Fourteen

Fourteen! Count 'em! I'll wait. Fourteen years ago today I followed the demands advice of some fellow bloggers on whose blogs I left lengthy comments. They told me that I seemed to have a lot to say so I should set forth and write a blog of my own. So I did. 3987 posts and 2228 comments later, here we are. I still seem to have a lot to say and photos to share. So I guess I'll still be at this for a while. As always, thanks for stopping by. And for commenting as long as you don't do so obnoxiously and anonymously. Still no book deal, but I'm not holding my breath. I can't wait to be an overnight sensation after doing this for over a decade. The way I see it is that I'm somewhere between Vera Wang and Grandma Moses for hitting the big time. I think I'm ready, but maybe I'm not. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Thanks, Humana!

I'm new to Humana. They made me feel very, very special earlier this week when this envelope of joy appeared in my mailbox. There were two masks but I think Newton may have wandered off with the other one. Now I can be a walking billboard! I love being a shill for a major corporation by providing them with free advertising! Plus, when I stay healthy I won't be a drain on their resources and that helps with their bottom line! Win, win! For Humana! Not that I mind being healthy. Courtesy of my genetics and the positive things I do with my diet and activity level, I hope to strike a balance with my not quite so healthy habits. A glass of wine a day keeps the doctor away, right?

Now I've Seen Everything

 A little lower for the Heimlich, Bernie.

Bernie Beaming Up

 

Four Years Ago

Dear Kellyanne Conway,

Since you are dismissive of the 2.5 million people worldwide who participated in the Women's Marches yesterday, let me share a secret with you. I was on a bus with women who are Republicans who did not vote for your boss and do not support the agenda of the current administration. I met women and men who did vote for the current President and now regret it because they do not support his agenda. 

I was one of over 100,000 who marched in Denver. So please share this little fact with the flaming narcissist in the White House. We all have the phone numbers of our Senators and Congressmen programmed into our phones. We will call those numbers, send emails, and sign petitions to fight anything he puts forward that marginalizes or harms any American Citizen, our environment, or our standing in the world.

We are determined to be active on the local, state, and national level to challenge your politics of exclusion that we do not support. I have experienced the collective energy of the masses who will work to make progressive policies powered by love, inclusion, and fairness into law.

I proudly bear the title of Nasty Woman. I am not alone. We will keep pushing back.

Sincerely,

Carla VanBemmel

This is how I was feeling four years ago. In retrospect, I didn't push back as hard as I could have. I was vocal, but not loud enough. I lost a great number of friends on social media due to my political beliefs. While I detest the tribalism in this country, it is nearly impossible to have a civil conversation with people who are dwelling in a place of anger, hate, and a resistance to facts. We are less than a week into the Biden-Harris administration. I feel hopeful about President Biden already having rolled back many of the harmful policies put in place by the previous administration. While I remain constrained by and concerned over the Covid-19 pandemic and my current personal situation, I can see that there is light pouring in at the end of this tunnel. It won't be easy to get there, but I believe we can get there together.

Bernie. Again.

All I want to know is, when will we see Bernie playing cards with the dogs in the velvet painting?

I Can't Stop Myself

 

And The Hits Just Keep Comin'!

 

Weekend at Bernie's Redux

 I have no words.

And Heeeeeeeeeeere They Are!

 This just gets better and better.

Even Better

 

Kitty Gifts

The kitty socks and wine glass are from my dear sister Pam. The wine is the first sampling of the NPR holiday wine box from Tigh. A very intense and delicious shiraz with a peppery finish. Fun fact, red wine and fuzzy socks both make my feet warm. Recent chilly nights have required both to achieve a toasty toes comfort level. These lovely gifts are most appreciated.

I Love Bernie Sanders

 

January Task

I am cleaning my office. Sorting piles of papers that represent the year 2020. Trying to get organized for that annual funfest known as filing the income tax. Hoping to find the paperwork from the January and March 2020 car repairs. So I can take my car in for a third opinion all armed up with the pertinent information. I'm determined to keep my 2007 Subaru going for several more years, until electric cars are more affordable and the charging infrastructure is built up. I love this car. We've been through so much together. Onto dealing with the IRS! And putting away 2020.

Venn 42

 Thank you, Douglas Adams.

Democracy Has Been Restored

 Let the unity and healing and restoration of our country begin.

