Shut Down Over...?

~...for now. Likely to be revisited in January. I admit that Angus King disappointed me when he voted for the new rules which include a "promise" by the Republicans to revisit the ACA rebates in December. I can only imagine the excuses they are already cooking up why they can't do that at this time. Time will tell. At least for now, peoples' SNAP benefits are restored and we have some sort of breathing room. I have made 2 weekly donations to the Sidney Food Pantry. It's so easy to add a few things from their list to my cart. ~ Work continues on the last items for stock for the Topsham show. D. has said he'd help with set up unloading. We're doing Thanksgiving at home rather than in Topsham, as Kattie is moving back in. Her relationship/engagement fell apart (no surprise) and the fiance has decamped for his home in New York. I imagine I will hear all about it if she stops by the show and I will have to make it a point to not get trapped in my chair by her, because she can ramble on. ~ I've missed half of the Tai Chi classes this session so I need to recommit to that. It shows in that I cannot remember the routine once I get home. Must do better at that. ~ We had our first show thi week - just barely covered the ground and was gone by noon. A little more last night but nothing to worry about.

Catching Up

~ In a seemingly predictable move, Vice President JD Vance has telegraphed that he "hopes" his Indian-born Hindu wife, Usha, will convert to Catholicism. As this might be an unlikely outcome, he could divorce her and that would free him to pursue what appears to be an already public relationship with the widow to assasinated Right wing conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk. Vance made an appearance at a Turning Point event this past week at which the two embraced rather intimately, leading to much specualtion. ~ Meanwhile his boss was busy touting his success at solving world wars and the economy, while the Isrealis and Gazans are still killing each other. The government shutdown enters it 5th week today and as of yesterday all SNAP benefits were suspended. Food pantries are scrambling to make up the difference for everyone. And while this was going on, Trump was celebrating Halloween at Maralago with a Gatsby-themed party for his loyalists. And he boasted about having renovated the Lincoln bathroon, replacing a 40's vintage look with too much sterile marble and gold. This a week after he completely obliterated the East Wing of the White House without permits and environmental oversight. All to ostensibly build his gold encrusted ball room that no one else wants. ~ Me, I've been quilting up a storm and did my first show of the Fall season, the SMCC Fall Festival in Portland. Did only marginally better that last year at this show. And learned that the Elfin Magic show the first weekend on December has been cancelled due to lack of participants. So I have just 2 shows left - Topsham the weekend before Thanksgiving anf the Scarborough show the Friday and Saturday after. It's fine - more time for me to bake and decorate. ~ We had the floor and railing toppers of the back deck replaced last week. It's so much better than it was and they did a great job. We're all set for winter, as far as I can see. I need to do some major deep cleaning but it will happen. Looking forward to January when I can start knocking titles off my "to be read" list.