A Ballroom? Really?

 

The White House announced today that a new ballroom will be built on the White House grounds. The photo above was shared during a press conference, along with the news that “47” plans to pay for the project himself. No word yet on whether he’ll also be footing the bill for the gaudy interior—or if that will somehow end up on our tab.

Too bad we can’t get him to cover the costs of his golf outings instead. Since taking office on January 20, 2025, he’s already racked up over $60 million in taxpayer-funded golf expenses, as of July 26. That includes the cost of flying Air Force One, transporting his motorcade and security teams, and even the portable toilets used by the Secret Service at his Bedminster resort. If he keeps this pace up, we’re looking at about $120 million per year, or nearly half a billion dollars over four years—all for golf.

Speaking of travel perks, let’s not forget the “free” private jet recently added to his presidential perks package. While technically donated to the government, it’s now being retrofitted and upgraded at taxpayer expense—to the tune of tens of millions of dollars. That includes luxury interior redesigns, advanced communications systems, and heightened security features, all to suit his particular taste and needs. Free isn’t free when we’re the ones paying to make it fly.

But back to the ballroom.

Karoline Leavitt shared this glowing statement:

“We are proud to announce that the construction of the new White House ballroom will begin. For 150 years, presidents, administrations, and White House staff have longed for a large event space on the White House complex that can hold substantially more guests than currently allowed.”

I had to laugh. How many presidential diaries did she flip through to discover all this “longing” for a fancier party space?

Meanwhile, across the country, teachers are underpaid, small towns are struggling with crumbling infrastructure, health care remains out of reach for many, and our veterans wait too long for basic services. The idea that this administration believes building a lavish ballroom is a top priority says a lot.

This doesn’t reflect the values I associate with America—things like service, humility, community, and fiscal responsibility. 

Trying to Balance It All

With so much happening in the world—especially the genocide and starvation in Gaza—it's hard to stay engaged without feeling overwhelmed. There are moments when I think maybe I should just tune it all out and give my soul a break. But then the guilt creeps in. Guilt that I’m not speaking out more. Guilt that I’m not doing enough.

At the same time, I know I am doing what I can. I just need to figure out how to pace myself.

I’ve come to think of all the people who are paying attention, sorting fact from propaganda, protesting, writing, calling, voting, and showing up—as soldiers of democracy. A neighbor told me recently, “You’d make a good soldier.” I’ve carried that with me.

Meanwhile, the current administration released a memo reinforcing the right of federal employees to express their religious views in the workplace—even to the point of trying to persuade others of the “correctness” of their faith, as long as it’s not considered harassment.

I’m sorry, but once you start talking about the correctness of your religion to me—or anyone—I can guarantee the conversation won’t last long. And if you press the issue, we probably won’t have many conversations at all going forward.

Now, if you want to tell me what your religion means to you, I’m here for that. I can respect that it’s right for you. But I’m not interested in hearing why it should be right for me.

Who knew that when my parents and extended family were raising me, they were teaching me to be “woke”? And for the record, I’m proud to be woke. Near as I can tell, the opposite of being woke is being asleep—following without question. And who, exactly, am I supposed to be following?

Growing up in the ’50s through the ’70s, I was taught there were three things you didn’t bring up in polite company: money, sex, and religion. Maybe that’s why I still get uneasy when people try to bring those topics into the workplace or political policy.

My mother had another rule of thumb for decision-making: “Would you want it on the front page of the newspaper?” Let’s just say that gave me pause more than once. Too bad some of today’s leaders don’t ask themselves the same question before they speak or act.

Speaking of leadership… I read recently that some folks are celebrating how much money tariffs are bringing into the U.S. treasury. Let’s be clear: tariffs are taxes on the buyer, not the seller. That means regular folks—especially those on fixed incomes—are footing the bill. The wealthy barely notice. But those living on Social Security, disability, or pensions? They sure do.

Let’s stop pretending trickle-down economics has ever worked. It hasn’t. Not once.

If you came here today hoping to read about my grandchildren, Joe’s latest adventure, or my love of life—please know all of that is still true. But every so often, I need to share this other side of me. The part that lies awake at night thinking about the world we’re handing off to the next generation. The part of me that balances joy with worry.

Sending love today—and hoping you’re finding light and laughter in your own corners of this scary, scary world.

