Updates...Updates...Updates

In an attempt to maintain some semblance of sanity, I have cut out my morning 2+ hours of CNN - it helps that the Hallmark channels are running Christmas movies non-stop right now. I still get my fill of news from online sources and the hour I allow in the evening. But thares not that 2 hour slog through the latest affront from Maga World. Every one of the orange man's picks for his cabinet has some sleazy history of sexual abuse or homophobic posts or something tht should disqualify them from ever holding office, but this is a different world now. Trump has refused/neglected/whatever to sign the standard ethics paperwork and thinkis his picks sould go through without vetting of any kind. I say (and I have plenty of company!!)*******This post was interrupted by a call from one of my nephews, telling me that my brother John had passed away after weeks in the hospital. It all started with heart valve replacement surgery and went downhill from there. He had a blood clot that caused a stroke. He was moved to a Boston hospital and then developed a UTI and pheumonia. Not sure what was the tipping point but all was complicated by his exposure to Agent Orange years ago when he was in the Navy. Seems now like a very prescient move of he and Jean to return to Massochusetts where 3 of their 4 children are located. David and I are making the round trip tomorrow for the graveside service. Worst day of the year for that - day before Thanksgiving - but it is what it is. Latest show was in Topsham and a success. Huge show by today's standards. The show scene has really changed - everyone thinks they can put on a show so there are shows everywhere every weekend. The general public does not distinguish between jurried and non-juried shows and the financial and time commitment that those of us who are members of a juried group face. It was obvious to me that many people have now gone to shopping for high quality crafts online and that is so disheartening to those of us who choose to sell face to face and take the time to get to know our customers. And that is why a group like UMC could not survive. The public and a certain percentage of crafts people are so fickle that one bad show and they are out of the game and looking for the next big thing. It takes years to find your niche.

Mobile Tunes

With the new car, I did not get a CD player, something I suspect will shortly be obsolete as the whole world moves to streaming their music. But I did manage to figure out all on my own how to hook up my iPod Nano to my car's audio system and spent my morning errand drive getting reaquainted with the songs I've carefully collected over the past 15 years. Amazing to me that such a small device can hold so much information but it does. And it's wonderful to hear the likes of Steve Perry and Dan Fogelberg again. Their talents have long since vanished from the radio airwaves - perhaps they have their own streaming channels but I don't subscribe as I have already payed for their music. However, Steve does have an updated version of his Christmas collection out which includes a duet with his father. I would love to hear the story of how that all came together! I hope he shares it soon. I have resigned myself to not watching CNN or other national news in the morning to avoid seeing and hearing the future President. HIs face and voice make me sick. I have spent the past 3 days sewing and been very productive and happy. And yesterday I hit on the perfect antidote to all of the madness - After the first of the year I will explore volunteering at the First Ammendment Museum in Augusta. What better way to locally support the media who will shortly be under retribution attacks from the orange man? My own bit of resistance and persistance.

The Day After the Day After...

Not the result we anticipated...Certainly NOT! I cannot believe my fellow citizens of this DEMOCRACY voted to put in office a convicted criminal who plans to turn the presidency into a dictatorship. No more Department of Education so that the children of today become the uninformed sheep of tomorrow. Women's healthcare depending on a confirmed anti-vaxer and man! Perceived enemies and the press the victims of retribution. And so much more that does not belong in a democracy. I greive for Kamala and everyone who worked so hard on her campaign. I worry about what will become of Ukraine now that Putin's puppet and useful idiot is in charge of US aid to them. (More retribution for Zelenskyy not going along with the plan to discredit Biden.) I worry that young women will have to return to the brutal and dangerous ways to end unwanted/unviable pregnancies. Women are already suffering with the reduced access to care now that Roe is no longer in effect. I worry that women will be relegated to a diminished status, becoming accessories to their husbands. I worry that people of color and those of different religions and relationships will become second and third and fourth class citizens, hunted and attacked because they do not fit the white Christian profile so beloved by Trump and his ilk. I worry that the American oligarchs will be making all the decisions and getting all the tax breaks, the grifting will run rampant and the middle and lower classes will pay for the wretched excesses. And yet, after a day of greiving, I am resolved to spend my remaining time on earth fighting against all of the above. I will do all I can to support libraries as the centers of education and acceptance thay have always been. I will fight against book bans instigated by uninformed citizens. I will keep remiding people to do their own research and how to do that, how to evaluate sources of information. How to question what they find. Neverthless, we will persist. WE'RE NOT GOING BACK!