Positive Ending to My Resistance

 Just a short note to let you I am no longer a hold-out to the Pandemic.  Yesterday, I had a positive COVID test. After almost two years of living with this around me, I am finally pulled down.  I don't know why.  Could have been church.  Could have been a store.

Wednesday was difficult.  Yesterday was better.  Today I'm not as good as yesterday but better than Wednesday.

Alison home-tested today, and she is negative.  Thank God.  Benjamin seems to be okay and has not tested.

The thing that shames me more than getting it is that I may have exposed other people to it.  I find it difficult to accept that I could be making other people sick.

That's all I've got right now.  I need to take another break.

Carrot Quest

 Percival wanted a carrot.

He had everything else. Everything to make a Banh Mi. He had the pork, the baguette, the garlic, the fish sauces, the daikon radish, all the spices. Was the grated carrot absolutely necessary?

Yes, it was. If he wanted to be thoroughly transported back to Saigon (now known as Ho Chi Minh City - something he would never get used to), then he would need the carrot. Smell and taste were the ultimate time machine.

Why would he want to? There were so many awful memories of that time. Why remember any of it?

Not all of it was bad. The Ben Thanh Market and its buzz and activities were something he did not want to forget. Especially since that is where he met her. Mai Bingh. From the moment their eyes met, he knew she was the one. 

Her feelings for him took a bit longer. But within a day or two, she never wanted to leave his side.

They couldn't always be together. But as a Saigon MP, he was stationed close to where she lived.

As an MP (Miltary Police), it was his job to chase down AWOL soldiers. Most often, they were not deserters but just on an alcohol-fueled bender. Percival often bordered on being AWOL himself but was careful to skirt the border of disobedience. Of course, it helped to have the inside track with his MP buddies.

So, Percy (as he was known) and Mai Bingh were together so frequently they even had their own private bungalow above the Hoa Ma restaurant on Cao Thang Street. After making love, he would stare at her and think of himself as the luckiest man in the universe to have found his one true soulmate.

When his tour of duty was up, he wanted to marry Mia Bingh and bring her to the states. However, he could not get her to leave her family. Mia's mother was very ill, and she would not leave the country while her mother was alive.

Percival had dark thoughts but did not give in to them. Instead, he urged her to stay in touch and that he would return to get her when she was ready. She promised she would. They hugged and kissed and cried and made love one more time. And then he was gone.

He wrote her every day for a year but heard nothing back from her. It broke his heart. He stopped writing.

Two more years passed, and he received a card with a picture. It was Mai Bingh sitting in front of the Hoa Na Restaurant. She was not alone. On her lap, looking out towards the camera, was a little girl, not more than two or three years old. She had Mai's eyes and Percival's hair - black and curly. Her skin tone was light brown.

Within days of receiving that picture, Percival returned to Saigon. He went to Ben Thanh Market, searching and showing everyone the picture. No one could tell him anything, and the loft above the Hoa Na was rented by somebody else, and they didn't know where the previous tenant had gone. He could not find any of Mai's family.

He stayed and searched as long as he could, but his resources were drained. He thought about staying. He made the horrible decision to return to the states and await further word. This was a decision he would regret for the next five decades. She had never contacted him again.

Percival shook himself out of his memories and decided to go to the store and get the carrot. This was the anniversary of the last time he saw her, 55 years ago, and he would fulfill the ritual completely. 

He put on his jacket, moved as quickly as he could on his arthritic knees, leaving his dingy apartment, and headed down the road to the local market, Assi. It was just three blocks away, and although Korean owned, it carried other international foods, mainly Asian. It was no Ben Thanh, but it would do.

He grabbed a cart, helping to balance his uneven gait, and went to the produce section. They didn't sell individual carrots, but he would buy the smallest bunch he could.

A few feet ahead of him, a woman examined the cabbages, carefully inspecting them. She wasn't a young woman, maybe in her fifties. He couldn't see her face until she turned his way, holding up two cabbages, trying to decide which one to take.

She had her eyes. She had his hair. Her skin was light brown.

Time froze. He forgot to breathe.

To be continued...

Head Case

 Content Warning:  This is another (borderline) doggy downer, if you're inclined to skip that sort of thing.

People ask me frequently how I like retirement. Most of them, without often directly saying go, are wondering if I'm bored, and because of that (or money issues), if I've returned to some form of employment (self or otherwise). I am not bored, and I might do some self-employment things next year, but they would have to be stuff I enjoy doing and not something that would interfere with my ability to travel to see my granddaughter.

To be honest, though. I am struggling with something in retirement. And it's this - it accentuates my most significant mental health challenge - my tendency towards introversion.  

I know it's hard for others to comprehend sometimes. I'm a good public speaker and community theater actor.  In small group settings, if I get comfortable, I can be relaxed and conversant.

I describe my problem in two ways, both of which are related. One is selective mutism, which I have explained in other posts. The second is crippling insecurities - I can easily feel inadequate and overwhelmed.

People with selective mutism can perform quite well with scripts and structured communication, speaking, and writing. They are lousy in social situations, and meeting new people, and can feel overwhelmed when the unexpected happens.

With retirement, I am not forced to go to work each day and deal with new people and situations. Instead, I can stay at home as much as I choose. And I am choosing to skip engaging in events more and more.

I enjoyed being in the play Harvey last Fall. But it was quite an effort to pull myself into that every night. I will continue with theater, but it will be no more than once a year. And that makes it more challenging as I see the WACT people less and less. The more I'm away from a group of people, the harder it is to re-engage with them.

I have been able to participate in things at the library. Much of that has been with Alison. And I do enjoy that, doing things with her. I haven't read for Children's Story Time as much as I would like because I cannot bring myself to ask.

I don't make an effort to stay in contact with my old work. I do little to get my stories published or to gain readership. I will avoid running into people I know so I don't have to say hello or start conversations I am unsure of.

Not all, but part of this is I don't feel like I'm as good as other people. They are more talented and confident than me, and I have to prove myself to be worthy of them. I'm not telling you this makes sense; I'm just trying to describe what happens in my brain, right or wrong.

I'm not giving up. I'm going to do my best to struggle with this.

But if I miss your event or suddenly withdraw, please try to be understanding. I'm doing the best I can. 

2022 Election Summary by T. M. Strait: Saturday Political Soap Box 290

 Here is what you have been waiting for.

The summary of Election 2022 and what it means by the unrenowned political analyst T. M. Strait, whose posts over the last decade have received around 30 views apiece (more or less).

So, what do I think of the last election?

