A Capitalist Myth

When people complain about immigrants "taking American jobs," I wonder if they ever stop to ask why Americans aren’t applying for those same jobs in the first place. Ask any farmer how many white applicants they get for field work. Most would love to hire locally—they’d save money on government fees and the hassle of bringing in workers from other countries. But they can’t find enough willing hands. That’s the real issue.

Immigrants and poor Americans take on the work that others refuse to do. And make no mistake—doing any job well requires skill. I’ve shared before my half-day attempt at picking strawberries. Fifty-three years later, I still give thanks for farm workers every time I pass by a field. No meal feels complete without acknowledging the farmers and laborers who made it possible.

So, do you think the pay has something to do with it? Or is it that some jobs are considered beneath them? Some people would rather make zero dollars than take work they see as an insult to their aspirations.

The reality is, this country was built—and is still running—because of people willing to do the so-called “unskilled” labor. Yet, society idolizes billionaires, as if they built their fortunes alone. Let’s be real—not a single one of them did it without employees. And I’d bet good money most of them couldn’t have done it at all without workers willing to get their hands dirty.

Penny for Your Thoughts

I'm not a football fan, but I know plenty of people who are. Interestingly, even they skipped yesterday’s Super Bowl 2025. I’ve seen mixed reactions about the halftime show—some say it was the best ever, others say it was the worst. As for the game itself, I’m happy for the Eagles and feel for the Chiefs. In the end, there’s always a winner and a loser. 

But at the end of the day, it’s just a game—unlike what’s happening in Washington, D.C. Right now, those celebrating the current political actions may not be so thrilled when they start feeling the consequences firsthand. I’ve been making calls to representatives, posting on Facebook, and engaging with social media to help amplify important discussions. Good thing I’m retired—otherwise, I wouldn’t have time to stay on top of the news. 

To balance the frustration and anger I feel over threats to financial privacy and the shutdown of major programs like USAID and the Consumer Protection Agency, I turn to meditation and podcasts. Still, I know life is bigger than politics, even when the decisions being made will shape our country for years to come. But tuning it all out feels impossible. If I step away, will I have done enough? 

And now, even football has become politicized. Which brings me to today’s question: With the discontinuation of the penny, will everything now be priced in nickel increments, or does that only apply to cash transactions? How will it affect sales tax for those who still pay in cash? Will stores round up or down? And will pennies become more valuable over time as they become rarer? 

As if there wasn’t already enough on my mind—now I’ll be wondering about the economic impact of losing the penny.

Memes This Week

 

I can’t believe Musk is claiming he uncovered $100 billion in Social Security fraud—supposedly paid to people without a Social Security number or any other ID. Like… does he even know how Social Security works? Retirement benefits are based on what you’ve earned, so how would they even calculate payments without an SSN? And disability? That’s a whole other beast—an insanely long and complicated process. People I know have waited years to get approved, and guess what? You need a Social Security number. Even newborns get one.

I think many folks in the 47’s base don’t seem to understand how Social Security actually works. The best part? So many people are calling out Musk’s nonsense, and I’m here for it.

https://www.youtube.com/user/AmerMedicalAssn

Yay! I appreciate alternative sites to get information that the current administration has deemed unecesssary. Thank you AMA.

https://stopproject2025comic.org

Off the Grid

Today, I made the choice to stay off of my computer and read in my bedroom. We have lots of places we can read in. Joe will often sit in the living room or in the family room to read.

I prefer our bedroom. Reading in my room reminds me of my teen years when I would escape the common areas full of one or more other members of our family of seven. Reading in the bedroom satisfies my introvert soul.

Instead of reading, I listened to an eleven episode podcast - Hooked - about Tony Hathaway’s addiction journey. From his career as an engineer at Boeing through the thirty bank robberies he committed to fund his addiction. It all started with a sports related back injury and prescription for OxyContin. 

This strikes close to home as my father was a prescription drug addict after a work injury shattered his pelvis and he was prescribed Talwin. He took the drug for approximately ten years, with the dosage gradually increasing from 5cc a week (injectable) in 1966 to 25cc a day by 1976. During the time he used Talwin he did not resort to robbing banks.

Instead he attended a trade school, finishing a 2-year program in eighteen months, and was able to land a job as a quality inspector. Still, his addiction was hard for him and for his family. 

