Happy 4th of July

https://youtu.be/n7gwVXk5JGY This will take you to my You Tube blog readings.

(All opinions here are mine and mine alone.)

We went to a backyard party with only 8 people and lots of social distancing. The folks doing the BBQ were even wearing gloves. They have a pool and several people went  in for a swim.

It was a great time with good friends.

I, as always, made deviled eggs. I am the deviled eggs king.

Lots of food and conversation and a good time was had by all.

Back here at 9 p.m. Cheshire is under fire from fire works in all directions.

I've never much liked fireworks so I don't get the attraction, especially by novices.

Yet, apparently since so many communities cancelled them because of Covid, the sale of fireworks to individuals was the highest in history.

Just hope no one gets hurt--as often happens when they aren't pros.

I'm sure it's wet enough to make fires unlikely.

But I don't get it.

July 4th to me is good food, great conversation and loved friends.

That's all I need.

Happy 4th to you all.

 

I forgot to mention

https://youtu.be/n7gwVXk5JGY  This link will take you to me reading my blog on You Tube.

(The opinions here are mine and mine alone.)

I forgot to mention in the last post that it was Calvin Coolidge who was President when Mount Rushmore was ceased from Native Americans.

One of the few things I know about Coolidge is a great exchange he had with a reporter as he was leaving church.

"Mr. President," the reporter respectfully asked, "What was the preacher's sermon about?"

"Sin," Coolidge answered.

"And what did he say about sin?" the reporter responded.

Coolidge replies, "he's a'gin it."

Not a man of many words.

Evidence to the contrary

https://youtu.be/n7gwVXk5JGY will take you to you tube reading from my blog.

(All the opinions in Under the Castor Oil Tree are mine and mine alone.)

In spite of evidence to the contrary, I don't set out to be political here--it's simply too hard to avoid.

The President's visit to Mount Rushmore for fireworks with a huge crowd not required to social distance or wear masks, has too many things wrong to explain.

The celebration of the 4th of July should honor America and Americans. Instead, this rally is putting Americans at risk of contracting Covid 19 and possibly dying and will doubtless add to the already disgraceful failure of this nation to contain the virus.

Plus, fireworks have been outlawed in the Black Hills for over a decade because of the danger of forest fires that wreck havoc on the area.

And Mount Rushmore was Lakota Indian land that was taken from them with less compensation than should have been given. It took 50 years for the Supreme Court to order the government to give four tribes more compensation for the land grab.

Two of the Presidents depicted (Washington and Jefferson) owned slaves and all four were seen as enemies by Native Americas. The descendants of those people will be protesting at the rally.

And, few people know this, the sculptor who did most of the work was from Atlanta, Georgia and a major organizer for the KKK.

He also sculpted the likenesses of Confederate heroes in a huge monument in the South--during that time encouraging the growth of the KKK to provide more funding for his project.

Lots of things to ponder about the President's actions today.

It's truly summer today

We cool our house with three air conditioners and fans. The huge AC in my office, helped by a fan at the bottom of the stairs cools the whole downstairs. There's one in the bedroom and our TV room.

It works well. When I stepped outside this afternoon, I realized how well. It was like going into a sauna. 

We have others for bedrooms, but no one is going to be staying over any time soon.

There were fire-flies tonight. First sighting this year.

I love them, but they remind me of the serial murder my parents let me commit.

I would catch them in my Uncle Russel's front yard--our back yard since his house was behind our apartment.

I would put them in a jar with holes punched in the top.

But I never let them go.

The joy I felt as a child, catching them, is replaced by sorrow and regret as an adult for killing so many of them

Every time I see one, I feel delight--but also that sorrow and regret.

l hope the fire-fly god forgives me.

Russia

https://youtu.be/n7gwVXk5JGY

This link will connect you to my reading blogs on You Tube.

(All the opinions are mine in this blog and do not, in any way reflect on the churches I serve.)

If there is truth (which I believe there is) on the Russian bounties on American soldiers in Afghanistan. then not only is the President damaged, his White House and administration is in shambles.

Something like this deserved action at the highest levels of intelligence and the military.

It is unbelievable that such a threat to our military and our nation was not front and center since February.

What can it be?

His press secretary told a news conference the other day that "the President reads".

Would any other President need a spokesperson to announce that?

I watched President Obama's eulogy for John McCain on You Tube today.

Lordy, lordy, how I miss him.

Eulogizing a man he ran against for President at McCain's request.

It was beautiful and moving and powerfully about what American should be about--opponents respecting and admiring each other. The current president was asked, by the family, to stay away. And he did, to his credit, though he lied that he had 'approved' the funeral. He did no such thing.

What ever happened to politicians who disagree on many things, respecting each other?

We have to get back to those days.

No end in sight

https://youtu.be/n7gwVXk5JGY

That link will take you to me reading my blogs on youtube.

(The opinions here are mine and mine only.)

The Covid-19 virus is wrecking havoc in the South and South-west and California.

Opening too fast was a drastic mistake. Beaches will be closed for July 4. Bars will be closed indefinitely. There is no end in sight to this pandemic in the U.S. Other countries have done much better because they have had strong central government control. But not us.

The President has waved a white flag of surrender to his 'war time presidency'. That's what Joe Biden said today.

Leaving openings to the states was a grave mistake and now we pay the price.

CT has done a great job! But many other states have not. We have more cases and more deaths than any other nation. No leadership from the  White House, none at all.

I'm wearing a tee shirt right now that shows a flying saucer over the White House. The flying saucer is reporting back to where it came from. "No signs of intelligent life", is the message.

I'm going to do a graveside funeral for a member of one of the churches' aunt on July 11. I won't be able to hug the family or even touch them. And we will all have on masks. The woman was 93--a good long stay on this earth--and never had to leave her home.

It will be an odd and strange service.

And there is no end in sight for this pandemic in the US.

God help us.

I mean that sincerely: God help us.

That may be all we have left to sustain us.

Crossing state lines

https://youtu.be/n7gwVXk5JGY

 

(All the opinions here are mine and mine only.)

The link above will take you to my reading of my blog on YouTube.

I go to Waterbury Hospital every two weeks on Tuesday to get two shots of Zolaire, which is a drug that has changed my life. It is for my asthma and has kept me from having asthma for over 3 years now.

The day before my appointment, the hospital calls to make sure I have no Covid symptoms, which I don't.

However, today they asked if I'd been out of state. When I told them of our trip to North Branch, NY, I was told I should be quarantined for two weeks and changed my appointment until July 9!

I had no idea of that rule. We only saw Mimi, Tim and Eleanor. We encountered no other people. Even at the rest stop we wore masks and were never withing 10 feet of someone without a mask.

I should have lied--but I don't lie convincingly.

This pandemic is being taken seriously by health professionals.

But not by our President.

He still acts like it's not here.

Our Vice-President did say some good things about masks and social distancing, but shortly after attended a packed church with an un-masked choir of a hundred singing their lungs out. Everyone there were shoulder to shoulder and without masks.

Biden is doing the right thing--setting an example by wearing a mask and only taking it off to speak when he is yards from anyone else. And everyone attending his small gatherings is masked and keeping social distance.

That's what we need--someone to lead by example--not people who eschew the right things to do.