It went much better than I expected, but I don't think it was the fabulous slam dunk Democratic celebration that many media commentators and Democratic activists thought it was. It's true that they did as well for a first-term President's midterms as you could expect, dating back to Roosevelt.

But...neither did they have any significant breakthroughs that help Biden govern. The House is thinly Republican but Republican nonetheless. And the Republican MAGA crazies hold the balance of power. Expect no significant legislation. Expect Hunter Biden's laptop 24/7. Expect constant calls for impeachment. 

The Senate is in better shape. It may help expedite federal appointments (judges, cabinet officials, etc.). But, despite the "improved" majority and media overconfidence, we're still at the mercy of Manchin and Sinema. Schumer on Wednesday: Woohoo! We have 51 Democrats and are a solid majority! Sinema on Friday: Hold my beer.

Here are my major takeaways from the 2020 election:

Incumbents Rule, Challengers Drool

Although incumbents usually win into the 90% range, this election cycle was particularly incumbency. In the Senate, every Democratic incumbent won, but so did every Republican. The only changeover occurred in Pennsylvania, where Fetterman beat an out-of-state snake oil salesman.

It was more of a victory for incumbency than for either political party.

Gen Z is coming!  

As a bona fide political nerd, I've been listening to political elections since before puberty. I can't ever recall hearing where the youth vote made a difference. But it did this time. And I am amazed and thrilled.

As older generations fade, the impact of Gen Z will rise. Political affiliation often gets affixed early, and it sticks. We've been stuck with the Boomers and Reagan Babies for a long time. And, yes, I'm a Boomer, but I got influenced by politics earlier than most of my peers (60s), and I came from a liberal home. Nothing is 100%, but there were too many of us conned by Nixon, and then Reagen; too many that got swallowed by Greed is Good.

New York and California are Really Bad at Gerrymandering

Believe it or not, if New York and California had done a better job at forming new Congressional districts and taken campaigning a little more seriously, the Democrats would have held the House. Seriously. I'm not kidding. The guy who ran the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Sean Maloney, lost his race (partially redistricted) to his Republican challenger. I mean, my God, we almost lost Katie Porter, the California Democratic SUPERSTAR!

Stop listening to James Carville

In many ways, I like James Carville. He is a vocal advocate for Democrats,  But his concept of Democrats is stuck in the old Third Way compromise Clinton Era. For God's sake, don't let your Progressive flag fly. Be fiesty, but only advocate policies that can best be described as Republican Lite. Well, bullcrap! I want a party that STANDS for something. We're never going to get the progressive values and policy solutions that Americans show they favor in poll after poll.

That doesn't mean you have to be a flower child. You have to show an affinity for the working man. Two Progressives that did this and WON were John Fetterman and Raphael Warnock.  

As the election got to the last day, Joe Scarborough and other media moderates/conservatives were singing the praises of Tim Ryan, Democrat running for Senate in Ohio. Ryan was feisty but also s conservative/moderate, not taking any really bold stances. Ryan debated well. Ryan also lost to a genuinely creepy MAGA Republican, JD Vance. It was about the only Trump-endorsed candidate that won (particularly when you consider those Trump actually rallied for).

And I know. You're saying that was Ohio. It's pretty red. True, but Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown wins there election after election, and he is a no-bones about it Progressive.

Issues that Mattered

Abortion mattered. Republicans caught the car and now they don't know what to do with it. Unfortunately, they are on the wrong side of this, and every state referendum will show what a mistake they made.

Democracy mattered. Virtually every election denier lost. 

Yes, for some, inflation mattered. Particularly for Republican voters.

Issues that Didn't Matter

It breaks my heart, but COVID didn't matter. If it did, Kemp and DeSantis would have been consigned to the dustbin of history.

LGBTQ+ hatred, CRT, immigration - none of these had a major impact. Yes, there is a fraction of the American people for whom these issues matter a great deal, especially in the most MAGA areas, so it really didn't change things.

Global warming/climate change did not have much influence, except for maybe Gen Z.  We will pay the price for ignoring this.

Trump is Toast

His influence only proved to work in a negative direction.

I know. It's been said many times, in many ways, that Trump is a goner. But there's something different this time.

I think it's finally sinking in what a political loser he is.

This is not all cream and gravy.  

You need to be fearfully aware of...

THE IDES OF DeSANTIS!

----------------------

Ok, this is much longer than I thought. It's more of an essay than a summary. It probably means I'll only get 12 who read it instead of 30.

Sigh.

Windmill tilting is exhausting.

Seal of Destiny

 When last we met on the My Jobs thread:

My garden epiphany that led me to realize that I would NOT get to do what I wanted for a living, began a roughly two-year period where I took business and accounting courses at Berry College near Rome, Georgia.

I came out of Berry College with high hopes and even higher grades and recommendations. I was confident that I could go out into the workplace and acquire a high-powered career path that would lead to even more lucrative pay than my aborted teaching career.

I must have been high to think this.

Coming out, I found that most potential employers did not think of me as an accountant but a teacher. This was not the background they wanted. I tried CPA firms from Dalton to Atlanta. I tried private industry.

The most hoped-for job by top accounting graduates was to be hired by one of the top eight accounting firms.* I did have one interview with a large firm in Atlanta; it was a day long, and for most of it, it appeared they were more courting me more than I was them. I thought I had this in the bag. But no job offer ever came.

After a few months in the wilderness, I finally got a job offer from American Seal & Stamp, a small business just at the edge of downtown Atlanta. They were offering $13,500 a year. Does that sound low? Even for 1984, that was rock bottom for someone with six years of college education.

I felt like my Dad had taught me that you must be willing to start wherever you can and work your way up.

I was wrong. When I told my Dad about the job, he thought I was crazy for taking it, and that I needed to hold out to start somewhere else at a higher rung. On the other hand, I felt morally obligated to take it since I told them yes. Over the years, I have realized what a stupid decision it was.

American Seal & Stamp sold mostly corporation kits, which included corporate seals and something called Goes paper, which was used for stock certificates. It contained everything you needed to legally incorporate. Except the lawyer. And the actual incorporation.

American Seal & Stamp was owned by Howard Massell, the ne'er do well brother of former Atlanta Mayor Sam Massell.  But Howard was never there. His day-to-day operations were managed by somebody else. He talked to that manager by phone and sent orders over.

You see, Howard decided to move from Atlanta to avoid, uh, some legal entanglements. He wanted, in part, to leave Atlanta to avoid the temptations of drugs like cocaine. And to accomplish that, he moved to Miami.

I repeat. In order to avoid drugs, he moved to Miami.  