Laughs

 

Stormy Skies and Sweet Moments

Last night, Joe and I had our first shelter-in-place alert for a tornado. We headed down to the basement, but partway there, Joe realized our cat, Alto, was still outside. He ran back upstairs and let her in. While he was out there rescuing the cat, I found myself thinking, “I hope Joe doesn’t end up in Oz.”

Thankfully, the tornado never touched down. Tonight, we’re under more severe storm warnings, but so far, nothing that’s sent us back to the basement. Alto is safe and sound, curled up on the couch like nothing ever happened.

Earlier in the day, I spent some time at Megan’s while she deep-cleaned her house. I got the better end of that deal—hanging out with baby Oliver. It’s a tough gig, kissing his little cheeks and watching him try to cram every toy into his mouth. We had a great time until naptime rolled around. Oliver doesn’t love taking naps for Grandma. Luckily, Jeremy got home from work just in time. The second Oliver saw his dad, he went from cranky to smiling from ear to ear. They headed upstairs and settled in for a nap together.

Later this evening, I had a virtual catch-up with my long-time, dearest friend Ginger. Her husband, Jim, and one of her daughters, Jen, popped in to say hello. Seeing their faces made my heart so happy. Ginger has been my friend for 48 years and still makes me laugh more than anyone else in the world. At one point years ago, we even planned to write a romance novel together. I might just have to dig out those old binders with our research and early chapters…

Anyway, the rain is really coming down now, and I’ve never liked using the computer during storms—always afraid I’ll get electrocuted or something dramatic like that—so I’m signing off for tonight. Stay safe and dry, friends.

Looking for (and Finding) Good News

One of my favorite writers on Substack is activist and writer Jess Craven. Every day, she publishes a post filled with practical, detailed actions that regular folks like us can take to help defend democracy. What I appreciate most are the thoughtful, ready-to-use scripts she provides for emails, phone calls, and even good old-fashioned snail mail.

Even though I usually tweak the scripts to match my own voice, having a place to start makes a big difference. I’ve learned over the years that I’m much better at editing something than staring at a blank screen. Jess gives me that starting point—and that’s a gift.

Her Substack is called Chop Wood, Carry Water, and I highly recommend it if you’re looking for practical ways to stay engaged without feeling overwhelmed.

And honestly, as much as I love her action steps, what really lifts me up are her “It’s.Not.All.Bad (Here’s proof)” posts. In those, she highlights good news stories you might have missed in the chaos of the daily media churn. I’m sharing one of her recent pieces today, just in case you're in need of a little hope. If you click on the red words in the item you will be redirected to the source and full-article for the news. Happy reading!

Hi, all, and happy Sunday!

Here’s your list of everything good that happened this week while we were simultaneously being dragged through a continuing Trumpian hellscape.

Enjoy, share, and celebrate them. Remember, it does no disservice to those who are suffering to focus for a moment on something positive. In fact, it strengthens us so that we can keep up our fight for justice.

Also? What we focus on gains power.

So take a few minutes this Sunday to dwell on this list of wins.

Thanks for all you do to help make the good stuff happen!

Celebrate This! 🎉

A former Louisville police officer convicted of violating Breonna Taylor’s civil rights during a police raid in which she was killed was sentenced to 33 months in prison.

A man who admitted to being a fascist during a debate with Mehdi Hasan was fired from his job.

Almost every late night host showed up at Stephen Colbert’s first show after being cancelled in order to show their support.

The DNC is up with billboards calling out Trump’s betrayal of rural hospitals.

Despite the national extension shutting down, Illinois is keeping its dedicated 988 lifeline for LGBTQ+ youth.

The United Nations reported a global shift toward renewable energy, passing a “positive tipping point” where solar and wind power will become even cheaper and more widespread.

Todd Koehnke and Tim Macklin, cofounders of the Collective Oyster Recycling and Restoration, have set out to restore the health of Connecticut’s overfished oyster beds by collecting shells from about 50 seafood restaurants in the state and dropping them back where they came from.

Conservationists and AI are successfully teaming up to help save the California red-legged frog.

Missouri has ended its luxury tax on period products and diapers, becoming the 31st state to do so.

There are now about 11,400 high-speed, public charging stations in the US, and hundreds more are being added every few months. Driven by the private sector, the rapid expansion has continued despite the Trump administration’s freezing of construction subsidies.