The Hooked podcast was therapeutic for me. The opportunity to hear an addiction story first hand from the addicts viewpoint gave me insight into my dad’s addiction.

I wrote this blog entry on my mobile phone as I wanted to avoid firing up the computer. 

Don't Worry, Be Happy

 

I had a lovely and much needed break from politics today.

This afternoon I spent time visiting with Megan, Shasta, and Jeremy while holding our newest grandchild. Oliver is 23 days old today. He also happens to be the most beautiful and sweetest baby in the world. The timing of my visit was terrific as the older grandchildren, Caleb and Charlotte, arrived home from school during the baby visit. I had a triple dose of grandchild time!

Speaking Up

 

This week, two individuals reached out to express their appreciation for my presence on social media. Both are from a different generation than mine and live in different states. They are feeling disheartened and overwhelmed by the current state of affairs in Washington, D.C., and they wanted me to know that my voice has provided them with a sense of connection and encouragement.

Their messages serve as a powerful reminder that none of us exist in a vacuum. The words we share, the values we uphold, and the stands we take can resonate far beyond what we might expect. Even when it feels like we are just one small voice in a vast sea of opinions, we never know who might be drawing strength from our willingness to speak out.

I am fully aware that my perspective may put distance between me and certain family members, and I am entirely at peace with that. My purpose is not to cater to those who refuse to acknowledge the realities unfolding around them. Just as they are entitled to their beliefs, I will continue to stand firmly for democracy, decency, and kindness—principles that I refuse to compromise.

Today, I came across yet another reminder of the ripple effect that courage can have. A simple meme celebrated the idea that when one person dares to take a stand for what is right, it empowers others to do the same. It reinforced what I have already been experiencing firsthand—our voices matter, and even in challenging times, speaking out can inspire and uplift those who need it most.

We are currently experience collective fatigue from the first three weeks of 47's presidency. Langston Hughes' poem Tired is a brief yet powerful reflection on exhaustion—both physical and emotional—stemming from racial oppression and the struggles of everyday life. Hughes, a central figure of the Harlem Renaissance, often wrote about the experiences of Black Americans, and Tired encapsulates a sense of deep, wearied resignation. Today this poem can be applied to political news.

While the poem itself is short, its meaning is layered with themes of fatigue, perseverance, and disillusionment. Below is a breakdown of its key elements:

1. Theme of Exhaustion and Oppression

The word "tired" in the title and throughout the poem suggests more than just physical fatigue; it represents the emotional and psychological burden of systemic racism and inequality. Hughes often wrote about the struggles of Black Americans, and in this poem, the speaker’s exhaustion likely stems from enduring racial injustice, economic hardship, and social marginalization.

2. Weariness as a Collective Experience

The poem speaks not only to an individual experience but also to a collective one. The exhaustion expressed in Tired could reflect the shared fatigue of an entire community that has been fighting for basic rights, dignity, and equality. Hughes captures the weight of generational struggles—of a people constantly forced to endure hardship without rest.

3. Sparse and Direct Language

Hughes' use of simple, direct language mirrors the blunt reality of exhaustion. There is no embellishment, no unnecessary detail—just a raw admission of being tired. This straightforward style makes the poem relatable and emotionally powerful.

4. Possible Allusions to Perseverance

While the poem focuses on fatigue, Hughes often wove resilience into his works. The act of naming the exhaustion, of acknowledging it, could suggest that despite being weary, the struggle continues. His poetry frequently balances despair with hope, implying that even though the speaker is tired, the fight for justice and equality does not end.

• 
  

Break Time

Taking a break from the news and from writing on this day. Watching fluffy flakes of snow right now from the warmth of our sunroom. The snow is expected for the next four hours. Soon it will be time to hop on a zoom meeting - the topic is Truth Warriors 2025: “Fighting Disinformation w/Nick Knudsen, Executive Director of Demcast & Truth Brigade “

I

Responding to a Musk Supporter

Why do we live in different political realities? I have been wondering about this for the last eight years. I am really feeling this right now since Musk violated the laws of our country by accessing information, he has no legal or ethical right to possess unless I decide to give it to him. In my world EVERYONE is outraged. In my world nobody would want this to happen. I was, surprise-surprise, wrong. It seems there is at least one person that thinks Musk is doing the right thing.

One of my cousin’s posted a message on Facebook:

Elon Musk is a Special Government Employee.” What does that mean?

