounty. How long before the Monarch’s will be gone forever, and the Wood Duck a mere memory? I think it is imperative that we challenge the Trump Administration at every turn as they push their backward thinking fossil fuel agenda. It is dangerous for the environment. A threat to wildlife, a risk to our water supply. The gutting of the EPA could potentially poison everything we know and love. If you love the sight of a Monarch butterfly in flight, if you love the sound of a woodpecker, if you love the beauty of a Wood Duck floating on a pond, if you love the sight of an Eagle on the wing, you are not alone. Please, stand up, speak out, and stop the threat to all the wild places by the fossil fuel pushing madman.

***Thank you Jennifer S. Kushnier. I have tried to find you but I have not seen anything else you have written, but your little piece was just perfect.