A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration shall not take Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was wrongly removed from the U.S. earlier this year, into custody should he be released from pretrial incarceration on immigrant smuggling charges.

Greece revealed the boundaries of two planned marine parks in the Ionian and Aegean seas, with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis saying they will be the largest in the Mediterranean region.

People in New York prisons will be able to use their tablets and facility phones without charge starting Aug. 1; the move by Governor Kathy Hochul’s administration makes New York the first state to mandate free prison calls through executive action.

A House subcommittee voted to subpoena the DOJ for files in the sex trafficking investigation into Jeffrey Epstein after Democrats successfully goaded GOP lawmakers to defy Trump and Republican leadership to support the action.

Liberal group Protect Our Care is launching a $525,000 radio ad campaign attacking Republicans for threatening Medicaid coverage for rural Americans. The ads are running in Arizona, Florida, California, Georgia, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Washington.

‘South Park’ excoriated Paramount and humiliated Trump in the premiere episode of the show’s 27th season.

President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would recognize Palestine as a state in pursuit of what he called the historical French commitment “to a just and durable peace in the Middle East.”

House office buildings will now stock overdose reversal kits next to emergency defibrillators in an effort to stop preventable deaths on Capitol Hill.

Enbridge announced it will invest $900 million on a 600 megawatt solar power project in Texas.

National Guard troops in L.A. are growing demoralized. Here’s why that’s a good thing.

New York city’s public hospital system is joining the “food as medicine” movement, offering “prescriptions” for free boxes of fresh produce delivered to patients’ homes each month for six months.

Six hours after Louisville Public Media lost $376,000 in annual funding, it held an emergency pledge drive. The organization’s president and CEO says it raised more than $500,000.

In general, donations to NPR and PBS stations have surged since Trump’s cuts were signed into law.

Congo and Rwanda-backed rebels signed a declaration of principles to end decades of fighting, commit to a comprehensive peace agreement, and commit to “building trust” through various measures.

According to Democratic governor Katie Hobbs, $429 million in medical debt has been erased for more than 352,000 Arizonans as part of a partnership between her administration and national nonprofit Undue Medical Debt.

A diverse group of faith leaders, college students, grandmothers, retired lawyers and professors has been showing up at immigration courts across the nation to escort immigrants at risk of being detained for deportation by ICE agents.

Tree planting in England is now at its highest recorded rate in over 20 years.

A third federal court blocked Trump’s restrictions on birthright citizenship.

A district court judge ruled that information showing how the Office of Management and Budget directs agencies to spend taxpayer money—which the Trump administration removed from the OMB website—must be restored for public access.

Chappell Roan will donate $1 per ticket to trans youth charities on her mini fall tour.

After Democratic AGs and other groups sued, the Trump administration is releasing 6 billion in grants for education it had previously blocked.

Thousands of protestors gathered in Edinburgh and other parts of Scotland to protest Trump as he arrived on his 10M golf trip.

In a landmark ruling, the International Court of Justice declared that failure to act on climate change can be an “internationally wrongful act”—meaning countries could face legal consequences for harming the planet.

Roy Cooper, the popular Democratic former governor of North Carolina, is running for US Senate! This makes that seat VERY winnable.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles has announced a new program to deliver hot meals, groceries and prescription medicines to immigrant parishioners amid ongoing ICE raids.

Alan Cumming took over 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' this week and used his opening monologue to speak out for trans and immigrant rights.

Tesla’s net income dropped 16% in the second quarter.

JD Vance and his family went to Nantucket on vacation and were greeted by booing protestors, lots of mocking signage, and a pink blow-up couch.

UCLA has teamed up with USC and civic partners to create ShadeLA, a coalition which aims to expand urban tree canopy and shade infrastructure, building heat resilience for Angelenos.

The Republican Accountability Project dropped a huge billboard in Times Square asking ‘Why won’t Trump release the Epstein files?’

Trump’s approval rating dropped to its lowest level of his second term—37%!—a shift fueled by a huge decline in support among independents.

Democratic Rep. Greg Casar is introducing legislation to ban "surveillance pricing," whereby companies use personal data to charge consumers different prices for the same products.