One of her Facebook friends (male, white) commented that he trusts Elon Musk more than anyone else to do the job of auditing our government programs and finances and gave his reasons why. Obviously, I do not agree that Musk is trustworthy nor do I believe that any one person should be given the power to have access to citizens private information.

Here is my response to the points made by this individual. I first present the statement they used to justify Musk’s qualifications, followed by my rebuttal. I am sharing this for those who may find it helpful to counter arguments in support of Musk as he continues to violate the law and the Constitution.

1. "Elon has more money than he can spend, he doesn’t need your identity or your money."

Wealth does not equate to ethical behavior or disinterest in power and control. Historically, billionaires and large corporations have collected user data not for personal wealth but for influence, control, and monetization. Data is more valuable than money in the digital age.

Musk's ventures, including X (formerly Twitter), Tesla, and Neuralink, all benefit from data collection and public influence. His business model thrives on user engagement and trust, not just financial capital.

2. "He's saved free speech with Twitter by firing 80% of their workforce for censoring facts."

Firing employees en masse does not automatically equate to "saving free speech." Many of those employees were responsible for platform security, content moderation, and policy enforcement. Twitter has since faced increased misinformation, spam, and bot issues.

Free speech does not mean zero moderation. Even Musk himself has banned users and suppressed content he dislikes (e.g., journalists covering him critically).

3. "He's been given this job to find out where all our taxpayer money has been going and is actually doing his job!"

Who "gave" Musk this job? He is not an elected official nor appointed by any government oversight body.

Auditing government spending is the role of official institutions like the GAO (Government Accountability Office) and Inspectors General. A private billionaire acting as a self-appointed auditor raises questions of legitimacy, bias, and potential conflicts of interest.

4. "Banks get breached often, but with Elon, you may actually learn who stole your data and they may see justice."

X (Twitter) has already had security and privacy issues under Musk’s leadership, including insider leaks and the removal of key security staff.

There is no evidence Musk has a better track record of holding criminals accountable than established institutions. His own companies have faced lawsuits for data privacy violations.

5. "Turn off the news. It's told you Biden was a good president. Innocent people don’t pardon themselves."

News bias exists, but dismissing all media as untrustworthy is dangerous. Independent and investigative journalism plays a key role in accountability.

Self-pardoning is a complex legal issue, but using it as sole proof of guilt is misleading. Presidential pardons have been used by multiple administrations, including Trump’s.

6. "Trump and Elon are being 'transparent' and proving action rather than making promises."

Transparency means accountability. Musk has been criticized for opaque decision-making, firing employees who dissent, and suppressing information about X’s internal workings.

Trump has faced allegations of concealing financial records and refusing cooperation with government investigations. Transparency should be evaluated based on objective access to information, not just rhetoric.

7. "The last four years have been full of economic struggles, censorship, and corruption—now we can prove it!"

Economic struggles are real, but they are influenced by global factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical events (e.g., the war in Ukraine).

"Censorship" should be distinguished from content moderation. Every major platform, including X under Musk, still moderates content to some degree.

Proof of corruption should come through legal institutions and bipartisan investigations, not just social media claims.

8. "Musk was given the job to audit the government—it should be a two-way street."

There is no formal role that designates Musk as a government auditor. Private individuals can question government spending, but oversight should come from neutral, democratic institutions.

If Musk is auditing the government, who audits Musk? His businesses receive significant taxpayer subsidies and government contracts. Shouldn’t he be subject to the same scrutiny?

9. "Musk lost money to protect free speech, knowing people would use it against him."

Musk may have lost money, but his investment in X is also a strategic move to control a major communication platform. His financial losses are not necessarily a sign of altruism.

He also has restricted speech when it affects him directly, demonstrating selective enforcement rather than pure free speech advocacy.

10. "If not Musk, then who?"

No single individual should be responsible for government accountability. Democracies function through checks and balances, not reliance on one powerful figure.

Investigative journalists, government watchdogs, independent regulators, and bipartisan committees are better suited to oversee transparency and accountability than any one billionaire.

Conclusion:

While Musk has made significant contributions in technology and business, the argument that he alone is a defender of free speech, government accountability, and transparency is questionable. True oversight requires institutional checks, legal accountability, and democratic processes—not just the actions of a single wealthy individual.