Duh!

Oh, right, the keys are inside the unlocked safe. Because you need the keys to lock it, it's impossible to lock them inside. Unlike car keys and the trunk of your car. I knew I put them somewhere that was obvious and easy to remember. Like I always do. I blame this on the aftereffects of Covid and my normal January brain fog. What do you do for fun on a Saturday afternoon?

Yes. This.

 

Like the Phoenix

 

Ruining Romance

I like to be entertained while I'm in the process of taking down and packing away the Christmas decorations. Often I put on a movie or search on YouTube to find concert footage that I can play in the background while I work. Last week I saw that The American President was streaming on Netflix. Perfect, I thought. I've seen it a number of times and can take a break and watch favorite scenes. Near the end there is this bit of rom-com fun that I paused in my undecorating efforts to watch.

President Shepard: These are for you.

Sydney: They're beautiful!

PS: Well, I've got to go.

S: Should I stay here?

PS: Walk with me.

S: How'd you finally do it?

PS: Do what?

S: Manage to give a woman flowers and be president at the same time.

PS: Well, it turns out I've got a rose garden!

I have one little problem with this charming scene. It's the night of the State of the Union address! Which means it's February! Freaking freezing February! I'm pretty sure there isn't one stinking flower blooming out there while it's winter! There. I did it. I ruined the end of the movie for you. All I know is, you should never let logic interfere with romance. 

Something Lovely

Remember this? In order to store the wine properly until I get around to drinking it, I ordered this.

The fab wine rack will arrive in a few days. I do enjoy doing things up properly.

Christmas Has Been Put Away

 

Recently Seen in Colorado

 Where else but California?

Manifesting The New Year

What you think, you become. What you feel, you attract.

 

What you imagine, you create. -- Buddha

Tantrum

 

The Night The Lights Came on in Georgia

Jon Ossof and Raphael Warnock won seats in the Senate after defeating their Republican opponents in the runoff election in Georgia. I don't know about you, but I'm delighted that all those white supremacists, Proud Boys, and Klan members will be represented by a Black man and a Jewish man in Washington. Perhaps those misanthropes will crawl back under the rocks from which they emerged. Let's make some good trouble and get things done for Americans who need a helping hand. Justice has been served, children. Time to move forward with kindness, peace, and wisdom.

Tuesday

I am leaving the house today. Groceries and other items must be procured. I have made a list. I will wear a mask and keep my distance from others. Before I leave I must remember to unload some things I purchased a week ago. I do hope the hatch latch has thawed enough so it will open properly. This seems likely since it looks like we will be experiencing jean jacket temperatures today. Colorado in January is often a very good thing.

I'm With You, Calvin

 

Christmas Crafty

I started this pillow top a month ago. I didn't think I would have it ready for Christmas 2020 but I have made considerable progress on it. Pics later of the finished pillow and what inspired the design.

Au Revoir, Café

I love coffee. I have sipped this fragrant, tasty brew since I was six or so. Of course, it was the thin and watery coffee as prepared by my Norwegian grandmother, so that almost doesn't count. I've always preferred my coffee black but had come to enjoy an iced mocha latte during warmer weather. Have I told you this next part? I don't think so. I could be wrong. A little over two years ago I began to experience heartburn in the late morning to early afternoon time range. I suspected coffee on the early morning empty stomach to be the culprit so I experimented for a few days drinking tea in the morning instead. Heartburn gone! I continued with the ritual of tea as the first beverage of the day but would occasionally make a pot of coffee in the afternoon and enjoy a cup or two. It seemed that later on in the day I could tolerate it quite nicely. Then last week I made some coffee in the afternoon to accompany some cookies and found myself feeling absolutely awful. Nauseated, over-caffeinated, and just generally crappy. It took nearly twenty-four hours to feel right again. First I wanted to blame it on Covid-19. Food doesn't quite smell and taste right to me yet even though I am mostly recovered. I do know I never want to feel that awful again if the only thing I have to do is give up coffee. Forever. I might give a cup of coffee another chance in a few months when I'm certain I'm all better. But I realize I have been working through a sort of grief these last few days over the possibility of never drinking coffee again. Maybe it's the aging process, maybe it's just the Covid-19 hangover. Whatever it turns out to be, I'll be sticking with tea for now. Sigh.
 

Celebratory Rabbits