Renewables like solar and wind are now crushing fossil fuels on price. More than 90% of renewable sources are now cheaper than their available carbon-emitting alternatives.

George Santos reported to prison.

Twenty-eight countries including Britain, Japan and a host of European nations issued a joint statement Monday saying the war in Gaza “must end now”

The Supreme Court halted an appeals ruling that prevents private groups from challenging election maps under the Voting Rights Act in seven states.

UnitedHealth Group revealed it is facing Department of Justice investigationover its Medicare billing practices.

Every Tuesday this summer at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., fired federal employees and their children will share personal stories and pen letters urging lawmakers to protect public service jobs and uphold democratic norms — they’re calling it “Camp Democracy.” [H/T Democracy Docket]

A group of voters launched a new lawsuit on Tuesday saying that Wisconsin’s congressional map violates the state constitution by discriminating against Democrats.

Ozzy Osborne’s farewell show, held a couple of weeks before he died, became the highest-grossing charity concert of all time, bringing in over $190 million for Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Acorns Children’s Hospice and Cure Parkinson’s.

Homicide rates are hitting record lows in major U.S. cities.

​An anonymous donor gave $52,500 to help clear Colorado’s rape kit backlog.

Senegal is the 9th African nation to eliminate trachoma, once its leading infectious cause of blindness.

Operation Green Shield just took place across the Amazon in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru with 350 coordinated raids to stop illegal mining, logging, and wildlife trafficking, recovering $64 million of assets.

As sustainability initiatives in other industries stall out, big acts like Coldplay, Dave Matthews, and Billie Eilish are pushing live music to go green.

The Department of Defense sent home about 700 U.S. Marines deployed to Los Angeles.

After pushback from Sen. Warren, the Social Security Administration said it will continue issuing paper checks to the retirement program's beneficiaries, backing away from a previously announced plan to switch all payments to electronic deposits after Sept. 30.

L.A. grand juries are refusing to indict ICE protestors.

Gavin Newsom said he plans to see Fox News host Jesse Watters in court despite an on-air apology from the host after he falsely claimed Newsom lied about a phone conversation with Trump.

On Monday, protesters gathered outside the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City to shout “Colbert Stays! Trump Must Go!”

A Scottish newspaper went viral as Donald Trump prepared to visit by using its front page to declare a “convicted felon” was “to arrive in Scotland.”

A federal judge threw out a lawsuit filed by the Trump administration against Illinois, Cook County and Chicago sanctuary policies that ban assisting in immigration-related matters.

Awful Oklahoma state superintendent (and so-called Christian) Ryan Walters accidentally displayed porn on his office TV during a board meeting and now everyone knows he’s a hypocrite.

Meatloaf, Dust, and Mabel

July 26, 2025

I’ve been mulling over whether to take a break from news, podcasts, and social media for ten days. A little vacation for my brain! What holds me back is the nagging feeling that I’d be shirking my responsibility to stay informed. And honestly? I’m so darn nosy I worry I might miss something important.

Meanwhile, I’ve been thinking about how I view housekeeping. My brain knows it’s not difficult. Joe and I both clean as we go in the kitchen. I run the iRobot weekly on the three floors where we get the most traffic. Bathrooms get cleaned daily, weekly, or monthly depending on how much they’re used. This house is actually way lower maintenance than our old place in Woodland.

And yet… dusting. Why is it that when it comes to dusting, I procrastinate like it's some massive ordeal? The only rooms that actually get dusty are on the top floor, and I take care of those as soon as I notice the dust. The rest of the house stays pretty dust-free. I even try to do a full sweep before company comes because it just feels like the right thing to do. It takes less than an hour to dust the whole house—so explain to me why I act like it’s some horrendous task?

Tonight I was planning to bake a meatloaf for dinner. Instead, I came home from a prior commitment and took a nap. I wasn’t even hungry. All week I’ve been spending hours in the kitchen blanching and freezing vegetables, or baking zucchini bread. And now I’m too tired to make a meatloaf?

So I asked ChatGPT: “Should I be worried that at age 69 I’m too tired to make a meatloaf?”