We are Too Angry to Stop

Feeling overwhelmed by what’s happening in Washington, D.C., seems to be the norm for anyone paying attention. And that may be exactly what the current occupants of the White House intend. Their strategy appears to be wearing us down—hoping that if we become tired, frustrated, or disheartened, we’ll simply tune out.

But here’s what they don’t understand: The middle class has always navigated life while exhausted, frustrated, and stressed. We work, raise families, and push forward no matter how heavy the burden. Fatigue may slow us down, but it won’t silence us—not all at once, and not for long. We know our democracy is at risk, and we refuse to be dismissed.

The wealthy owe their fortunes to the labor and spending power of the middle and working classes. Yet their arrogance blinds them to this reality. They believe they are untouchable, but they are about to be tested by those of us who refuse to shut up and tune out.

Take the USAID budget cuts—cuts that are literally costing lives. Anyone arguing that we should “keep the money in America” should look deeper: These cuts aren’t about fiscal responsibility. They’re about justifying tax breaks for the ultra-rich. And when China, Russia, or Iran step in to fill the void we leave behind, we will no longer lead as a first-world power. Instead, we will slide further into oligarchy—governed by the wealthiest and most power-hungry among us.

USAID accounts for just 1% of the federal budget, yet its loss strengthens the geopolitical influence of China and Russia. Meanwhile, Musk and the so-called leader of our nation have no issue with this—so long as their pockets stay full. And the 49.8% who voted for this “non-President”? If they’re shocked by what’s happening, they weren’t paying attention—or they were relying on unreliable news sources. My hope is that those with regrets are now seeking the truth from more credible outlets.

He told us who he was. He surrounded himself with people who have no loyalty to the Constitution or the rule of law. And now, we will tell him who we are—LOUDLY.

P.S. I avoid using his name whenever possible. After all, he sells it as a brand. The last thing I need is to find a bill in my mailbox for using it. He is, therefore, the “non-President,” having conceded his power to Mus

What Can We Do?

Don't ask for permission, take action.

Don't do it alone, do it with others.

Public courage can make the bully cringe. When they cringe, we win.

- (taken from A Call to Action Video - link provided below).

When Heather Cox Richardson, historian, is concerned about our democracy, we should all pay attention! She urges us to reach out and ensure that our conservative friends and family members who voted for Trump are aware of a serious issue: Elon Musk and six of his young male employees (ages 19 to 24) allegedly accessed and downloaded secured information that could impact Social Security and Medicare records, as well as national intelligence data from the State Department. Reports suggest they were specifically seeking details on all USAID payments from the Treasury.

Musk is now on X, claiming that USAID personnel have been recklessly distributing funds to fraudsters, asserting that the department has never declined a payment. However, Musk is a known liar. The fact that someone with a history of dishonesty has access to government records—including our earnings, Social Security numbers, and addresses—while not being an elected official or even a U.S. citizen should alarm us all.

We must ensure this information reaches everyone. We need to be loud about it. I refuse to believe that the well-intentioned people I know who voted for Trump did so in order to give Musk unchecked access to our personal data and national security. 

 For folks concerned about what we can do - tonight's We Choose to Fight Call to Action virtual meeting shared tips:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55yf3AstpQI

The speakers emphasize the importance of treating everyone with respect. While you receive information on current events, there is no name-calling or hateful language. One key tip they share is that while writing or emailing your congressional representatives is valuable, visiting their local district offices and speaking with them or their staff is even more effective. Even if they won't talk to you, show up so they know you are concerned. It doesn’t matter whether your representative is a Republican or Democrat— there are Republican representatives also deeply concerned about recent events. This is not a partisan battle; it is all of us standing against billionaires who seek to destabilize and intimidate us through a wave of unlawful executive orders. They are overstepping their authority. We are not powerless, the economy functions because of workers, and democracy thrives because of the people.

We are stronger together! Even if we don't always agree, we can come together in our fight for democracy.

 

On My Mind

Today I am sharing a couple of items I shared on Facebook. Quite a few of my family and friends are not on Facebook so this will give them an idea of what is resonating with me.

First of all I changed my cover photo to honor that while I am resistant to what the man in the White House and his buddy who owns X are doing, it is because I have a heart and love our country. 

Accompanied with this text: During early development the gonads of the fetus remain undifferentiated; that is, all fetal genitalia are the same and are phenotypically female. After approximately 6 to 7 weeks of gestation, however, the expression of a gene on the Y chromosome induces changes that result in the development of the testes.
 

