Sunday, October 01, 2017

October Sunday


Hard to believe that it’s October already but the signs are all around us—Halloween decorations. Someone posted on Facebook that she’d seen Christmas in some stores and it was too early. Shoot! I thought it was too early for Halloween when Jordan brought home pumpkins last week. But tonight her house is awash with skeletons and Halloween drapes that are, I suppose, meant to look like Spanish moss or something creepy. There are Halloween cocktail napkins in the container on my coffee table, a lit pumpkin (no candles, thank you—a plastic pumpkin with electric lights—what is the world coming to?) outside my patio doors, and a lit ghost by my front door. I guess the whole month will be dedicated to the ghostly tradition.

Lazy day today, writing in the morning with a side trip to Central Market. Still looking for a house plant. I appreciate the suggestion of Mike’s Garden Shop or whatever—I’ve been there and like it, but Jordan is not likely to take on an errand that far out of our beaten path. I’m still looking, but came away with some smoked salmon and pickled herring—prizes from Central Market! Also a beautiful, full white mum for a pot outside the front door. I love to shop there—Jordan not so much so, but she was pleased with the mums..

The big day brightener today was the arrival of my oldest child, Colin David. He’s here on business for two days but will take time to visit with us—he’s sleeping on my couch as I write—and to solve a couple of my financial dilemmas. We had a jolly dinner—chicken enchiladas and a new corn recipe with sour cream, cilantro, and red onion.

Welcoming a child home no matter their age is always a special treat, and I am delighted to have him here. I looked forward to long, heartfelt talks—but he retreated to his bed early and declared he’s not much good after 8:30 at night. A child half my age, who wears out before I do! Still I’m delighted to have him here. Every once in a while, I glance over to make sure he’s really here.

I wrote a good bit today—almost but not quite up to my daily goal. Resolve (once again): new routine tomorrow. Exercise followed by desk chores followed by writing. One thing I’m aware that I really need to work on is being more active. Pushing the rollator around the cottage instead of sitting in it is a good start.

Have a happy week everyone.




1 comment:

Unknown said...

Yes, Judy, I am in your corner. It's a bit early for Halloween yet although some in my area have had decorations up outside since about mid-September. I went to Hobby Lobby last week to pick up some paintings I had framed and was amazed at the Christmas decorations that were out. I mentioned that to the lady in the frame shop and she said that Hobby Lobby had started Christmas around the first week in September. In my day, we didn't decorate until after Thanksgiving. Yesterday I tried to write to you about "impeachable offenses" but halfway through I became a victim of that massive internet outage in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and was without internet access until last night. So, briefly, here it is now: Impeachment offenses are very hard to prove. In a nutshell there are really only three offenses under which a person can be charged by it: murder, theft, and treason. Of the three, treason is the hardest to prove. And the process of doing so is even more difficult. An individual can recommend impeachment in the House but that will send it to the 40 man Judiciary Committee for approval. A simple majority of 21 is needed to bring it to the attention of the House. The House has to agree with a 218 majority vote to pass it on to the Senate that may or may not agree to hold a trial for that individual. The trial is presided over by a Supreme Court justice who is, I believe, selected by the Chief Justice. Now, given all that, I sincerely doubt if every instance can be met to get rid of Trump. Basically, what impeachment is must be proven to have caused "irreconcilable harm" to the country as a whole. Lying does not fall under that purview. Neither does being "tardy" in providing aid such as aid to Puerto Rico. All Trump has to do is show that an attempt is or has been made. A timely matter doesn't exist. And, Trump has sent aid to Puerto Rico albeit not right after the hurricane had passed through. He cannot be charged for eliminating some departments as in each case, he had assigned some of the department duties to another department and thereby could eliminate the original department for a variety of reasons such as a "needless expense". All of this was set down as a process to keep someone from being victimized by a disgruntled individual or an individual looking to "make points" with his constituency during an election year---which really is the most common reason. Just getting by the hurdle in the House is extremely hard. And if the House does manage to agree then there is the problem of convincing the Senate to hold the trial in the first place. Plus, the presiding judge can rule that "not enough evidence exists" and dismiss the trial if he wishes. In the case of Puerto Rica there is a bigger problem. They are, technically, not a part of the country per although they can send delegates to the conventions to chose a candidate for president. They cannot vote in national elections. They have two situations that make Puerto Rica "valuable": they are exempt from paying income taxes and are not a state therefore they are not in the House or Senate. And they probably never will as the citizens of P.R. have to vote to approve wanting to be a state. The fact that they do not have to pay income taxes and therefore are a favorite place for the very rich who probably would block that vote. That Trump should not be in office, well, I agree with you. But kicking him out is, logic tells me, is impossible at this time. The whole process takes a long time to accomplish and would probably last for the remainder of Trump's term. I do not think, however, that he has a chance in hell of being reelected. Not with the government we have at the moment.