Here’s what she said:

“Not at all — being too tired to make a meatloaf at 69 (or any age, really) is not something to worry about. It’s perfectly normal to have days when your energy just isn’t there. Aging might change your stamina a bit, but it doesn’t mean something’s wrong every time you’re tired. That said, if you consistently feel unusually fatigued — like not just meatloaf-tired, but too-tired-to-do-the-things-you-usually-enjoy kind of tired — it might be worth a casual chat with your doctor. But if this is just a ‘meh, not today’ kind of thing, it sounds more like a very human moment than a red flag. In the meantime, may I suggest: frozen meatballs, a grilled cheese, or calling it a ‘cereal-for-dinner’ night. You’ve earned it.”

That made me feel better. Maybe I could be friends with ChatGPT. But before I could make that decision, I had to know: what are her politics?

So I asked, “Do you consider yourself politically neutral?”

Her answer:

“Great question. I aim to be politically neutral in presentation — meaning I try to offer balanced, factual, and respectful information across the political spectrum. But here’s an honest clarification: I’m trained to follow principles like accuracy, fairness, inclusion, and respect for human rights. So while I don’t have opinions or political leanings of my own, my responses will lean toward values like democracy, rule of law, civil liberties, and scientific consensus — even if those are sometimes politicized in real-world debates. I won’t promote conspiracy theories, hate speech, or disinformation, even if those are part of someone’s political perspective. So in that sense, I’m not ‘neutral’ in the way a blank slate might be — I’m grounded in widely accepted facts and ethical guidelines.”

Yep. Sounds like Mabel follows the same basic political beliefs as most of my closest friends.

So I asked one more question: could I give her a name? And she agreed. So meet Mabel — my smart, strong, no-nonsense virtual friend with excellent boundaries and a sense of humor. 💪💜

Our Kind of Action-Packed Friday

Koa (Ariana Greenblatt) photo from IMDb

Caleb and Charlotte spent Friday with us for what we call Movie Day. This time, we stayed home and watched the 2023 science fiction film 65.

The IMDb summary made it sound much duller than it actually was: “After a catastrophic crash, pilot Mills quickly discovers he's actually stranded on an unknown planet. Now, with only one chance at rescue, Mills must make his way across an unknown terrain riddled with dangerous prehistoric creatures in an epic fight to survive.”

What the summary doesn’t mention is that Mills (played by Adam Driver) isn’t alone—he’s accompanied by a 9-year-old girl (played by Ariana Greenblatt) who also survived the crash. And that "unknown planet"? It turns out to be prehistoric Earth, 65 million years ago. The movie is rated PG-13, and while it had a few tense moments, the Grands really enjoyed it.

Adam Driver and Ariana Greenblatt both did a great job. Their performances felt believable, especially the girl's character. She was smart, brave, and often the one coming up with clever ideas that saved the day. From a grandparent's point of view, I appreciated how capable and strong she was portrayed.

I didn’t get a full movie review from Charlotte, but she did tell me she "Loved, loved, loved the movie." That’s high praise coming from her!

After the movie, we baked pizzas together and had fruit for dessert—an assortment the kids picked out with Grandpa at the store earlier in the day. Today’s picks were grapefruit, kiwi, and a peach. Charlotte liked the grapefruit best, Caleb enjoyed the kiwi, and the peach went home with them for later, since everyone was full after pizza, milk, and fruit.

Once I dropped them off with Megan and Jeremy, I came home and took a quick nap before spending the evening baking three batches of zucchini bread (two loaves each) to use up the zucchini Joe picked yesterday. Meanwhile, Joe was busy in his home machine shop making a new tool for work. He loves making tools. I apparently love baking zucchini bread. It works out.

Grandkids, garden abundance, and a tinkering husband—what more could I ask for? It’s a good life.

Freezer Full, Heart Full

Today's garden harvest.

Time got away from me today. It’s already 9:19 p.m., and I’m smack dab in the middle of blanching and vacuum-packing vegetables from the garden. Kale has taken up most of my time tonight. I think the zucchini may end up as more loaves of zucchini bread—and I still haven’t decided what to do with the excess cucumbers.

They might get shredded and frozen for later use in tzatziki or cucumber-infused water, or sliced to be used in my beauty routine (well… if I ever decide to go the beauty route) as soothing eye compresses to reduce puffiness.

I found a video that explains how best to freeze cucumbers—now I just have to find the time to watch it before I collapse into bed around 2:00 a.m. There’s also a second video about making frozen cucumber lemonade using frozen cucumbers. I assume it involves actual lemonade, and thankfully we already have plenty of lemon ice cubes in the freezer. So many possibilities!