Accompanying text written by: Sean Dietrich

Yml7:69su M8hfltat 7af720gAa1eei0y dti0ht8u  · 

To the three servicemen who died in a midair collision on Wednesday in Washington DC. I’m sorry.

I’m sorry for everything. Not just the tragedy itself. I’m sorry for all the crap that came after. All the fussing and fighting. The postulating. For all the disrespect to your memory.

I’m sorry for the suits on TV, pointing fingers and placing blame. I’m sorry for the uneducated keyboard warriors, sitting behind laptops, violating your memory by offering excremental opinions on what you “should have done,” or “why this happened.”

In fact, I’m sorry for the millions of people online who participated in disgusting trajectory. Who leave comments on social-media posts about this catastrophe, about your alleged roles in it, and who offer up their own political rants.

As if politics has anything to do with the precious life you lived.

These people are talking out of their rearmost orifices.

And so, to the Army pilot who remains unnamed. To the other pilot, Chief Warrant Officer 2, Andrew Eaves, from Brooksville, Mississippi. And to crew chief and Georgia native, Ryan O’Hara. We all owe you an apology.

Because we have all accidentally partaken in watching your memory get smeared by a bunch of buttheads with microphones and Twitter/X accounts.

Following the disaster, Officer Eaves’s wife wrote:

“We ask that you pray for our family and friends and for all the other families that are suffering today. We ask for peace while we grieve.”

Peace while she grieves. That’s what she wanted. That’s what we should have given her. But we Americans didn’t.

We Americans are taking to social media like droves of technological drunks, gorging ourselves on “insights” and “expert opinions.” And the noise we are creating fosters anything but peace.

So, to Sam Lilley, a pilot on American Airlines flight 5432. To the 64 souls aboard the civilian airliner. To the rescue workers, first responders, and emergency crews who have tirelessly plunged into the icy Potomac, who have recovered more than 40 bodies so far—as I write this.

To all involved. Both living and dead. Please forgive the idiocy of your countrymen. Please forgive the misguided hatred which is within your fellow Americans right now.

I’m sorry for our irreverence and insensitivity. May your collective memory be honored. May we cherish the beautiful life you lived.

And above all, may you forgive us. For we know not what we do.

International Snack Night, A Visit with a Friend, and Thoughts

Tonight was our monthly family international night. The snacks from Spain were a hit with Caleb and Charlotte. Shasta, Megan's friend and baby doula, joined us this month. Caleb and Charlotte liked most of the snacks. They both loved the egg flavored potato chips. The rest of us - not so much! I forgot to keep track of which person won the trivia train. It may have been Jeremy.

Joe and I went to visit Jeremy's mom (Shelly) at the rehabilitation ward of the hospital in Saint Cloud earlier in the day. Shelly experienced a brain bleed on January 13th which resulted in a stroke that impacted the left side of her body. She has made an incredible recovery so she will return home to Brainerd tomorrow morning. Occupational and Physical therapies will continue as at-home visits. Shelly is looking forward to getting home and cooking her own food.

The rest of my day was taken up with a nap, reading (a mystery book and the news), and chores. As I sat down to write this evening, I appreciated my retirement life.

 With so much happening in Washington, D.C., I can’t imagine how stressed employees are feeling even in the private sector. It is also unclear to me how Musk can legally send out emails to more than two million federal employees urging them to resign. Promises are made that according to people working for the government are in direct violation of laws and budgetary constraints. Later today we learned that high-ranking government employees, including HR staff, have been locked out of access to employee records. How can he  bring in “his own people” with no government experience or security clearance and they suddenly  have more authority and power than the people assigned the jobs?

I have faith that the government workers will continue to stand strong until the day someone walks them out the door and then watch out as I am sure the ACLU is all over the situation.

I may have to meditate twice today to calm my brain.

Posts That Touched Me Today

Resolve to Resist and Replenish

 At the beginning of 2025 I had not made any formal resolutions. My heart was not in it. I was sort of in a ‘doom and gloom’ headspace with shadows lurking everywhere. This is a rare place for me to live as I was born with the happy gene and can usually find the upside to every occurrence. Silver linings abound in my world.

Resolutions serve a purpose for some people as a resolution may be the only formal goal(s) they ever intentionally set in life. I didn’t even understand what a ‘goal’ was until I reached fifty years old. Honest. I had plans. I did a lot of stuff that helped me have a successful career. I worked at being responsible. I worked at being a good daughter, good wife, good friend, good employee. Okay, I may have worked overtime at all of those as I wanted to be the best version of myself.

