Pelosi Beaten

 No, I'm not referring to a voting outcome.  I'm referring to Nancy Pelosi's husband getting beaten in their home.  I'm sure just writing this will get me tracked by government intel and the Google police.  Of course, dems are trying to pin republicans as the source of all evil.  It's more complicated than that.  What people are pissed about is the layers-deep, generations-deep corruption along with hypocritical, self-serving politicians who smile at you while they are screwing you over.  The outlet for this frustration was bound to happen one way or another.  

Just look at California.  We have the same handful of families that have had a stranglehold on politics for decades.  Nobody wants to talk about it as Pelosi and Newsom are involved.  The mainstream media does a great job of hushing that fact.  One has to hunt for such information that is truth, but ignored.  It gives credence to those who also wonder what else is being hidden and gives merit to off-the-wall websites and blogs.  

The harsh truth is that the government brought on all this hate and distrust themselves with their own egos, greed, and hunger for power. 

Austin, Texas

Travel with my work is in full swing again after the COVID hiatus.  Friday we are leaving for Austin, Texas for the national convention.  I've heard that Austin is San Francisco, Jr. and that the rest of Texas considers Austin part of California (which they hate).  Texas has an all out aversion to anybody and anything from California.  How could we blame the Texans? 

I will not advertise where I am from.  I just want to check it out, blend in with the crowd, listen to music, dance, eat, and dance some more.  I'm not out to change anybody's political philosophy. 

Hey, I will probably run into half of my neighborhood that moved to Austin from Sonoma County to escape California.  Little do they know that they brought the CA problems with them when they left.  

Wherever you go, you will always be there....your problems (and the societal problems) you thought you were running from follow you.  You bring it with you. 

Skoal! 

October 11, 1983

It's been 39 years.  It feels like an eternity ago, but it also feels just like yesterday.  I went to the Catholic church to do my annual lighting of the candle near the statue of Mother Mary in remembrance of Karey.  The doors to the church were locked.  I've never encountered locked church doors before.  I suppose crime and homelessness play a part in the church needing to tighten up.  OR the priests saw me coming and said to themselves, "Heathen alert! Heathen alert!  This is not a drill!  Lock all doors immediately!"

Sonoma County has changed.  A couple weeks ago there was a homeless guy sleeping outside my office door in the hallway.  

39 Years Ago

 I just got a random text from my daughter.  She said that she knows I carry trauma from my cousin, Karey, dying in a car accident.  Karey was like my twin sister (I was the dark one, she was the blonde LOL).  What my daughter did not realize was that it will be exactly 39 years ago tomorrow since her untimely death at age 15 in rural North Dakota.  I will never forget that day.  It was October 11, 1983. 

My daughter carries my anxiety about people dying in car accidents.  She is feeling that anxiety very strongly right now.  

I unconsciously passed my trauma down to my daughter.  

Here's my message to Karey:  Sorry your life got cut short.  I had plans of moving to the Fargo area and attending NDSU (Go Bison) after graduating from high school so we could go through college together and have a BLAST - like we always did with everything.  Wow.  Did my life ever turn out unexpectedly.  After you died, I went into a deep depression.   I wandered aimlessly around trying to make sense of things.  I made some bad choices with guys. I made some bad choices with jobs.  The only area where I did not make bad choices was my core friend group.  It's been 40+ years and all of us are still tight.  SSP, you were there through the bad, bad times. Fast forward to now and I'm living a life I never would have imagined - living in California?  Really?  Why??????  How did I end up in California?  It was not on my radar.  The point is, Karey, your life was cut short.  You were gone without warning.  The rest of us really miss you. 

Yosemite

 I've been in California for 37 years and never been to Yosemite.  My husband was born and raised in California and has never been to Yosemite, either.  My husband was born at a San Francisco hospital and has never walked across the Golden Gate Bridge (that's something tourists do).  I don't know who is more pathetic.  

I had a work meeting at the Rush Creek Lodge.  Finally.  We get to check out Yosemite.  It did not disappoint.  I only wish I had the entire week to spend there.  Next time.

Here's what I sensed on the drive into the Yosemite area, and you will think I'm crazy (shocker).  I could hear the trees crying for lack of water.  Yes.  I will repeat that.  I could hear the trees crying for lack of water.  

Bridal Vail Falls was nothing but a sad trickle that dissipated into the air.  It reminded me of the construction guys peeing off the top of the Golden Gate Bridge.  Sure, things start off in a promising little gush; however, at that altitude it dries up before it hits the tourists down below.  Sigh.

I know you're sick of the cliche that pictures do not do Yosemite (or other natural environments) justice, but it's true.  Here's a pic off my iPhone.  The only ones who could possibly bring nature to life through their photography are my English friends JM and PM.  Sorry, I can't hold a candle to their photography skills.