His reputation was as a snarling, self-centered asshole. A legend from before I came was that he visited the company one time, and that the manager was so nervous she had a breakdown that caused her to literally collapse. He emerged from his office, saw her writhing on the floor, and said, "Great! Now, who's gonna take me to the airport?"

And this was my introduction to accounting and the business world. It would not get much better from there.

But have no fear! Your intrepid hero stayed less than a year and was able to parley over to another job, one that rocketed his career to...

Well, that is a tale for next time.

*well, it was The Big Eight at the time. Now it's just the Big Four. Is this a great country or what? And people wonder where inflation and price gouging come from? Hah!

The Georgia Ideal

I know. This is a stupid time to post this if I want to persuade anybody. Most of my Georgia readers have probably already early voted.   The rest of my Georgia friends are probably already firm in their decision.

Nevertheless, I would like to make clear my view.

Setting partisanship completely aside, Senator Raphael Warnock is the ideal representative of the best of Georgia.

The very best of the state can be seen in his story and conduct. In his faith, spirit, and inspirational hope, he is Georgia to the core.

He has worked across the aisle, assisting with bipartisan legislation that makes the country, especially Georgia, a better place. He advocates for the interests of Georgians, regardless of political affiliation.

I don't know if he'll always vote for the party and/or the White House. I don't care. But I know he'll always prioritize the needs of everyday working Georgians.

He may be one of the best speakers in the Senate, and not just for those in the Senate now, but in the history of the Senate. I swell with state pride every time I hear him speak.

I don't know if he'll win or lose today. This state is not as blue as I hoped. Not yet. But it has shown a tendency to reject extremists (except in some gerrymandered Congressional districts). So, there is some hope.

Herschel Walker may have represented the University of Georgia as an extraordinary and gifted athlete. But Raphael Warnock is best suited to represent the state as a whole.

I don't want this short post to be about the many inadequacies of Texas resident Herschel Walker. Even those who vote for him are well aware of those. If you're not, I hope you're enjoying the taste of sand.*

I look forward to the next six years of Senator Warnock representing the state of Georgia.

And if not? Well, Georgia, you've just made the worst trade of the 21st Century.

*do I need to spell this out? You taste sand because your head is buried in it. You know. Like an ostrich. Oy. These things are no longer fun when you have to explain them so much.

Absentee Ballot

 

As you can see, Ellie is riveted by the soccer game between USA and Iran.  

Alison and I have become devoted soccer fans (or what is known everywhere else in the world as 'football'). We love Atlanta United in the MLS and the Portland Thorns in the NWSL. We are thrilled to have a competitive USA team in the World Cup/

But that's not my only reason for following the sport. It's a way for me to communicate with my far-flung older boys (Greg in Pasadena, California, and Doug in the Catskills of New York State). It gives this aging introvert a chance to text each other while we watch the games. I get to know more about their lives and just share everyday bonding. Do I love soccer? Yes. Do I love even more being able to share time with my boys? Absolutely!

Here's a picture of the celebration as America goes up 1 to 0 (the final score). Christian Pulisic dramatically gave up his own body to score the goal, colliding with the goalie, injuring himself, and was out the second half.  

-----------------------------

Oh yes. I forgot. The title of this post is Absentee Ballot.

We have a crucial election coming up. Georgia has a runoff and must decide between the professional and highly competent current Senator, Reverand Raphael Warnock, and Texas resident/Trump sycophant Herschel Walker. Seems like a no-brainer, but given the MAGA impulses that overrule common sense among many in this state. and the blind partisanship that leads people to vote for people THEY KNOW THEY SHOULD NOT, this election is much closer than it has any right to be.

Georgia Republicans, in a fit of voter suppression frenzy, have changed the runoff from nine weeks to four. They originally had scheduled only five days of early voting, with no Saturday voting (a big ef you to working voters). My son, Benjamin, is away at school and will not be here for the initially scheduled voting days.  

He started filling out an absentee ballot request form online a couple of weeks ago but hit bureaucratic snafus when it required steps that he could not readily complete. By the time he came to visit us for Thanksgiving, he had completed the form but had yet to mail it.

MEANWHILE...Georgia courts ruled that Saturday voting could not be barred. I read that some Georgia counties were now offering Saturday voting.  

We went to our county election board and discovered that our county was NOT offering Saturday voting. Okay, fine. Benjamin turned in his absentee ballot request. They looked at it, said it was fine, and that they would mail him an absentee ballot to his college address that day. I thought they could just give it to him, but that is not allowed. It has to be mailed. Fine.

I'm not trying to say anything negative about the election board. They have been friendly, polite, and helpful. They understandably have to follow the rules. They were also frustrated that the legislature had created such a tight turnaround time.

I checked with Benjamin this morning. He had yet to receive the absentee ballot. Look, Benjamin is very busy right now. He is trying to prepare for some very stressful finals and end-of-the-semester projects. He is trying to do the best he can.

At this point, if he gets the ballot, he'll have to overnight it to be sure it gets back in time. Do I hate the idea that he has to, in essence, pay to have his vote counted? I'm not thrilled, but the vote counting means more to us at this point.

Benjamin is not alone in this. Post-election analysis shows that GEN Z (Benjamin's generation) had an outsized effect on the election. Young people made a difference.  

So, this runoff will be hard for many college students to turn around in time.

But that's not a bug of the Republican election changes. It's a feature. They want to minimize the youth vote, and this is a wicked clever way to accomplish that.

I wish Georgia would go to an instant runoff system like they have in Alaska and Maine. Then we wouldn't have to go through this mess.

But Georgia probably won't do that. It makes too much sense.

Until next time,

T. M. Strait

Proud Warnock Voter

Unextemporaneous Speaking

 I'm going to speak at the Library today. This will be a follow-up to last August's speech defending the rainbow display at the Library.

Yesterday, I spoke as part of the church's stewardship campaign. I talked extemporaneously, very unusual for me, to see if I could pull it out. I had a few notes but basically spoke off the cuff. It was scary because I usually like to plan out every word. But nevertheless, the speech was successful. People laughed "(in the right places), and they listened, they 'got' the message and seemed to enjoy it.

The main speaker for our side at the library meeting is Ken Taft. He is a lawyer who attends our church. The other side has upwards of 14 speakers. I told Ken how it might affect his speech if they talked about things his planned speech might not cover. He said he would adjust his speech accordingly, answering whatever challenges they may have brought up. I'm not sure I could do that. Well, he's a lawyer used to the back and forth of the courtroom - I'm an actor used to having his lines written out.

