New York State of Mind

Pictured above are Alison and Benjamin.

Welcome to the Catskills!

My middle son, Doug, and his beautiful wife, Paige, moved from the Atlanta suburbs to New York last September.  They have a cabin on several acres in the Catskill mountains.

They have expanded their agricultural interests, including fruit trees and many planted fruits and vegetables.  I was able to swipe some fresh strawberries on the vine.  Tasty!  

Of course, our trip up there was not just to see Doug and Paige, as lovely as they are.  No, there was a little something more.

IT WAS TO SEE MY BRAND NEW GRANDDAUGHTER!

RETTA LOCKETT STRAIT

Two of my three sons, Benjamin and Doug.

I can't show you pictures of her, but trust me, she is gorgeous, the sweetest little baby I ever did see!

Just over three months, she smiles and responds. They sing a song to her about being the littlest wolf in the wolfpack and then sing "A-roo!" Retta will often repeat what they say.  It's a rudimentary imitation, but nevertheless, she is repeating it.  First word Mama and/or Dada?  No, it's a wolf howl!

I was able to read to her.  I'm not entirely sure what she got out of it, BUT I did hold her attention.

They got me a t-shirt that said " I'm not retired...I'm a professional Grandpa!" That is a shirt I will wear with great honor and pride!

The pictures that I do have were given to me by Alison.  They are from a nearby park called Pratt Rocks.  

I did not go on that trip.  My knees were still aggravated, and I was unsure how they would respond to the climb.  I took Prednisone, and that helped limit the pain. However, nothing was going to stop me from seeing my granddaughter.

The food was amazing, most prepared by Paige, including Pad Thai Ew and two types of chicken salad; we also had huge bagels (each big enough to feed a family of four) and some delicious ice cream sandwiches from a local dairy store.

It was a wonderful trip; we're already plotting how to get back there soon.  

I really am looking forward to being part of my granddaughter's life.

Thank you, Doug & Paige, for inviting us up there!

See y'all again soon!
 

Can't Stop that Wednesday Wandering Feeling

Let's start our Wednesday Wanderings with anothe picture from Alison, taken during her Saturday photography walking tour.

For the sharp-eyed frequent blog reader, that is our church, Grace Episcopal!  Looking good, eh?  I'm not hep to architectural styles, but that looks kinda like in the Spanish family. 

The building has been around a long time.  Over 150 yrars?  Something like that.  It is a very beautiful and spirit-filled church.  It does require quite a bit of maintenance.  Sometimes I wish we were able to focus more on outreach spending than building maintenance, but we manage.

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I posted this calendar of the 1/6 hearings on Facebook, just to keep people informed.  And well, yes, as a mild outreach to my friends who still like the smell of Trump's posterior region.

My surprise was the kickback from some of those who normally support me and those of us who beleive Trump should be held responsible.  They commented about how the hearings won't accomplish anything, that the hearings won't reach the people that need to hear them. that they were mere entertainment or spectacle.

I have too much hope and faith in me.  I can't stop thinking of how Superman never gives up, how leaders from Martin Luther King, Jr and Ghandi fought against overwhelming odds.  Don't tell the odds, man!  I know how bad they are!  I know this most likely will not change the minds of the Trumpeteers that surround me, that they will zone it out as if it is not happeneing at all.  I KNOW ALL THAT!

Nevertheless, it needs to be said.  The story needs to be recorded, if for history if nothing else.

Maybe this generation will not wake up.  But perhaps a generation or two down the road will see it and turn to their elderly Trumpeteer family, and go, "What the hell were you thinking?"

Of course, this is premised on the far right not suceeding in controlling public education and filtering what is taught, especially history.

I know.  I'm a windmill tilter.

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My comics are sold.  This should help us manage our finances, reduce our debt, and help us plan for travel.  There are places we wnat to go (Ireland and Great Britain, Canada, New England) but primarily we want to be able to travel to see our far-flung family.  I have a grandaughter in New York that I am aching to see!  

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Over half year into accounting retirement and no, I'm not bored.  I'M LOVING IT! I have plans that I hope to get to, but the biggest one I'm already doing - ENJOY LIFE!

Wanderingly Yours,

T. M. Strait

Please note, Grammarly did not attach, for whatever reason.  I'm sure they are some real grammatical stinkpiles in this, but hopefully I'll be able to correct them at a future date.  Or not.  Whatever.

Wednesday Wishes

 

Sorry for my prolonged absence. I guess it's just the way it's going to be. My routine varies more than I expected.

Alison didn't work last week - the school system she worked for had their Spring Break. It was good just to spend time with her - readin' and chillin'.

I wish I could develop a better routine. There are too many things I want to do. I would like to get back to writing the second volume of History of the Trap. I want to promote the writings I already have, including a novel I have finished but have not tried to find an agent for. I would like to return to daily drawing lessons - I don't expect to be any good; it's just something I've always wanted to do. I want to see more old movies. I want to read more.

I wish I could do more for others. I am devoting more time to church, both in attendance and as Treasurer. We have Holy Week this week. I attended a mass yesterday and will be attending services for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday. I want to use my superpower more - reading aloud. I will be reading at Ware County library for Children's Hour on June 14th. I would love to do more. I am doing a much greater share of the housework than I did while working.

At first, I was happy with how much money we had coming in. It was more than adequate to meet our needs. But now I have a granddaughter in New York, and I just wish I had more money to travel and even rent places and such. My oldest son, Greg, is in Los Angeles, and my youngest son, Benjamin, has a year left in college and then will wind up who knows where - most likely very far from us. I don't desire to be super-rich, but I would like to have enough to see everybody.

I wish I could finally focus enough to lose weight and exercise more - the goal being to help with high blood pressure and lower blood glucose (I am prediabetic). This week, I've reinstituted my chart for the food I eat and tracking weight, blood pressure, and blood glucose. If I'm going to be alright, I will have to keep it up.

I wish the country and world would get their act together and finally do everything possible to prioritize combatting global warming. I want my granddaughter to have a livable planet to grow up on.

I wish people (particularly those who live around me) would stop supporting authoritarian fascists like Trump and DeSantis and return to the principled conservative opposition we once had in this country.

I wish these same people would stop demonizing and persecuting the LGBTQ+ community. I am so sick of progress of this country being held up by phony culture war issues I could chuck a tuna bunwich.

I wish the Russian people would end the Putin regime, withdraw from Ukraine, and restore some semblance of democracy.

I wish income equality were to be addressed.

I know that the midterms will be dominated by inflation. And if you think voting for a Republican is somehow going to help. I wish you would explain to me why. What in the world do you think they will do?

I wish Firefly would come back.

Well, that's enough wishing for now.

Except for I wish you all well and...

Blog y'all soon!