What I think

 how you anticipate something so much that it almost seems sad when it is over?

 Is it just a sign that Christmas is becoming just another day. That people spend money they don't have on things other people don't want. Just a day off from work?  I am struggling with getting the very few I will be sending out. But they will go out. This year Christmas seems hard, more of a chore than a joy. I am trying to get back to the fun and the magic but it just is not there.

 or an email with' I hate to say this but' maybe you shouldn't say it. Just sayin'

 I don't know who this congressman is who got himself kicked out of congress but it seems to me he should actually be convicted of a crime before that happened. What happened to innocent until proven guilty. Seems his colleagues, who claim to know the laws of the land, should have grown a spine and stood up for this principal. Or a case of the pot calling the kettle black. Maybe no one will notice their own 'crimes' if they throw this guy to the wolves 

 A deal where you get the short end of the stick is not a good deal. They release 10 or 20 hostages, innocent people who were taken against their will, and you release a hundred criminals, people who have committed a crime that they were arrested for, and you think that is a good deal. No it is not. And while we are on the topic, what do you think the criminals you released are going to do? Well, they are coming after you. They got away with it once they'll do it again.

 Why is there always enough money for the government to have committees and task forces; yet no money to actually do anything?  And why do the pick the most useless people to be on them? No one seems to be able to just do something. Why is that?

 On utility bills there is a charge to help pay the bills of people who can not pay the electric bill or pay for internet. This is not an optional charge. So, I wonder, do companies collect these fees, take credit for the companies generosity in paying low income persons bills and then right it off as a loss for a tax credit?

 It is one thing to see Halloween candy right next to Christmas ornaments in the store in Sept. but another thing to see houses already decorated for Christmas on Nov 1. What is the rush? Why can't people just enjoy one thing before going head long after the next thing. While walking over the weekend there was a house with a lovely tree in its' window and pumpkins on the porch. Why?

I will become speaker of the house. Seriously, how hard can it be. If idiot, back stabbing, two faced politicians think they can do, I am sure I could do it. Of course, I'm not an idiot or two faced or back stabbing, but that wouldn't matter, would it?

 I want to be the one to turn the other cheek, to say that violence and revenge are not the answer. But, when the violence and cruelty, that began the situation, are so heinous I don't seem to be able to get past it.  I want to. But instead I say the revenge is not as bad as the inhumanity that started it all.  I will get past that feeling and be forgiven. Or I won't. And I will be ok with that.

 to free speech and to believe what you want. It is a privilege that many people don't have. And the people who disagree with you have that same right. It is unfathomable to me, that people with such privilege would support the senseless terrorizing and slaughter of innocent people, simply because of where they are born. Imagine you were there watching this happen, being a part of either side. How would you feel watching people being attacked? If you still think it is ok than you are as disgusting and horrible as the people inflicting the violence.

 Apparently writers and actors have been on strike. Did you miss them? I sure didn't. But now they have settled with writers so inane talk shows can come back. I am sure the actors will follow and we can have more crappy tv shows. Is it obvious I don't watch new tv programming? Network or cable or otherwise, I don't watch new stuff. It is either just a rehash of some other show or too politically correct and almost always with not the best acting or writing. So I say stay on strike or find other jobs.

 who does not like fall? It is dark later and earlier, gray and wet most days. The pretty leaves fall and became a slippery mess on side walks. There is not much to like about this season.

 Driving in the car Sunday morning I heard the song Sunday Morning Coming Down by Johnny Cash. And I started to remember Sunday. When we could sleep in later and listen to the music whichever parent got to the stereo first played. Went to church. And a big mid day dinner with family. Very few things were open and it was always quiet.  What happened to that? I miss it. I am just not sure how to get Sunday back.

 Has come and gone. And while I received many birthday wishes I am always reminded of the ones I no longer get. And this year another card did not come in the mail. I am always a little sad on birthdays and grateful that I have been able to have another one.