This morning, I had an epiphany. It is this – my resolutions (or goals) actually started in November and are not for one year – the resolutions are more long-term commitments and contracts with myself. I will share mine and welcome hearing about yours.

• ·       Resistance to the strongman/oligarchy/hate culture (Note – I should be great at this as I have never liked authoritative figures of any kind).
• ·       Be as ‘woke’ as hell when it comes to defending democracy.
• ·       Not purchase items through social media sites supporting the current administration.
• ·        Reduce spending at organizations and stores that support MAGA or strongman policies.
• ·        Reduce spending overall.
• ·        Continue to practice positive mental health activities to offset the crazy making in the world.
• ·        Donate time and money to organizations supporting democracy.
• ·        Work elections in my community.
• ·        Support the arts and creativity – we need the joy.
• ·        Practice gratitude every single day.
• ·        Stay connected with family and friends.
• ·        Let go of anything or anyone who tries to normalize hate or violence against other people.
• ·        Recognize that every person who voted for the current administration is not a bad person. My standards in vetting a candidate are not the same standards as other people use. It is obvious that I feel as fervent about my standards as they do theirs.
• ·       Practice being a good citizen of my community and the world at large. I want people to feel safe to talk to me and present themselves as they are – no violence though. Do not come into my world and talk trash about someone’s sexuality, gender, culture, religion, or culture. The current administration is not only attacking DEI, but they are also implementing a major attack against civil rights. An executive order is not going to change my inclusive beliefs.
• ·       When accused of being a troll because I refuse to let someone’s ill-informed opinion go unchecked – I will embrace my troll and love her efforts to speak with verifiable facts. Yes, even opinions should be supported with reality and truth.
• ·        I will not judge how other people choose to resist – as long as they do not embrace violence. While I personally am uncomfortable with swearing – even I have my WTF days.

Misinformation is coming out of the White House right now. Do not get caught up in it. Wait three hours as so many of the executive orders being signed and the firings in government are being legally challenged. We have this document called the Constitution and two other branches of the government (Judiciary and Congress) that we can use to help protect our democracy. While the dude in the White House is trying to show he is strong by signing executive orders (he knows that there are people who do not understand that executive orders are not laws) he cannot simply change the constitution or override laws passed by Congress. This is his show for the MAGAs and his attempt to see how much he can get away with because people will willingly concede if they are frightened enough.

The good news is that all of the resistance pays off in letting the occupant of the White House know he does not have carte blanche to overthrow democracy. Remain vigilant, speak up, but do not despair. Unless the only thing that motivates you to do something is despair. Be sure to talk to friends to keep your spirits up.

And if you need to vent or do not feel comfortable talking to friends – call me. I will listen.

Reflections

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

“What have you been writing lately?”

My friend, Jen, an artist, asked me last week during our monthly virtual chat.

“Nothing.” I replied.

Each time I would begin to write it seemed as if I really had nothing I wanted to say.

This morning I was reading a Substack blog written by Sophia Efthimiatou the Head of Writer Relations at Substack. (https://sophia.substack.com/p/nothing-to-say?utm_source=cross-post&publication_id=537545&post_id=155582138&utm_campaign=737237&isFreemail=true&r=gc9tu&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email). Efthimiatou begins her essay with words that felt deeply personal and real. “Somewhere along the way, I decided I have nothing to say. This happened gradually, imperceptibly, much like aging happens. Rather than stem from insecurity, this conviction came from a growing sense of comfort with who I was.”

It dawned on me that while I may have nothing to say – perhaps I should be looking at my own writing from a different perspective. Perhaps I should have a “theme” like Daniel Piper who considers himself (tongue-in-cheek) to be an SLA (Serious Literary Author) . Piper’s work always makes me laugh aloud. It takes me back to my younger years when Art Buchwald and Erma Bombeck wrote my favorite newspaper columns. Buchwald was political satire while Bombeck had us laughing at motherhood.