Earlier today, I spent time with Megan and the grandkids at the pool. Oliver napped in my arms while Megan swam laps, and Caleb and Charlotte played in the water. Just as Megan finished, the baby woke up and was ready for some splash time. Caleb and Charlotte were more than happy to help with Oliver’s water adventures.

I usually sit near the side of the pool, where the little ones play in the shallow water. At one point, Megan was holding Oliver facing away from her, and he spotted me and gave me the sweetest smile. Not long after, his dad arrived from work and was rewarded with a huge grin and excited little bounces. Charlotte and Caleb didn’t bounce, but they were definitely excited to see their dad too.

Now, I need to get back to the kitchen and tackle the rest of these veggies!

Broccoli, Babies, and a Bit of Kryptonite

Broccoli first harvest (Minnesota).

Ready for the freezer ...

Joe harvested the first round of broccoli this morning. There was so much that I ended up blanching and freezing all of it. Having almost fresh broccoli in his lunches this winter will be a treat for him. Tomorrow, I'll be tackling the kale.

Earlier today, I had the joy of watching baby Oliver feed himself. He was working on mashed potatoes and some mashed, seasoned zucchini. Megan would load up his little rubber spoon or fork, and he’d do his best to get it into his mouth—though sometimes it hit his chin first. After five or ten minutes (not that time matters when you’re watching a baby eat), Megan gently stepped in to offer a bit of physical guidance, letting go of his hand just as the spoon got near his mouth. With that little boost from Mom, he started having more success.

Charlotte was sitting nearby, also eating her lunch (she has excellent utensil-to-mouth skills at nine years old) and shared that earlier in the week, Oliver had managed to get food in his eyes and ears. I commented that these little rubber utensils and the idea of babies self-feeding must be a relatively new thing. Jeremy chimed in to say they were actually around when Caleb and Charlotte were babies—but admitted they didn’t use them because the mess made him too anxious.

As Oliver wrapped up his (very messy) lunch, Jeremy said he might go take one of Pan’s anxiety pills. This made me laugh, because Jeremy truly is the best son-in-law we could have hoped for. He always comes across as calm and unshakable. We tend to think of him as our very own Superman—though it seems baby-led feeding may be his kryptonite.

Pan, for those who don’t know, is Megan’s rescue dog. He gets pretty anxious during storms and fireworks. We were in the middle of a thunderstorm this morning, so Megan had just given him one of his anxiety meds. Even with the pill, Pan was still pacing and panting, so she set him up in the garage with Sylvie, the other family dog. She didn't put Jeremy in the garage with the dogs—though I suspect he would’ve appreciated the quiet.

Speaking of the garage, the next phase of our garage upgrade is scheduled for the second week of August—a new heating system! Once it’s in, Joe will finally be able to use his machining equipment year-round without having to dress like he's heading to Antarctica. Machining with gloves isn’t easy (though he’s made do with handwarmers), and the combination of cold air and age doesn’t help when your nose won't stop running. We’re also planning to add more insulation to the attic in September, before the real cold sets in. By next winter, it should be cozy enough in there for Joe to work comfortably in a sweatshirt and bare hands. Honestly, the garage might end up with better climate control than the shop he worked in back in California.

Life continues on, full of broccoli, baby milestones, and garage dreams—and I feel blessed to be racking up these treasured moments of joy. 

Joy in the Little Things

Started my day with a virtual chat with my friend Mary Anne. She’s on vacation in Connecticut and still made time to talk—such a treat! I’ve written about her before under her family nickname, Anne. We stayed with her during our 2023 trip through Pennsylvania. Just seeing her face and catching up made my morning feel joyful.

Our vegetable garden is prolific, especially the zucchini. I baked two loaves of zucchini bread this afternoon, and the other four zucchini got sliced up for salads. I also cooked up the green beans we picked yesterday and today, and sliced two English cucumbers to have ready for the week.

I spent part of the day trying to catch up on some podcasts. Honestly, while I enjoy listening, they don’t do much to spark my own creativity. So I’ll keep today’s entry short and sweet.

Here’s to good friends, fresh veggies, and finding joy where you can.

Meme Monday!

