Blog Preservation Act of August 16, 2018

Nothing says artificially induced blog traffic like a picture of a sleeping Boss-A-Man!

Oh, how I wish I could focus on topics.  But my brain is fried from a busy schedule, and chronic foot pain that just doesn't seem to want to go away.  Yes, if it persists after the audit I'm working on concludes, I will see a doctor or something.  I wonder if there is Chinese acupuncture in our area?

I need to build book promotion around Crowley Stories: Swamp's Edge.  I have the paperback copies, but I haven't been able to do much with them yet.  Stay tuned!  I might have some time tomorrow to start the launch.

I also need to release more information about the 5th Annual Okefenokee Writer's Guild Writer's Contest.  It is a go, and I'm hoping for better student participation this year.  

Nothing much about politics this time.  Other than if you are still a Trump supporter at this point, it really reveals more about you than him.  

Our DVR is exploding.  Hopefully, we'll be able to catch up soon.  I do recommend the second season of The Sinner, and the HULU series Castle Rock, if you get a chance to catch them.

Atlanta United return Sunday.  We hope they come back guns blazing, because in this brief hiatus the darn New York teams have been catching up to them.  Josef Martinez, the ATL All-Star, is on the verge of shattering the MLS record for goals scored.  Alison and I were privileged to witness him tie the record for hat tricks (three goals in a game) when we saw them at Mercedes Stadium.

The only thing I don't like about the whole thing is that the stadium is named after a corporation.  I think that is stupid and vulgar when they do that.  But they normally don't ask my opinion.

Anyways, I'll try to get back to better themes soon.

Monday Musings from the Swamp's Edge

And so it begins!

The big Shill-a-thon for Crowley Stories: Swamp's Edge.  Be patient.  It looks like if there is shilling to be done, I'll have to do it.  But, when all is said and done, if you accidentally or on purpose get the book, I'll think you'll enjoy it.  And if you review it for one of the services (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads) that would be fantastic beyond measure.


I will be doing what I can, but the hard push probably won't begin until I complete the audit assignment at work that has me working more hours than usual. 

Then I am starting a new play, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest with Purlie Productions.  Beleive it or not, I don't play one of the crazy ones.  I don't play McMurphy (the Nicholson part) or Nurse Ratchett.   I am a doctor, and maybe also an aide.  This will chew up some time the next couple of months, but I don't have too many lines to learn, so that should help.

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Now that Benjamin is starting to drive, I am finding it harder than I expected to hold the line at two cars.  I didn't know he'd want to drive to school.  I don't know why that is a surprise to me.  We think we can arrange things to only need two cars, but we shall see.  Alison lives very close to her work, and may not always need a car.  I'll need a car less when my work schedule reduces next month.

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I'm trying to decide whether to renew my subscription to Entertainment Weekly.  I'm a charter subscriber, having received every issue they've put out (they are currently on issue #1,524).  When I started, they were more statistics oriented, but each year they are becoming more and more like People Magazine, with more and more celebrity fluff pieces.  Much of the information that I used to look for in Entertainment Weekly I can now find online through the interWebs.

It's just hard to give up, something that has been a constant in your life through multiple decades.  It's not that expensive, and I do read it.  I just don't know how essential it is anymore.

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Well, that wasn't many topics.  Probably should start fixin' to think about gettin' around!

Be sure to take a trip to Crowley soon! (Sorry - gotta squeeze in one last shill!)

Get Yer Link to a Free Preview of Crowley Stories Right Here!!!!!!!!!

Flash Fiction Friday: Broken

The first time I needed it, it was there for me.  It did what I needed it to.  I was lucky to have it, and it may have saved my life.  It certainly ended Bob's, though.  That's for sure.

Yes, it was stupid to come out here.  Bob convinced me that one more hike through the mountain trails would revive our relationship.  I knew that it was over, but I thought I would give him this one last thing.  Maybe it would make it clear to him we were no longer a match.

All it did was trigger his rage.  And with no one to hold him check, I was at grave risk.

Bob had laughed at me bringing the umbrella.  The forecast revealed only a tiny chance of light rain, and he had packed rain jackets that he thought would serve us better.  I don't know what made me bring it.  It was underneath the car seat, and I instinctively grabbed it.  When he challenged me on taking it, it just made me more stubborn to keep it.

When we got to the Mighty Oak, he wanted to stop and talk.  I made my feelings clear.  He was now a good friend to me, nothing more. 

Bob did not like this.  Bob did not want to accept this.  He pleaded and cried, got down on his hands and knees.  When he started to pathetically sing our song (Rihanna's Umbrella), I lost it.  I began to howl with laughter.

This was a mistake.  Bob was infuriated.  He came at me with a look of uncontrollable rage.  He hit me, right across the face.  It split my lip open, not much, but enough to taste the blood.  He grabbed me and started pulling at my clothes, at the same time while tugging down his own pants.  I still clutched the umbrella behind me back,  and as his insistent hug intensified, I swung it around, hitting him on the head full force.