 There is a commercial for Instacart that shows a mom playing with her kids because she is having her groceries delivered. In the not too distant past, moms were able to work, keep house, raise decent kids and grocery shop with no problem at all. Are we now saying moms of today are incapable of doing the things moms in the past could do? Is this just another way to make society weak and whiny? If you have a health reason use instacart other wise do you own shopping and take your kids with you and teach them how to shop and read labels and pay for things. Unless you are also incapable of raising decent kids, in that case, leave the darlings at home. The rest of the shoppers will thank you.

 It is so sad when you have a question or want to share something and the person you know will have the answer or be interest in what you have to say is no longer with us. The reality of their passing hits you again almost as hard, but even sadder, than when they first passed.

 I should but I don't and there are a few things that just stuck out to me. Schools in one of the Carolinas legally have to open later in the summer so the state can continue to get tax dollars for people doing touristy things. And really, are they teaching kids anyway? Better to have stupid kids who buy into that crap. I guess some schools are risking it and opening earlier. In Canada a young women could not get an appoint with her therapist for many weeks so the government offered to help her kill herself. Better to get rid of the annoying people than fix your bad health care system. Corporations and rich people own a lot of the water rights on Maui. During the fires they had to be asked if their water could be used to fight the fires. I don't even know what to say about that. I would not have asked just done and maybe saved a life or two. But that's' just me.

 Apparently the state legislature voted to refurbish the capital dome to the tune of many millions of dollars. Not sure shy. Looked good to me and its not like anyone does anything there. Turns out it is now going to cost 100 million more to finish, The government did not think it was necessary to explain that to the citizens. Who did not vote to refurbish the building anyway. yes, the did vote for the useless people who thought it was a good thing. Now why would they not think the people needed to know? Most people would want a reason for paying more than they originally agreed on. Maybe, the government didn't want to explain and be judged for one more screw up.

 Wouldn't it be nice if you could just pass a law and everyone would do the right thing. You can pass them but less than moral people will get around them. You could pass a law that landlords would not raise rents so high that people can't pay them. Yes there are laws, they don't seem to work. Employers would not cut workers hours so the higher ups in the company would not loose any money. Businesses would not raise prices on products just because they can.  Maybe it is time that parents started to teach their children right from wrong, to be kind and helpful to other people. That there is a reason to always try to be good. I know that used to be a thing, but I guess it went out of style along with common sense.

 There are many laws that I do not understand. The 2 I really don't understand are the OR bottle law and the don't pump your own gas law. The gas law is changing, not because the governor signed it into law but because she didn't do anything with it. Leadership, not a thing. I was just annoyed by it when we first moved here but quickly got used to it and now will not pump gas. The government assures us that no one will loose their jobs when stations can make half their pumps self serve. Apparently, the government does not know how big business works. Stations are understaffed as it is and companies are showing profits so it makes since that now they can cut their staff in half and make even more money. Cynic?, maybe, but I think that is exactly what will happen. And then there is the bottle tax. Annoyed the hell out of me. Bottles had to be returned to the stores where the area was trashed, long lines, machines broken; because, stores did not want to deal with staffing and ...

 So some singer has irritated the whiny weak people with his newish song. Apparently it implies all sorts of horrid wicked things and should never be heard again. So, of course, I listen. Good song. I like it. It implies how the world should be but isn't. And I watched the video with its implied violence. Well, that is not implied that's what it shows. But I've seen it on the news already so it implied nothing for me. So,, people who have nothing better to do then annoy the rest of us, just don't listen. Don't tell your friends because I guess the song is doing really well on the charts. I am sure the singer appreciates that.

 It seems the governor is having a hard time deciding if she should sign a bill that would allow people to pump their own gas. She had no problems signing more controversial bills. I am confused as to why a 12 year old can get an abortion or change its gender with no input from its parents but an adult person can't decide whether to pump his own gas without government oversight.

 or at least be able to get the thoughts that sound so good in my head onto paper. When I try to write the words that I think sound so great do not translate. I can not get them to make sense, to be clear and concise. Maybe I try to make the words politically correct. They are not in my head. Not that anyone reads this but I wonder what they would think if I wrote what I really wanted to. I also wonder if I would care.