I would rather try to speak extemporaneously again, but I only have one minute to speak. That's not much time. So, unfortunately, I probably shoulda oughta write it out, partly to ensure I could be somewhere around the time limit.

Anyhoo....here's my first draft.

At August's local board meeting, I spoke about how the Library is for everyone...every single person. In that regard, I am grateful for the Libraries are for Everyone mural in the entryway.

In the spirit of Libraries are for Everyone, I want to encourage everyone to come. Come visit the Library. 

If you see a book you don't like, don't take it out  If you see a book you like, take it out  If you can't find the book you're looking for, ask the library staff - they can find it for you, and even check to see if they can get it from another library and bring it here for you.

If you see a book club you don't like, don't join it. If you see a book club you like, join it. If you want to start a new book club, ask the library staff, and they can help you create a new one.

Everyone here has an equal right to the Library's resources. But no one here has the right to base their participation on the exclusion of other people - the people themselves, their books, their clubs, or their displays. Because the Library is for everyone. Every. Single. Person.

Thank you for your patience,  I think I've got it down to one minute and five seconds.  Hopefully, they won't give me the hook for that.

And yes, I had to do a lot of editing.  There is so much to say and so little time to say it.  I'm sorry for all the stuff I didn't get to say, but on the bright side, we have eleven speakers.

November Seconds

 

Just a short one today, and thematically unsound to boot. Feel knee twinges, so I need to make my desktop time short.

It's November already. I didn't write Monday or Tuesday - involved in Church Treasury work that disrupted my schedule. I know I'm writing less, but maybe next week will be better. Yeah, right.

With Reverand Kit retired, there's more to do now. We have to cover more bases.

I'm preparing for two speeches. One as part of the Church Stewardship campaign this Sunday. And then Monday at the Regional Library Board. I will do my best to adopt an extemporaneous style and not write everything down. It's a risk, but it may help the speeches seem more natural.

We distributed candy on Halloween night. We had a good crowd, but it was down since the last time we did it. There were a wide variety of costumes, although Harley Quinn and Spider-Man had a slight edge. Harley Quinn's history is varied. Sometimes she's a villain, sometimes a hero. There is an all-age version, a teen version, and an adult version. I'll have to do a blog story about it sometime.

Time keeps on slipping into the future, although there is a slight blip as we repeat an hour to adjust back into standard time (bye, daylight savings time). Someday we'll end this mess, as whatever point for it has long since passed. But that would take an act of Congress. Good luck getting those people together.

Seeing examples of it in France and now Brazil, I like the runoff system of electing the President. It guarantees whoever wins will have the majority of votes (at least 50% plus). Yes, I know. Our constitution is not set up for it. But it should be. It helps diminish the possibility that extremists can capture the Presidency. 

I posted this meme yesterday on Facebook. To clear up any confusion, this is meant to warn you to vote against fascists and fascists-wanna-bes in November's election. And by that, Rev. Pavlivitz and ME are referring to NOT voting for Republicans who are MAGA, deny the 2020 election outcome, deny teaching the truth about history, deny the LGBTQ+ their rights, want to cripple democracy and move towards a Christo-fascist state. To think anything else is delusding yourself and misconstruing what facsism is.

Knee twinges.

Until next time,

T. M. Strait

The Center Will Not Hold: Saturday Political Soapbox 289

 

Most of the electorate is set. They vote 95% plus for one side or the other. Many may call themselves independent, but they're really not.

I call myself an Independent Progressive, but in reality, I align now with the Democrats. If ever there is a Republican more progressive than the Democrat, I'll seriously give them a look-see. But in today's bitterly divided politics, I'm more likely to see a unicorn in my backyard.

Many other Independents are actually conservatives who, for whatever reason, shun formally attaching themself to the Republican label. A lot of Trumpeteers are Trump first, party and country second. Nevertheless, they will always vote Republican.

Yet, there are a small number of independents, enough that most of our closer elections are determined by them. You know, the type of person that voted for Obama and then somehow rollercoastered to Trump (that's just one example).

Yes, there may be a few independents that genuinely research and think critically each election. But the majority are simply people who pay little attention to politics and go by their gut each election.

So, what are these true independents thinking this year?

Meet Mortimer Snerd.  Mortimer, please take the rest of this column.

Hi. Morty here. What an election year this is!

Anyhoo...

Yeah, I think climate change is real, more or less. And we probably should be doing more about it.

That Rowing Wade thing overturned? Yeah, that's pretty bad. Maybe abortion ain't the best, but no exceptions? C'mon! That ain't right. A pregnant 10-year-old that's been raped having to go out of state to get an abortion? Ridiculous. The whole Supreme Court thing has gone wacko. What's next? Gay marriage? Interracial marriage? I hear they may even restrict contraceptives!  

And it would be nice if the minimum wage were to go up. Of course, I get paid more than that, but I don't know how others survive on $7.25 an hour. It's been stuck there a long time. And maybe raising it will goose everybody's wages some.

Look, yeah, parents need to be involved in their children's education, but Good God! Slavery was real and evil, and the country hasn't been perfect, and we need to teach about the truth, warts and all.

And can we stop talking about the last damn election? Whining about it just makes you look like a poor loser. Overall, I like democracy, and some of the voter suppression efforts of the Republicans make me nervous. And the Covid response? What a mess. Y'all should have just worn a mask and taken the vaccine. I lost some people close to me, and it makes me mad that some of you could not take it seriously.

And, geez Louise, gun violence is wrecking this country. So what's wrong with a couple of common sense measures? How about some background checks? And weapons that are the equivalent of machine guns? You don't need a gun that shoots hundreds of rounds a minute to hunt deer or even self-defense.

And, yeah, we should be supporting Ukraine. We got to draw the line on this Putin dude, or we're gonna wind up with half of Europe swallowed. Does nobody remember how appeasing Hitler worked? Not so hot.

And taxing the rich more is not the worst idea in the world. I hear that some billionaires pay less proportionally than their janitors, and that doesn't seem right. No one wants to see the rich persecuted for being rich. But, good golly, can't they just pay their fair share?

And our healthcare system is a mess. How do people afford the drugs they need, like insulin? It would be good to cover more people less expensively. Even Obamacare turned out to be not so bad. So, maybe some form of universal healthcare would be...

WAIT! WHAT?!? I HAVE TO PAY HOW MUCH FOR GAS? AND MY GROCERIES ARE GOING UP?

That does it.

I'm voting Republican.

Back to me again.

Yep. That's right. I fear some independent voters will chuck all their other concerns out the window and vote based on gas and grocery prices. And, in the back of some of their minds, they must know that a President has little control over oil market prices or the worldwide inflation that's occurring due to pandemic recovery, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and corporate exploitation.