He backed up a second, looking at me puzzled, blood seeping across his forehead.  "You bitch!" he screamed and came at me again.  I hit him again, and he went down.  As he started to pull himself up, I stabbed him with the pointy end.

Now it was my own rage that was out of control.  I struck him and stabbed him until the light went out from his eyes.

I ran.  I ran until I came to the stream.  I sat on a large rock. 

The rains came.  It was a deluge.  My umbrella no longer worked.  It was twisted and torn, bloody and broken.  It did not matter.  As heavy as the rain was, I did not feel it.


Then I heard it.  The singing and splashing.  The song coming from near the stream.  Someone was splashing in the stream, warbling Singing in the Rain.  It was Andy.  He must have followed me.

Sometimes when you break up, it's because you realize you're no longer a match.  Or you need to move to a different stage of your life that doesn't include them.  Sometimes you just want to be with someone else.  For me, that someone was Andy.

Andy continued to sing.  He took me in his arms, and we danced in the rain.  He kissed me gently, and for a moment, I forgot what had just gone on before.

Andy noticed my umbrella.  "What the hell happened to your umbrella?  It's all smashed up, and..." his eyes opened in surprise, " is that blood?"

I sighed.  I had trouble coming up with an explanation.  The only thing I could think of was a bear, but before I could say anything, he asked, "Was that Bob's car down there?"  He looked around.  "Where is Bob?"

Poor Andy.

Now him, I was going to miss.

Grace Lee and the Celebration of 90!

I was honored to be able to attend Grace Lee's 90th birthday party last Saturday. There were well over 100 people, family and friends from all over.  It was truly a joyous celebration, with music and memories.

Her children spoke and were very eloquent.  Grace spoke and was very charming. 

Her daughter brought up how the Okefenokee Writer's Guild has been so important in her life the last few years.  She is a great writer and person, and it has been my honor to help her to meetings and be her friend.  The only other Writer's Guild member that was there was Julie Lacefield.  She has also been very supportive of Grace.

There were many pictures and scrapbooks on display, but also a vast plethora of her writings, including the story she did for the upcoming August meeting.

In speaking to us, Grace noted how she was surprised she made it to 90, but now that she had, she felt sure she would reach 100!  Given her strength of character, her loving family and friends, I have no doubt that she will!

The celebration reminded my of my own father's 90th birthday party. At that point, he was having good days and bad days, as far as being responsive to his environment.  It was a much smaller affair, that centered on close family members. Like Grace, my father was a very accomplished man, and a very kind and loving soul.  He passed fifteen months later.  I miss him every day.

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My blog output has slowed considerably.  I've been in a bit more time at work this month.  We've also had a close family member in the hospital, recovering nicely, but that is requiring time and attention that we gladly give.  Myself, I am subject to foot pains, and they have been pretty bad recently.  It makes it difficult to concentrate on anything for long.  It is also difficult to drive, but that is kind of unavoidable right now.


Hang in there with me.  I hope to be back on track very soon!

August Speculatron - How Blue is Blue? Saturday Political Soap Box 190

Meme was for a specific state [rimary, but of course, it holds true for November 6.  

It's time for the speculatron again!

Time for my often wildly inaccurate predictions of our political future!

In fairness, I have not been entirely wrong in the past.   My predictions are hurt by continually underestimating how many people can be suckered by a narcissistic con man who is totally unfit for any public office.  I predicted a narrow victory for Clinton winning by 2 to 5 percentage points (which she got) but who knew, besides the Russians and the Trump insiders, that the electoral college would break in such an ugly way?

So, here is my initial prediction for the 2018 election :

The Blue Wave will be the Blue Splash

Okay, my Democratic Party-inclined friends.  You can vilify me if you want to.  But I have to start with a major unfortunate assumption -  Republicans, even those who dislike Trump, will come home to roost.  I watched them do it in 2016.  Despite everything we see happening, they will do it again in 2018.

That'a not enough to win everywhere, but it's enough to hold the profoundly red gerrymandered districts that dominate the House of Representatives.

Right now the House stands at 240 Republicans and 195 Democrats (this includes 6 vacancies that I have apportioned to the party that last held the seat).  At this point in time, I believe that the Democrats will gain....

20 seats!!!

Wow!  That's a huge move!  That would leave the House breakdown at...

220 Republicans, 215 Democrats

Close, but no cigars.  And with the House being a majority rule chamber, they will continue to control the agenda, and all the committees of Congress.

The Senate composition, with Independents assigned to whom they caucus with, is:

51 Republicans, 49 Democrats

The problem the Democrats have here is that 26 of the Senate seats up are held by Democrats, some of them in states that voted for Trump.  That's 26 out of 35, up a whopping 75%.  They are going to have to achieve phenomenal success to hold their own.  I have always detested the Republican Lite strategy that many of the Blue Dog Democrats run on, and I fear it may be a big losing strategy this year.