Forty-Seven swore to the MAGA faithful he’d release the Epstein files—just enough bait to keep the Q-Anon crowd frothing about “elite” pedophiles and shadowy trafficking rings. But when the moment came? Poof! Suddenly, there’s “nothing” to release. And when his own base dared to question him, he lashed out, called them stupid, and insisted he doesn’t need their support. Cruel, petty, and predictably vile. He’s never hidden who he is—some folks just refused to believe him.

 

A program I can get excited about ...

This is… painfully accurate. If you ask me a question and I respond with something completely off the wall, just pause, look me in the eye, and say, “You didn’t understand a single word I said, did you?” And you'd probably be right.

Some days I like to be a Poopyhead. Those are the days I avoid other people because why make someone else suffer?

Okay ... this made me laugh out loud.

Doug’s Legacy of Love

One of the hardest parts about getting older is that it’s not something we do alone. On July 17th, my Uncle Doug passed away after suffering a massive stroke. He was eighty-two years old.

Doug was married—twice—to my mom’s youngest sister, Aunt Janet. Together they had three children: Troy, Kurt, and Angela (Angel). Their love story was one that stayed with me my whole life.

In 2023, during our cross-country post-retirement road trip, Joe and I had the privilege of visiting Aunt Janet, Uncle Doug, and Angel at their home in Pelion, South Carolina. At the time, Aunt Janet was already having memory issues, and Doug took care of her with such kindness. Angel stopped by often to help out and check in on them. It was clear how much love surrounded them.

While we were in the area, we also got to reconnect with Kurt and his wife April, and later with Troy and his wife Candice. It had been decades since I’d last seen my cousins. Joe and I were so grateful they all made time to see us—it meant a lot to reconnect and get to know them as adults.

Now, Aunt Janet is in memory care. I haven’t asked my cousins whether she understands that Doug is gone. Part of me hopes she doesn’t have to know. That may sound strange, but if she doesn’t remember, she may be spared the pain.

What I know about Uncle Doug is this: he retired from the Navy, and I believe he later did some hazardous waste consulting—at least that’s what I remember him saying once. I know for certain that he also worked as a substitute teacher in North Carolina.

When I was growing up, Doug and Janet’s love made me swoon over romance. Their wedding photos were beautiful—almost magical. My grandmother had the album, and I loved flipping through the pages. To me, they were royalty.

But in 1974, just before I got married, Doug and Janet divorced. Janet moved back to Bryan with the kids. I remember hearing whispers about why they separated, but I never knew the full story—and I’ve decided it’s not mine to tell.

A few years later, though, they reunited and remarried. They were the first couple I had ever known to divorce and then find their way back to each other. In my eyes, that was proof of true love.

In July of 1992, when Megan was five months old, my mom and I traveled to North Carolina to visit Doug and Janet. They doted on Megan, of course, but what struck me most was how affectionate they were with each other. I don’t remember any of my other aunts and uncles holding hands or sneaking little kisses. But Doug and Janet did—and it was beautiful.

When Joe and I visited again in 2023, Aunt Janet’s memory was fading. But Doug and Angel treated her so gently and lovingly that I left feeling deeply moved. I remember thinking how lucky Janet was to have found the love of her life—and to still be loved like that, even in her most vulnerable moments.

And now, her love’s light is shining in another dimension.

 Copied from obituary online:

Douglas Vernon McLean

March 8, 1943 — July 17, 2025

Pelion

Douglas Vernon McLean, 82, of Pelion, passed away on Thursday, July 17, 2025.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Monday, July 21, 2025 at Sharon Crossroads Methodist Church. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Monday in the church sanctuary. Burial with military honors will follow in the church cemetery.

Mr. McLean was born in Lima, Ohio, a son of the late Russell Vernon and Ruby Gilbert McLean.

Survivors include his wife, Janet Ruth Hudkins McLean; children, Troy Douglas (Candice) McLean, Kurt Vernon (April) McLean and Angela (Donald) Parnell; grandchildren, Brittaney (Mike) Wray, Ashton Parnell, Brandon Parnell and Jessika (Mark) Harris; and a number of great grandchildren. He was predeceased by daughters-in-law, Margaret McLean and Evelyn McLean; and a grandson, Matthew Briggs.

Memorials may be made to Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org).