These days almost all of what I read on Substack continues to be political. Heather Cox Richardson, Robert Reich, The Contrarian, Joyce Vance, Liz Donnelly (Cartoonist and journaling about how current political climate impacts her emotionally). To offset and calm my deep disgust about what we are currently seeing in the White House, I self sooth with meditation (continue to love my CALM app), jigsaw puzzles, reading Louise Penny novels, looking at the photos my daughter (Megan) sends of our newest grandson – Oliver Luther Formo (13 days old as of today), watching Ruth and Roxy Happy Hourrr (https://happyhourrr.com/)  podcasts, my friend Marjorie’s book reviews and essays on writing (https://marjorieapple.substack.com/),  and watching a few shows on HULU.

I have decided, after talking with Jen, that perhaps I am ready to begin writing again, I want to figure out though if I have a theme building inside of me that might make it more palatable for others to read daily.

Ruth Atherly, a person I admire tremendously, is in the throes of writing a Love Note each day (Check out the Happy Hourrr link above to read Love Notes). While I am behind on reading her posts – they are wonderful and fill me with joy  every time I read one (so, tell me why I don’t read her everyday when I love her so much?? Both her writing and her as a person). Roxy (Roxanne Snopek) also has written blogs on the Happy Hourrr site – mostly she has been immersed in writing novels. Her work is classified as Romance, but she writes so much deeper than traditional romance. I compare her to author Anne Perry. A great storyteller with a high moral ground. Roxy’s website is https://roxannesnopek.ca/. Libraries carry her books if you are pinching pennies.

To catch up on what is happening in our little corner of the world these days:

Joe started working as a manual machinist right before Christmas. The company is about fifteen minutes from our house which means a short commute. The company is employee-owned with about 130 employees. Joe may find himself eventually running the CNCs as well.

He currently works from 12:30 pm to 11:00 pm, Monday through Thursday. On February 6th he plans to work from 3:00 pm until 1:30 am. This means I have time to do pretty much whatever I want to do. Oh, wait, I have already been doing that since my retirement!

Joe is working for the following reasons:

(1) He loves machining and with all of the yard work done he wanted to get back into a shop.

(2) He wants more money to buy more equipment and supplies for his home shop. 

(3) If the economy tanks for any reason he wants to have additional money saved.

(4) He loves learning new things and in the new job there is the opportunity to do so.

When he applied for the position, it was listed as "Entry-Level Manual Machinist." Yes, his forty-plus years meant he was over-qualified; however, the hiring person called Joe right away. Within two days he had two interviews and on the third day they offered him the position on their night shift as a blend of manual-machinist and quality inspector.

Changing our sleep patterns has been a challenge for both of us. We now go to bed at about 1:00 am and wake up by 10:00 am. Most mornings we are up by 8:30 am. Concern has been expressed by one of our offspring that this schedule may be harmful to Joe’s health as even minor changes in sleep pattern can cause a slew of health issues. We appreciate the concern and are mindful. Joe, at seventy-four, has no medical issues. His extremely healthy diet, exercise regiment, and good genes are working in his favor.

On January 15^th we welcomed our newest grandbaby. While it is our very first grandbaby, we consider our bonus grandchildren, Caleb and Charlotte, our very first grandchildren. They continue to amuse and amaze me. Both Caleb and Charlotte have had the opportunity to read to their new brother. I asked Charlotte if Oliver (the family calls him Ollie) enjoyed listening to her read and she told me with all of her nine-year old wisdom, “I don’t know.” The look she gave me was like I was crazy for even asking her.

One of the highlights around the birth of Oliver was listening to Charlotte explain to Caleb about Megan’s water breaking. Caleb was thoroughly concerned while Charlotte was nonchalant in explaining the process. At one point Charlotte noticed Caleb’s look of horror (perhaps disgust?) and reassured him, “It’s not the same as peeing your pants.” God, I love these two kids so much.

Megan, after a long labor, is doing well. She has had a few rough patches. Yesterday, she texted me,  “I learned that I’m supposed to be doing like basically nothing while I heal and that I’ve been doing way too much the last ten days I’ve been home.” She has decided it’s okay to slow down. Jeremy has parental leave and has been home five out of seven days each week to father the newest Formo. Megan has been blessed with her friend Shasta’s visit from early in the labor process. Shasta, in addition to holding the mantel of “best friend,” has her own business – It Takes a Village (Infant Care Services). The link to her page if you are on Facebook: (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565740112021). Shasta will be here for 16 more days before returning home to California.

Megan and Jeremy have decided they do not want Oliver’s face on social media for now. I am posting photos of Caleb and Charlotte holding Oliver. The smiley face covering Oliver’s face is intentional.