It doesn't matter.

The gut does what the gut does.

The future of democracy be damned.

The ConKemptible and DeSatanic Lie

It's been a tough political ad season. 

And living in Southeast Georgia, where most of the broadcast stations we receive are from Florida, we get the worst of both worlds, Georgia and Florida.

There is so much wrong with the advertising we have been inundated with. For example, did you know that Senator Raphael Warnock is personally responsible for worldwide inflation? Who knew one man had so much power?

But, to me, the most contemptible is the big lie being spread by Kemp and DeSantis, and no, I'm not talking about Trump's Big Lie about the 2020 election.

I'm talking about how both their ads brag about their great job handling COVID.

Are they out of their frigging minds?

Even though the statistics from both states have been heavily manipulated, they still show that the two states have record malfeasance and are among the leaders in the country in the number of cases, and a disproportionate amount of deaths.

Florida ranks number ONE in its proportion of the number of cases among the 10 largest states. They rank higher than Texas, which is not exactly a ragingly liberal state. The largest state, California, ranks number 7, even though its first surge occurred earlier when the virus was at its worst.

Georgia and Florida are tied for the rate of death, with only New York (early surge) and Michigan slightly higher.

Only five states have a poorer vaccination rate than Georgia; they are all small, very red states.  

Kemp closed down the state late compared to other states but was also the first to open back up. He brags about this grave miscalculation in his advertising. Sort of like, "Yay! Our state is open for bidness! Grandma's dead, but we're open!"

DeSantis openly berated people wearing masks, including school kids. Rebekah Jones, a Florida data scientist, was fired from her position at the Florida Department of Health for speaking out about how Florida officials were manipulating COVID data, trying to make the state look like it was doing better. 

And yet...

DeSantis has a formidable lead to win re-election.

Kemp is in a tighter race but is better than even money to pull out a victory.

I'm going to be blunt about it.

These politicians and their policies resulted in many unnecessary deaths. And I hold them responsible.

The fact that the majority of voters in those two states will most likely not, shows how ugly our politics have grown.

Some of you may be able to forget what they've done.

I will not.

Sunshiney Monday Musings

 This is a picture of my church.  Grace Episcopal in downtown Waycross.  We are undergoing a transition as our Reverand of 11 years has retired.

I'm happy to report that our attendance has remained high, and many are pitching in to help the church continue to function and thrive.  It may be a while before we have a new priest, but our faith and people keep us strong.

Speaking of witch, we are having one of our major events of the year, Holy Ghost Weenie Roast.  It's a church celebration, including a service and plenty of fun!  All are invited!

Two of my friends, Julianna Leverett (painting) and Cathy Dee Janes (photography), had entries in the Annual Okefenokee Heritage Center Arts Contest.  I went to the Heritage Center Thursday and saw the fantastic local art.  The winners were announced Sunday (I think), but I don't know who they were.

I've been looking for a focus for this coming second year of my retirement (in addition to writing), and I have set the far-fetched goal of learning enough about drawing to enter next year's contest.  I would not anticipate winning, but I would like to become good enough to enter.  Wish me luck!

Although plans to see my Grandaughter this Thanksgiving have fallen through, we are now planning a major trip this Spring.  When one door falls shut, another one springs open!

Musingly Yours,

T. M. Strait

The Lady or the Duck?

 

The lady or the duck? Or cat? We can look at the same thing and see different things. One thing can be two things.  

The world is filled with joy and wonder, but it is also filled with sadness and terror. One day we see hope on the horizon. The next, we see nothing but despair and the promise of a better tomorrow fizzle away.

One day you feel that you have done the best you can and helped make a better future for yourself and the ones you love. The next, you feel overwhelmed by how you have fallen short, and even the things you thought you did well were just an illusion.

It may seem I'm referring to bipolar or other health problems. These are serious concerns that need to be addressed, but it is not what I'm centering on here. Instead, this is the natural fluctuation most of us experience.

I once tried out for a play that was several counties over from where I lived. I knew no one else in the group. I went to prepare for a reading with another person I had been assigned to audition with. I tried to be helpful, giving my best advice as to how we could improve our performance and make a good impression. I thought what I suggested must have worked because we both got good parts in the play.

Later, when we had successfully performed our play (winning the Best Play Award for a seven-county theatre association), she told me she had initially thought I was an ass, that she thought it was weird for this person out of nowhere to give her advice on how to audition. Turns out, she was an insider in the theatre group and was pretty much pre-picked to get the role she did. One day, I did a good deed. The next, I was an ass.

I've always battled the fear my whole life that people talk to you one way to your face and another way when you're not there. And that many things you think you're doing right, you're actually doing wrong. They think you're bossy, and you think you're making positive input. You think you're shy and reserved, and they think you're sullen and mean. You speak out with passion, and all they hear is you're out of control. You think you're giving them a book, and they think you're forcing something on them and cluttering their living quarters.

You think you're creating a special occasion for people, and they think you're intruding on what they really want to do, and what they really want to do may not involve you.

I know it's impossible to please everyone all the time. Still, not knowing whether you're doing more harm than good is frustrating. 

And, on a broader scale, it gets frustrating thinking there is hope for the world, that we will straighten up, take on problems like global warming, the income gap, universal health care, and become stronger in democracy and diversity. And then I see it all slipping away as I see so many denying the climate crisis that confronts us, when they choose politicians who run based on hate and fear and who do not value democratic processes, when they descend on public libraries and demand to demonize and exclude others, when one brutal narcissist* gets away with multiple crimes, when we refuse to face our complex past, and so much more.

Please don't read too much into this. I never promised you a blog of nothing but puppy uppers. Sometimes there are doggy downers. I promise to try to be more upbeat next time.

Of course, even if I am upbeat, I can't promise some might misconstrue it anyways.

Sigh.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.**

*I'm referring to Trump, of course.  

**Charles Dickens, from A Tale of Two Cities.

The Glowering Mob

 

They glowered. They were angry. They were intimidating. And they were vocal in ways that can only be considered hateful and bullying.

They came in force. Still, the crowd was about equal, between the LGBTQ+ community and their allies and those preaching an unrecognizable form of what they considered Christianity.

Yesterday, the Waycross Ware County Library held its meeting when it would decide about the display that you see in the picture above. Incongruously, it kept being referred to as a flag.   How is that a flag? It's a series of colors designed to represent EACH AND EVERYONE OF US.

Nevertheless, the hatred towards it was palatable. You could feel it pulsing across the room.

Even though the group was supposed to stay silent (no one had followed the procedure of signing up to speak), they couldn't do it. They demanded to talk anyways, rules be damned. They threatened to flood the meeting with even more people next time. One man said they would fill Memorial Stadium (where the local high school football team played) next time as if this was simply about the sheer force of numbers. Another threatened the library if they did not cave. And another monstrously compared LGBTQ people to pedophiles.

I lost it when they said that. I shot up from my seat, pain, and anger in my eyes, shaking, ready to go to verbal combat. Fortunately for everyone, my recently retired Reverand, Rev Kit, was sitting behind me and got me to restrain myself. For the whole meeting, the behavior of the LGBTQ+ was remarkably polite and controlled.

Many left after it was clear they would not get to speak, and their constant interrupting has worn thin. Like the last meeting, when they had their say, they left before listening to anybody else. It's one of the rudest behaviors I've seen in my life.

The Board, led by the skilled and diplomatic chairman, Tawanna Harris, did everything she could to steer the Board to the most politically sensible compromise she could. It was agreed to take down the rainbow display and only consistently display the American and Georgia flags. In addition, it was amended so that seasonal displays could include symbols relating to the group/season displayed. It was hard to tell, but to me, it looked like Board member Cheryl Jacobs voted against removing the rainbow display, and the amended motion did not seem to win the support of Board member Candice Rice. So, for most, compromise was in the air.

Unfortunately, what they did was not compromise. It was appeasement. And appeasement never ends things. Just as Neville Chamberlain how well it went trying to appease Hitler. Or today, why the Ukrainians don't want to appease Putin with territorial concessions. Because Hitler didn't stop. Putin won't stop.

This is just the beginning. They will interpret the compromise as a weakness, a sign that they can push further. The speeches and Memorial Stadium-size crowds are still coming. They will attack other displays, book clubs, and, yes, books themselves. They will not be happy until the library only reflects and serves Christian Nationalism.

I don't have an answer for the Board. Given political realities, they may have done the only thing they felt they could. But more is coming their way.

And the only thing we can do is to keep emphasizing our openness and love. When censorship and exclusion thrive, we all lose.

Board members talked about a divided community and how they just wanted to bridge the differences. The problem is that the community is not divided, not in any sense that compromise helps. One group wants merely to be accepted and welcomed. The other wants to oppress and exclude. IT'S NOT TWO GROUPS TRYING TO EXCLUDE EACH OTHER. Only one group stands for oppression. This is not a division of equal demands.

I pray that our library makes no further concessions and that the staff remains open and inviting. However, I fear that the forces of oppression will dwarf those who stand for inclusion and that the nightmare is just beginning.

Ultimately, I encourage as many of you that can live up to the words I am familiar with as a Superman fan - 

Never give up. Never surrender.

PS  I left out of the post the fact that the Library did put up a mural with the phrase Libraries are for Everyone (paraphrasing), and had pictures of diverse individuals enjoying library services.  It is not a direct substitute for the rainbow display, but it is appreciated.

Wandering Wednesday Wrap-up

 

Ellie has the right idea of what retirement should be like.

Unfortunately, I can't quite take on her attitude.  I feel driven to accomplish more than that.

It's been almost a full year since I retired from accounting.  I spent the first few months organizing and then selling a large chunk of my comic collection.  In doing so, I earned more than I would have working the whole year as a part-time CPA.

I've written some, read a lot, participated more at the library, doing my only accounting holdout as Treasurer for our church, slow-binged a number of TV shows, taken more walks, and increased the lever of house and yard work that I do.  We took a trip to see my new grand-daughter in New York, and also spent time with Benjamin and his roommate Eddie, a student from Sweden.

If you can read the magazine in Ellie's picture, you can see that it's a schedule for Turner Classic Movies.  So, yes, I am trying to watch more classics, particularly silent films.  I am trying to start with the oldest films and move my way forward.  Righrt now, I've started a Harold Lloyd classic, Hot Water, from 1924, an episodic comedic look at married life.  I watch about fifteen to thirty minutes a day.

I just finished up being in a play, Harvey, a comedy about a man who sees a six-foot rabbit.  I had been in it as a Freshman in high school and reprised the same part, an elderly judge.  Same part, less makeup. We had small but enthusiastic crowds.  I had fun, and the people I was acting with were a joy to perform with, but I think, at my age, about one play a year is all I care to do.  It's fun, but it takes a lot.

Being home, I could watch a lot of the 1/6 hearings.  It's scary and unprecedented to pursue criminal charges against a former President, for this and for his other myriad crimes, but the true danger to the republic is to let him get away with it.  No one should be above the law.

Alison and I have been able to take some day trips together.  Monday (Indigenous People's Day) we were able to spend the day in Brunswick.  I don 't often take pictures of meals, but this was an important discovery, Wee Pub, that had one of the best shepherd's pie I ever done et. If half the Shepherd's Pie looks different than the other half, that's because I was stirring and sampling before I took the picture.  Yeah, I'm not really adept at the art of culinary photography.

Beginning soon this second year of retirement from accounting, I hope to refocus slightly.  This should mean more writing, but it may mean less blogging.  I really need to focus on something that may at least theoretically bring in money.  I don't know if I can make much.  It would be awesome if I can make at least enough to cover our streaming services, and some of my book/comic purchases.  That may not happen, but it would be super cool if it did.

For fun, I'd like to go back to learning how to draw.  It's just something I've always wanted to do.  Maybe I'll even share some of my art on this blog.

👇

Be afraid.  Be very afraid.

Forebotten Topics

 Yes, there are some things that I shouldn't talk about. Some things are even too dangerous for me to go into.

Excluding topics that are obvious to avoid, like explicit sexual discussions, there are others that COULD be discussed, but I don't care to go into them. 

And some topics are primarily ones I avoid with in-person conversations, to some degree online, but mostly in person.

I'm low-keying this one. No pictures and very few social media postings.

 Politics while at the theatre

Although I generally like political discussions, I go out of my way to avoid them when I'm at the theatre. This is not as easy as it seems. There are a lot of downtimes where people discuss a lot of things.

My taboo on politics at the theatre has very practical reasons. I am very passionate about these issues. I can get loud and carried away in expressing my viewpoint. More importantly, it can hurt my ability to concentrate on my part. I get too wound up, and I lose concentration. Not a good thing for somebody who is the type who is still reviewing my lines before my performances and can't let my mind wander while I'm onstage.

When others talk about politics, I try very hard to keep my mouth shut, even when I have to listen to some really weird opinions. Remember, I live in an area where Trump voters vastly outnumber everyone else. If it gets too much for me, I just walk away.

I learned to practice the same philosophy when I worked at a place that had nothing bad to say about Trump while he was President but started joking and making fun of Biden about two days into his term. 

Generally speaking, believe it or not, I don't raise political issues with people (unless I know they are allies). Sometimes, in some situations, it's hard for me not to say something when others bring it up.  

Almost all of my political talk is done via this blog.

Covid

I've learned the hard way not to talk about COVID. When others bring it up, I just let them talk.  

People's attitudes toward COVID are strange. Some (well, very few) are very strict about it - very worried and protecting themselves. Others dismiss the whole thing and think there's something wrong with you if you are still concerned about it.

And God forbid you should tell somebody you haven't had COVID yet. The looks you get! They range from disgust to why are you telling me this to baffled silence. The worst response is saying you haven't had COVID is the equivalent of saying you haven't had cancer or some other disease. YOU ARE BRAGGING.  

Have I never had COVID? I know. I'm supposed to keep my mouth shut. The truth is...probably not, but who can say for sure? It's possible I had it, and it was so incredibly asymptomatic I didn't even know.

But...you don't want to hear that. I understand now.

Tattoos

This one is scary. Perhaps the scariest topic I could broach. Tattoos are so universal now it's difficult to say anything without upsetting people.

Let me start by saying that people getting tattoos is perfectly fine. There's not a religious or moral problem. Churches who pretend they're "open and tolerant" because they let people in with tattoos are kidding themselves - let's see how many people show up if you exclude them.

That said, here goes. And I hope you still like me when I'm done.

I personally would never get a tattoo. That's my own choice. I just don't like drawing on myself. When I was a kid, I didn't even like to write my name on my arm with an inkpen. I'm not telling anybody else what to do. That's their own choice.

Do I think that tattoos, of any kind, look attractive on people? Sigh. No, I don't. I don't think it enhances people's appearance. Cripes. I can already feel the slings and arrows coming.

Does it affect how I feel about anyone? Hell, no. I feel the same way about people, regardless of tattoos, piercings, or anything else.

The only other proviso is that I don't really feel like people who are serious about acting should have prominent tattoos if they can help it. It's best to be a blank slate that can be adapted to the widest range of parts. This, to me, is most helpful to those getting started in the profession.

Am I aware that there are a lot of parts now where having tattoos either do not matter or are helpful? Yes, I'm sure there are. But I still feel it is easier to add temporary tattoos than to cover up permanent ones.

-------------------

Well, I guess three forebotten topics is a good place to start. And for some, I'm afraid it may be a good place to get off the Strait Train. I hope not, as I love and respect you all. Even the Trumpeteers.

Well, most of the Trumpeteers.

Hop On Over to Harvey this Weekend!!!

You'll believe a giant rabbit can be your best friend!

This marvelous classic is being performed to perfection by WACT (Waycross Area Community Theatre). Its final weekend is this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night, wrapped up with a special Sunday matinee!

The show's first weekend lost two performances over cautions concerning Hurricane Ian. Although, in the end, Ian missed us, causing virtually no problems, the theatre canceled the first two nights under the philosophy "better safe than sorry." WACT was not alone as school, and most planned events were canceled or delayed. To make up for this, WACT added a matinee for Sunday, October 9th.

The show is filled with laughs, sweet sentiments, and top-notch acting. Director Danny Godwin has done an awesome job assembling and fine-tuning a gifted cast who fit their parts to a tee.

 Meet the cast of WACT's upcoming production of "Harvey": Colby Eggleston, Kayla Dixon, Ethan Mitchell, Jay Butler, Amy Worthington, Elizabeth Godwin, Liv McConney, Jaela Rogers-Undercuffer, Tom Strait, Barry Lyle.

One of the best decisions Danny made was to move the show from black and white to color. By that, I mean he moved Harvey from its original 40s setting to the present. It gives the play an extra jolt of vitality and vigor. Language is somewhat altered, but mostly it is done through costuming and characterization.

The most significant and most effective transformation comes with the character of Myrtle Mae (Elwwod's niece, Veta's daughter). In the original, she is a somewhat mousy, reserved character who unsuccessfully rebels against her mother's domination. In her current version, as portrayed by the very talented Jaela-Rogers Undecuffer (whom I last performed with in The Addams Family as Morticia), she is much more sassy and intelligent, costumed in a very modern/hip fashion, with multi-color hair and vibrant makeup. In the original, her character almost fades into the background. In this version, she is front and center, one of the show's most interesting and entertaining characters.

Elwood, played by Colby Eggleston, is also updated, wearing an AC/DC t-shirt, current hair styling (including parts that don't need hair styling), and some piercings. He is very relaxed and charming, and however you feel about the rabbit, he rarely fails to charm and wins people to his side.

Veta, played by one of my favorite WACT actresses, Kayla Dizon, is a bundle of anxieties and brings the part to life. It is a great pleasure to act opposite her, as I can depend on her reactions and timing to be impeccable. She is equally talented onstage and off and is one of WACT's premiere backstage talents, including directing and stage managing.

Always a fan favorite, Ethan Mitchell plays Dr. Sanderson, bringing another somewhat bland character to roaring life with his brilliant portrayal.

Barry Lyle plays Dr. Chumey, bringing the character through a fantastic journey from stuffed shirt skeptic to wild-eyed acceptance.

Duane Wilson, the gruff sanitarium attendant, played by Jay Butler, accents his part with just the right amount of resistance and charm (well, at least to Myrtle Mae). And Nurse Kelly is delivered with expertise and vitality by Elizabeth Godwin, who, like many nurses, has to weave between the behavior lines of arrogant and intense doctors.

Playing two parts each, Amy Worthington and Liv McConney, are four extraordinary characters that give depth and humor to this wonderful show.

I'm in it, too, playing the same part as I did in 9th grade, elderly Judge Gaffney. Same part, less makeup. I'll let you decide whether I'm any good. Recently, someone asked me if I was a "method actor."  Nah.  Nothing like that. I try to follow the "method" that Spencer Tracy said once "Say your lines and try not to run into the furniture."*

Please come out and see this show! They deserve your support, and you will not be disappointed - you will be massively entertained!

What a start to a 50th season!

*well, he said something like that. I think.  

Podlicious Monday Musings

 

That is the top of a pod cup. I use it to make an individual cup of coffee in the afternoons.

I don't know about you, but I find the picture a little scary and disturbing. At first, I thought it was a clown, but on closer inspection, I think it's a picture of a woman holding a coffee cup up in front of her. It's either a smile or getting ready to gulp or something. I feel like coffee's a little too hot to gulp like that, but what do I know? 

Our area is a little unsettled today. Hurricane Ian's current projected path would take it over us on Friday and Saturday. These paths weeble and wobble as they get closer, so it's a guess at this point.

But some scheduled events are not taking a chance. They are already canceling and moving to other dates. Is this panic or prudence? I don't know. Better safe than sorry.

So far, Harvey is holding steady to open this weekend. That means Hell Week is still a go. Dress rehearsals tonight, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and then performances Thursday-Friday-Saturday night, topped with a matinee Sunday afternoon. I'm gonna be one tired old man! I'm unsure how I would do it all if I was still working. I used to do it all the time, but now I look back with amazement that I could pull it off.

I'll guess I'll know how serious it is if they start to cancel high school football games. Those events are pretty sacred.

MEANWHILE...

The Michigan Wolverines had their first close game, beating Maryland 34-27. So either Michigan is not as good as I hoped, or Maryland is a lot better than people think. Either way, this season does not look like the runaway I was hoping for.

I thought the Detroit Lions might be turning around, but they lost another heartbreaker, with Minnesota coming from behind to beat them. They're good enough to compete but not good enough (or lucky enough) to win.

My expectations for the Detroit Tigers have constantly adjusted through the season. Going from ...this year they'll make the playoffs...to...this year they'll finish over .500...to...this year they won't finish last...to..this year they won't lose 100 games! Still crossing my fingers on that last one!

ALSO...

How can I like politics so much but hate ads so much? I mean all of them, even many from my side. Anyone who votes based on ads needs to retake Civics.  

I don't enjoy politics as much as I used to. People voting for Trump makes no sense to me. It never has. I can't wrap my head around it. He's a grifter/con man, a narcissist who's not very bright, and a racist. Republican vs. Democrats, conservative vs. liberal - these are battles I understand. But authoritarian vs. democracy? It's too scary to be fun anymore.

Anyhoo, my desk setup is still not ergonomically sound, and I don't want to wreck my knees and feet for the upcoming play. I'm old in Harvey, but I'm not decrepit,

Until next time,

T. M. Strait

Living the Swinging Life

 The swing is swinging!

Yes, we finally have it up!

Just in time for Alison and Pixie to enjoy a cool Saturday morning (an unexpected 58 degrees!)!

I was lucky enough to see her father come over to put it up on Thursday afternoon and was able to offer a small amount of help in securing it.  So for those who think I'm absolutely worthless at this sort of thing, I was responsible for 3% of the installation efforts.  I can help if carefully directed.

I'm happy to see the swing installed and Alison able to enjoy it.

Just a' Swingin'!

Swing On the Ground

 

This magicked onto our porch yesterday afternoon.

I was home but didn't know this was here until Alison came home.  It must have come in when I was doing God knows what, God knows where.

The dogs dutifully ignored their job and at no time barked to let me know someone was intruding on to our porch.

It may go up today, but that may also occur when I am not looking.

I will keep you updated.

Isn't this exciting stuff?

Getting Ready to Swing

Yesterday, Alison rearranged the deck furniture on our titanic screened-in porch. She did this while I was at play rehearsal.

She was making room for the porch swing she and her father were building.

You read that right. Alison and her father. Not me. I am not building the swing. I don't think there's any demand for me to try.

This is one of the reasons I am not comfortable with strict gender roles and why I have been more open to people being who they are and not what others expect.

For better or worse, I have never been handy or crafty. If Alison or others want me to help with something, and they can direct me to exactly what I need to do, I'll be happy to help. But I have no ability or interest in doing more.

Fortunately, Alison likes these kinds of projects and happily takes the lead.  

Again, anyone who expects the male to do one thing and the female to do the other will be sorely disappointed.  

In the picture above is Cocoa Bear, carefully inspecting the changes to our back porch. I told her about the swing, and she said she would give it a hard pass. Only Boss-A-Man was interested, and that was only if he could be on our laps.

I may use it some. If nothing else, it will give me a different place to sit, so I won't sit in any one place for too long, which I think contributes to my arthritis pains.

I'll be sure to show you pictures when the swing has been installed.

 

Tuesday Twitter Questions 091322

 Hello!

Welcome to another edition of Tuesday Twitter Questions!

OR

I want to write, but I have no really strong topic.

For this, I go to my illustrious Twitter feed and try to answer the first five questions I run across.*

Question #1

Balancing a day job and writing and social media and health and fitness and a social life is rough… Anyone actually manage it all?

No. No, I don't. I've found in retirement that I am not getting the consistency of days I hoped for. I cannot block out the same time to do what I want to do, mainly writing each day.

I regularly walk in the mornings, but the rest of the day's exercise varies quite a bit. And that doesn't even count the days I have limited mobility due to foot and/or knee and/or back problems.

But I'm working on it. Every week is a new week to try to straighten things out.

Question #2

How can Republicans claim to be the party of "small government" when they want the government to make medical decisions for women and control the history taught in public schools? That's the opposite of "small government." What am I missing?

The parties and what they represent are constantly changing. Most of what is now the Republican (MAGA) party doesn't care about small government. They care primarily about the continued dominance of white "Christian" men. They want to control women. They want to control the educational narrative.

Small government can refer to not providing help at the federal level for those in need. It can mean lower taxes and regulations for achievers. This is not insignificant, but it is no longer a significant concern for MAGA Republicans.

Question #3

Do you have a favorite story about witches?

Yeah. But they're mine! My favorite is the non-fiction autobiographical short, War of the Witches and the Martians. I also like the fiction short Rescuing Princess Charlotte. My grand unpublished opus, The Extra Credit Club, has witches. And ... SPOILER ALERT... so does History of the Trap.

Question #4

Do you have multiple writing projects going at once?

Sort of. I need to market The Extra Credit Club. I need to continue writing the second volume of The History of the Trap. I periodically write The Kingdom Come stories and a few stories set in Crowley.

Mostly, I just need to get back to writing more regularly.

That would be the first step.

Question #5

How many people have ACTUALLY stopped watching CNN, not using their website, not sharing their content?

Stopped watching CNN? Yes. Which may not be entirely fair, as there are still a few good people there (Jim Acosta, for one).

Not using their website? Ooops. Guilty as charged. Has somebody got good FREE (no paywall) news sources that would have quality phone apps?

Not sharing their content? No, never have been too much for that.

And that includes this edition of Tuesday Twitter Questions!

Until next time,

T. M. Strait

*overtly sexual questions, really stupid questions, and repetitive questions may be skipped.