 Sounded like a war zone last night. All illegal fireworks. Which is weird since the county was under a red flag warning and the city was under a burn ban that included fireworks. I read posts that said 'I bought them Im going to use them', didn't give us enough warning', and 'this is America I can do what I want' I understand all of them and I never listen to government officials but with a little common sence you would see that the ban was warranted. Near 100 degrees, no rain and hot for days, winds, prime conditions for fires. But no we got to have fireworks which were already purchased illegally. And then set them off for hours. And the official response? crickets. This does put me in mind of a recent situation where the people stood against the government. You know, masks, no schools, no working. With no scientific data to back it up. Oh wait, the people were all for that one.

 I love fireworks. Not the safe and sane ones but the big ones that light up the sky.  Here the use of fireworks has been put under noise violations which stipulate when you can and can't set them off. The city has made an effort to let people know about this ordinance and the fine you will get if you break it. Problem is no one cares. Fires works are going off day and night and not the legal ones. And is the city sending someone out immediately to issue the dreaded fine? Probably not. If you live in a pro crime state this is, sadly, to be expected. No one has any regard for the laws or the people that make and enforce them. Gotta wonder why laws are even made.

 Why do people feel they can write whatever they want online? A religious person dies and the response is 'good riddance', rich people are killed doing something frivolous and they are coitized. No thought is given to their living friends and family. No one cares that these are people and they are gone and people are left behind. When did people get so unfeeling and uncaring?

 OR legislators walked off the job for weeks in protest of several bills before them. They made a deal to come back in which they got essentially nothing. Parents still have limited say in weather their kid can get an abortion or change genders and insurance companies still have to pay for it. Seriously. Teenagers should not be allowed to cross the street by themselves let alone make health decisions. And why should a private business be told by the government what it will pay for. Or that the parents should have to pay for the decisions they government says they are old enough make. You can now pump your own gas in OR. What a waste of time to pass that law and do nothing on more serious matters. And rent control. Seriously, Why would a landlord let the government tell them what they are going to charge. They will get out of the business first. And, again, what right does the government have to tell a private business what they are going to charge. One group of politicians have way...

 Just heard a news report about a school district in Canada is telling its' staff they must call all students they/them until they are told differently. Essentially people are now its. A table is an it a person is male or female. And should be referred to as such not put in the same category as a dishwasher.  

 More gun violence. At least a couple times a week. And no on can figure out why. Well, other than the weapons get up and start hurting people. Time to wake up and address the real problem. People. With no sense of right and wrong, no morals, no compassion. With nothing to believe in. No responsibility and no consequences. Kids need to be taught right from wrong and held to it. Adults need to be punished for their crimes. Apparently in this m e first everybody gets a trophy world we have forgotten all that.

 I heard a news story about a school that was not allowing students to participate in year end activities if all their fees had not been paid. This is not an unusual stance, I've heard it before. It is not right that the children are punished for something they have no control over and the fees still won't be paid/ But, what struck me the most is a parent who said 'this is just showing them that if they don't have money they don't get things'. Um duh. If you don't work and earn money and save for things you want you don't get them. And you shouldn't. What happened to the Americans who worked and expected nothing from anyone. Where did all those people go?

 Is this country too big to fail? It shouldn't be. And it isn't. Maybe it should fail, fail flat on its face in gravel failure, There it lays screaming with arms and legs flailing until it figures out how to shut up, work together and stand up as a constitution supporting, law abiding, moral country. But I know this country, it will lay whining with arms and legs flailing refusing to do anything.

 I think sayings like you do you, live and let live, as long as they aren't hurting any one, and whatever has truly led to the downfall of humans. Everyone gets a trophy. Do what ever you want with no consequences. Laws are racist. People should be allowed to do whatever they want. Sadly, many people subscribe to that way of thinking. And as long as they do and as long as the rest of us let them the world will continue to get worse.

 Is generally black and white. You can change it and say it is your truth. Truth can not be changed and if you think you can just say it is 'your truth' you are living a lie.

 I have been watching a lot of old tv shows lately. I mean really old, 70s and 80s. It seems that the problems we are having now, rising prices, violence, racism, were going on then.  Today I watched an episode of Murder She Wrote. Jessica was asked how she could turn in her friend for murder and she said, paraphrasing, 'even at this time there is still right and wrong. ' In this time there is more wrong than right. The character went on to say how she believed there was more right than wrong and good people make mistakes but if you have your moral compass set to North you would be ok. Jessica would have to put on some big rose colored glasses if she was talking about this time. While most people do the right thing it seems that they are getting pushed aside and told to shut up by the people doing wrong. And it is so easy for good people to just fall into the trap of if everyone else is doing it. Set your moral compass to North people, it's all we got.

 No I did not and I would not. I did not vote for the governor who has the lowest approval rating since these things were kept track of. I am sure she does not care or even wonder why. She got the job and can do as much damage as she wants. So for all she has done is push for more money out of hard working tax payers so that she can send it to the homeless, housing and drug addicts. She has no plan she just wants money. She is basically telling tax payers that they are cash cows and what they want does not matter as long has she has the whining left wing voters who lack any brains or common sense behind her. And now they want to decriminalize public camping. You can came in any public space you want and enjoy peace because no one can bother you. Oh and they are serious and people think this is a great idea. Just because you are homeless you still are human and have rights unlike the working tax payers who have no rights.  Apparently crime does pay.

 When I was a kid my grandmother, and probably my mom too, would tell us that rain was Gods tears and he must be sad. Based on our weather God must be said, mad and downright pissed all in one day.

 So Lego has jumped on the gender neutral band wagon.  First, gender is not neutral it can be scientifically proven. Remember, the government is big on science; the really pushed it during the covid mess that they made. Legos have no gender. They are plastic toys. I imagine being gender neutral means the blocks will not be pink or blue will not have male or female faces. Who knows, since they are genderless toys. It would be more fiscally responsible for Lego to leave things the same and let parents decide what they want to buy for their kids. 

 I don't understand the people who say I don't feel like a boy I feel like a girl. What does that even mean? I can not tell you how it feels to be a female and I am one. So how can someone who is not know what it feels like?  Gender is not a feeling. It just is. And you are it no matter what you feel.

 So now the state is voting on banning Styrofoam. Seriously. That is more important than crime, housing, inflation. They would rather decide for everyone what they should do while putting more people out of work. Who are they even saving the planet for. AI does not need fresh air. The government is going to have already cleared out all those pesky people.

 I make lists, lots of them. I plan. It used to be if it was on the list it was as good as done, now, not so much. The things on the list would not take long if I would just do them.

 It is not the guns. It is the person using the gun. A gun will sit in its locked cabinet forever, unless, a person takes it out and decides to use it. And those who use it for evil are the problem. They need to deal with their issues. they need to know their are consequences,   Change people and you can leave the gun in the cabinet.

 If you know you need to go see someone do it. There are always reasons not to. You think you have time but then you don't.

 Heard a news report that people are demanding that car manufacturers make cars harder to steal. No mention of the thieves who steal them. Guess it isn't their fault that they steal, its the cars maker. Oh, or maybe the people who buy cars. If people didn't own cars and park them, locked, in what should  be safe places the thieves couldn't steal them. This country and its' people are nuts.

 A few weeks ago OR voted to have a state animal. This week they are still talking about pumping your own gas. Is there really nothing else happening in the state? Are there not homeless people, people trying to feed their kids with all the high prices? Crime? Lack of moral decency?  No? Ok then. I'll pump my own gas. That will make all the difference in the world.

 that gas prices are going back up? It is not in the news, people are not complaining, politicians are not blaming each other. I guess since we are not in voting season no one cares that the people are once again getting screwed.

 There was a post on our neighborhood website, asking that people not put out peanuts for the critters because someone's child was allergic. The responses ranged from; oh, i hadn't thought of that to i'll feed the squirrels whatever I want.   Now I am all for watching out for others but seriously why do I have to cater to every whiners wishes. If you have allergies don't pick up the peanut shells. Simple. Don't make it everyone else's problem. As with all things, you should be responsible for you. You can also be considerate of others but if everyone took care of themselves without whining or complaining and making it everyone else's problems the world would be a much nicer place.

 Apparently, the OR senate voted that rescue pets should be the state animal. Because, there is nothing else more important they could be doing.

 This week, in the news, an Or representative complained that he had been stopped by police twice over a few days and that in his lifetime he had been stopped some 40 times. This, of course, was because he was black. He did admit that in the most recent stops he was going 11 miles over the posted speed limit and the next time because he was using his phone. Why, when you are committing a crime would you jump right to racist cops when you are stopped? I don't know about the first 40 stops but it seems the last 2 were valid. He didn't even get ticket. Because he was black, a politician, a whiner? Who knows? As a representative of a pro crime anti police state he should also be aware that the only thing cops have to do is write tickets.  That seems to be the public view anyway. When you can drive a few blocks and see 3 cops with cars pulled over you tend to think that.

 The government and those who think they know; don't want gas for heating or cooking or driving, they don't want animals because these are all bad for the environment. Apparently they want you to walk and eat bugs. Nothing they are doing is good for the people.  And then they build on every single piece of green land they can find. Housing that is not helping the homeless or people working 3 jobs because they still can't afford it. So who are you saving the planet for?

 I heard a news report that said some OR representative offered a bill that would amend the state constitution and give parents the right to have a say in their childrens education and other things. The government thinks it has to give parents the right to raise their children. Seriously. How dare they. Parents should have all rights over their children and unless they are abusing their children they should have it without government intervention.  I would not want any member of any government have any say over my kids. But this is OR and the government seems to think it knows best so I don't imagine this bill will go anywhere. I tried to fire them but the whiners of the state keep them so they can keep being lazy and get handouts.

 It seems government/elected officials do not have the ability of foresight. In OR grass is legal. There is a shop of almost every corner. I am sure the state just wanted the revenue from the licenses. People still buy off the streets because it is cheaper and they will probably not get caught. Now the state is discussing raising taxes on grass to help cities better able to catch people buying on the streets and illegal grows and drug rehab. You would think officials would realize that raising taxes on legal shops will only raise prices and more people will buy illegally. It's human nature. It's common sense.  Why can't lawmakers think clearly and see what is happening and what will happen because of their actions.

 I need to stay away from the internet.  I read reactions to a shooting yesterday. A gunman was killed by cops. Someone commented that it was a good outcome. Someone else took offense to that comment. While it is unfortunate that someone was killed and that someone else will have to live with shooting him, I understand where the initial commented comes from. When you live in a pro crime pro criminal state  a state where laws are racist and cops are bad you get tired of criminals having more rights than anyone else. It is time that that changes, that criminals are punished and laws are enforced. Apparently people find the song natural women offensive. First of all it is a song, if you don't like it dont listen to it. All women are natural. If you are confused about that you need to see someone about that. And then, and probably worst of all, in FL books must be taken out of classrooms. Seriously, have people lost their minds? There are bad teachers out there, ones who want...

 Are we in the calm before the next storm? Gas prices are mostly staying lowish. I have noticed some stations raising prices to be closer to the state average. Food prices are going up every week. But other than that things have been mostly quiet. News is reporting nothing even tho you know things are happening. COVID is apparently not worth talking about. Homelessness and crime are also not worth talking about.  The calm has ne wondering what the powers that be are planning to further destroy this country.

 We have a new governor. A blond version of what we had. Her first order of business was to order more housing be built. Housing that will help people from more expensive and crime ridden areas to move here. People who allowed their former cities to become expensive and crime ridden. This will not help the homeless issue. I see a lot of for rent signs and a lot of homeless. Her next move was to tell the legislature to throw more money at the homeless and get them into housing. Hmm, haven't they already done that? And there are more homeless.  Politicians need to look into the future and see what their less then stellar, already tried ideas will really do.

 I almost feel bad for 2023. It is already looking like it will be one of those years we just want to get thru already.  Gas prices are predicted to go up again in the next month, utility prices have already gone up, food prices go up every week.  And we have a pro crime, woke ( I hate that word), anti working class, anti American, pro any other country or people that are not in the country they represent government. Politicians who are more concerned about lining their own pockets and saving the planet than actually doing the job they were hired to do. And then we have people who keep voting for the same thing. Who would rather sit around complaining about no jobs and high prices and choosing not to realize they are the cause of the problem. I hope I am wrong and things turn around but I doubt it.