Happy Pfaff!

Thursday's trip South to get the elder Pfaff patched up was a success. Tyler at the Sewing Machine Exchange is a wizard! He even clued me in to what kind of screw driver to buy so I can access the innards on my own, not that I will be doing that anytime soon, as I hope I have learned my lesson. And while I was there he had in stock a foot I have needed since I broke mine in the replace-the-light-bulb fiasco. So it was a good trip. The bad news was that he said Pfaff has not yet made a single-hole needle plate for my new machine, so I wrote their customer service to inquire about plans for that. Seems rather ingenuous to advertise that machine as a quilting machine if you can't/won't provide the option of that essential accessory.

 I also made stops at Jillson's in Sabattus for my herb and flower plants for my containers. I showed there in their Christmas on the Farm event for several years but a change in their schedule to accommodate COVID put the show at odds with the UMC Augusta show so I had to drop out. I also stopped at Stevens in Monmouth for a couple of things Jillson's did not have (lettuce and lemon verbena). and my final stop was at Whippersnapper's in Manchester to fill in on several watercolor batiks I needed to complement some fabrics I already own and want to start using. It was a totally successful trip. The fabric is all washed and dried, ready for use.

 Later today I will be scouting a local show for potential UMC members. I don't have high hopes but you never know where your next great artisan can be found. (I always say at shows "You never know who your next great customer will be."). Unfortunately the postcards we ordered to drum up members have not arrived so I will just be collecting business cards and contact info.

Then it's home to paint the deck railing. Tomorrow I have to create the wreath for Sidney's Memorial Day celebration after which I hope to dive into that fabric that's calling my name. Monday I finish up the wreath and attend the celebration and come home and relax.

DeSantis/Tina/Preakness Day

 Working backwards - DeSantis's campaign launch was the disaster I expected, given his partnership with the current CEO of the blue bird site, Elon Musk. My growing dissatisfaction with Twitter has led to fewer and fewer visits. Yet, I have not found the content I crave on any of the many sites that have attempted to take its place. I try to stay on the "Following" side but sometimes I get flipped to the "For You" crazy-ass side and OMG - what algorithm are these people using to choose my content? What makes them think I want to see the MAGAs trashing ______ (insert any Democrat here)? But, some of the people I "follow" do not show up in the "Following" feed any more, only in the bat-shit crazy side. But back to De Santis - not my cup of tea - his new laws in the past year in Florida are only designed to woo the MAGAs away from their dear leader. I seriously doubt he will be able to woo anyone who found Trump too extreme as he seems to be placing himself even farther to the right.

 Ah, Tina Turner. What to say? This one hurts, even though I would not call myself a fan. I liked many of her songs and videos and I truly admired her for leaving the abuse that was Ike and reinventing herself into a force to reckon with in the music world, as well as a style icon.

 And, Preakness Day saw the silver-haired super trainer from the West in Baltimore with a number of horses. Sadly, he left Baltimore with one less than when he arrived, having lost Havnameltdown in an undercard race. The crocodile tears did not convince people of his regret as he could not even say the horse's name! And yet, he was all smiles when he took the big prize at the end of the day. To say Horseracing Twitter was not happy is an understatement. On the scene reports were of a very muted atmosphere, almost as if the crowd had witnessed a disaster, which in a way, they did. My hope is that the implementation of the HISA rules will allow all Bob's bad behavior to catch up to him. Yet, he will be on site for the Belmont. The Derby winner, Mage, will not - long rest and point towards the Travers. The only good feels for the weekend were a couple of victories for one of the good guy trainers, Graham Motion. 

 Quilting wise, I have been accepted for all shows on my schedule this year, including 2 new ones. I'm down to 6 shows as last year's 9 was too many. I've eliminated all but one 1-day affair. When I'm by myself, which I am most of the time, one days are hard, especially if they are not in my area. Early start, rushed set up, a day selling (hopefully), and a rush to pack up and drive home - too long a day as I age. I have my fingers crossed that the 2 new shows will make up for the decrease by being profitable. And I hope that one of the shows I've done for years actually happens, as applications are way down this year. And with that, it's time to get dressed and take off for Portland to get the older Pfaff looked at to solve the light bulb problem. Wish me luck!

 

Above is a graphic illustration of what occurred in New Hampshire last evening. It is beyond my comprehension why ANY news network (especially CNN) would feel the need to give a narcissist like the former president an hour of airtime to repeat the lies and grievances we've all heard for the past 2 years. Lies, lies, lies! He was combative, disrespectful and generally a real pig to the moderator. He called her "nasty", a term he has used previously to denigrate women. He lied about his most recent court battles, saying he had never met E. Jean Carroll. He lied about the call to the Georgia Secretary of State, saying he never asked for him to find votes - And yes, we've all heard the tape! 

I am seriously reconsidering my viewership of CNN. I think the new management has taken the network in an unsavory direction, despite some decisions I agree with. What has irked me of late is all the changes to schedules and partnerships. Some anchors I respected and trusted have been relegated to unfathomable time slots. It seems as if management is throwing jello at the wall to see what sticks. I've seen that movie in some of my working career stops and it's not pretty and doesn't hold up as a strategy.

My observation here and in other areas of the world is that as education has become more of a business than a respected profession, the entire world has suffered. Our values have changed to reflect this and we have ended up with leaders who are all about the Benjamins and know nothing about how to be truly great leaders. The truly great leaders out there do not want to go into politics because of the divisive nature of that world. And who can blame them? If you really care about the world and making positive change, how would you feel to find yourself in the House, seated across the aisle from a Marjorie Taylor Greene or a Lauren Bobert or a George Santos? These are not serious people looking to make positive changes in our country. They are there just for what they can get out of their time and titles. And where does that come from? The top dog in their political party, who has only ever been in politics for his own gain.  

COVID update + Kentucky Derby

 So I finally tested negative last Saturday and Monday so I'm considering the COVID baddies to have moved out of our house. It's nice to be back to normal here at home - no more worrying about someone else's germs and watching where I go and what I touch, especially in the kitchen. 

The Derby was yesterday and, as usual, not without controversy. Four horses had been euthanized for various reasons in the days before the big day, two from trainer Saffie Joseph's barn, which led Churchill Downs to suspend him and scratch all his entered horses, including one in the Derby. Another 2 were euthanized on Oaks Day. But the big one came Saturday morning, when the Kentucky state veterinarians examined Forte, the favorite, and determined that he would be scratched due to apparent lameness. He had been fighting a bruise and Pletcher had reshod him that morning, Apparently the switch from 3/4 shoe to full shoe was not accepted. Horseplayers all over social media were complaining, including one who opined that Mage's win warranted an asterisk because he had lost to Forte twice before. The man just doesn't understand that these are living, breathing animals, who do not turn in the same performance every time they enter the starting gate. 

The feel good part about Mage for me was that jockey Javier Castellano finally got his Derby win. Plus, there was  a photo of Jose Ortiz and another jockey carrying one of Mage's ownership group over to the winners circle celebration because her wheelchair wasn't able to negotiate the terrain. What sportsmanship! And the first person on the ground to congratulate Javier? Todd Pletcher.

In the preliminary races on Oaks day, Caravel won her race and is headed to Ascot next. Not a fan of her trainer (Cox) but love the horse. Sad that she didn't find success with Graham Motion. And that she was sold twice. But it is the business.