Translation:  Democrats can have a reasonably successful midterm and still not gain the paltry two seats they need for control.

My current prediction is, that after the midterms the Senate composition will be:

53 Republicans, 47 Democrats

That means the Republicans will still be in charge of things.  It used to be that the Senate allowed great influence by minority party members.  This is not true anymore.  Senator McConnell runs as roughshod over the Democrats in the Senate as Paul Ryan (or his replacement) in the House.  There will be no check on Supreme court nominees or any other nominee for that matter.

Mueller could have a tape recording of Trump giving away the store to Putin, and the Republicans will not move to do anything about it.  No conspiracy, no crime, no belligerency or trampling of the constitution will go checked.

The autocracy will move forward.

The good news?  There will be more Progressive Democrats, and they will continue to advocate the only agenda that can save the nation -  Medicare For All, a living wage, combatting global warming, increased access to higher education, voting rights, civil rights, the rule of law.  

The bad news?  The Republicans that survive the splash will be the batcrap crazier ones.  Expect greater insanity and greater tolerance and defense of whatever Trump does.

What could change this?  The economy is deteriorating, especially for the middle class, but it is happening too slowly to have much of an effect by November.  The Mueller probe could accelerate fast enough to make it more transparent how foul this President really is.  Democrats might accidentally hit the right themes in the campaign (I wish I could tell you what those are, but I'm just not sure).

At the same time, Trump could start a war that rallies enough people for the short time it takes for the election.  He will whip up hatred and bigotry and fear, and I can't promise how all that will work out.

Not everyone believes there will be a blue wave. Look at this meme below to see what kind of cranky trash is being shared by the Trumpeteers _

Will the midterms prove this tragically true?

I hope not.

I hope I'm wrong.

Am I trying to pull my Trump-opposing friends out of complacency?


Why, yes.  Yes, I am.


It's going to take every single one of us to stop this tragedy I predicted from happening.

EVERYONE SINGLE ONE OF YOU HAS TO VOTE!

NO EXCEPTIONS!

NO EXCUSES!

ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING IS AT STAKE!

VOTE LIKE OUR DEMOCRACY DEPENDS ON IT!

BECAUSE IT DOES!

A Special Message for my Trump Supporting Friends

This is the message:

You're still my friend.

I care about you and the contributions we make to each other's lives.

If I didn't care about you, this wouldn't be so difficult,  I wouldn't be losing so much sleep and be so anxious and disturbed.

You are very kind to me, my family, the community, and many others.  You're polite, and you treat strangers well.  I'll never see you on videos cursing immigrants and minorities out. 

But, there's something terribly wrong.  And I don't know how to handle it.

It's been clear to me from the beginning that Trump is not worthy of your vote or your support.  I knew this from the first time I heard he went bankrupt.  I saw him on Celebrity Apprentice and realized that he was a blustering empty shell - that he had no real core or advice for people - the show careened on his useless and contradictory advice.

I knew it when I saw his blatant racism, including discriminating against renters based on skin color.  I knew it when he started his campaign by calling Mexicans rapists and murderers.  I knew it when he mocked a disabled reporter.

Many of you may remember that in the primaries that I did not ask you to stop being a conservative.  I begged you not to vote for Trump.

It didn't bother you when he conspired with Russia.  It didn't bother you when he was going to effect a ban based on religion.  It didn't bother you when he turned his back on global warming, when he gave a massive tax cut to the wealthy that will blow an unclosable hole in the budget, when he shreds the emolument clause and enriches himself and his family at the expense of the taxpayer. 

You ignore his foul tweets, filled with vile and destructive insults.  You pay no attention to his sexual indiscretions and payouts.  You forgive a zillion things that you would have grabbed a pitchfork and marched on Washington had Obama done them. 

All this breaks my heart, but what broke my spirit was how you didn't care that he was breaking up parents from their children.  I don't care how you feel about immigration, or whether you consider them criminals. This was wrong, and the fact that you don't see it, or have rationalized it, leaves me sad and broken. 

But none of this says that I don't want to be your friend. Whether I see you at church, or at the theatre, at work, or any place else, know that you're still my friend, and I care about you.

I am hurt.  I am confused.  I am worried.  But you are still my friend, and I will strive to be as open to you as I can.  Sometimes I will be quiet, but I will not turn our friendship into a political battleground.

But know this.  I will always hope and pray that you wake up.

I end with a quote from Anne Frank:

It’s difficult in times like these: ideals, dreams and cherished hopes rise within us, only to be crushed by grim reality. It’s a wonder I haven’t abandoned all my ideals, they seem so absurd and impractical. Yet I cling to them because I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart.