I hope...

I hope everyone had a great Christmas, and I hope that everyone has a great new year.

I put up a tree this year.  First time since my Judy died.  It was time.  (This is the 5th Christmas she's been gone)  Small tree.  The oldest decorations we have, including the ones she made from a kit for Christmas of 1973, our first together...

Judy's bench and Debi's tree. 

Nice spot on the small lake near where Judy grew up. 

Judy's bench

Debi's tree.  Debi was my SIL, my younger brother's wife.

Christmas 1973, our first together 

Judy's homemade ornaments. 

Paper images glued to die-cut hardwood cutouts and decoupaged.

She bought them as a kit at a small shop in Bad Nauheim, West Germany 

This year's tree

I have 3 more days to serve in my latest trip to Facebook jail.  They have no sense of humor.  And it's incredibly obvious that they watch what you like and then label you by political ideology.  And when it comes time to drop the boom, it's likely gonna be on someone who leans Right.  Stupid fuckers.  But it can be fun...  ;)

The Maxwell trial has to be the first of its type in the history of the world.  The protege' of the pimp is prosecuted while the Johns are ignored.  I suspect that Epstein's records contain the names of many rich and powerful people.  Possibly people currently in powerful enough positions that governments could be brought to their knees.  

I doubt we'll ever know. 

It had to be a difficult decision to prosecute Ghislaine Maxwell.  She had the potential to bring to light individual behaviors that would destroy the rich and powerful men and women who partook of Epstein's favors.

On the one hand you had 4 women who claimed that they were abused and forced into underage sex at the hand of Jeffrey Epstein.  But Epstein is dead, so...

Maxwell.

The abused want justice.  They deserve justice.

But to make Maxwell the sole focus of that justice?

This whole sordid mess fails the smell test, in my opinion.  What do you think?  And yes, I know the media floats photos of Epstein with Trump.  I don't doubt that they were friends.  I don't doubt Epstein and Clinton were friends.  LOL.  I read this morning that less than one third of Americans trust the media.  Weird, yes?  And the media makes no attempt to regain the trust of Americans.  Why?  Because trust isn't that important when your main focus is entertainment.  

That isn't Air Force One... 

The price of natural gas has nearly doubled since last heating season.  Why is that?  Short supply?  Why is that?  People aren't asking questions... ;)

I know some of y'all are Glock haters (shaking my head) but, have you tried to buy Glock parts lately?  Recoil springs?  Extended slide releases?  Extended slide stops?  Triggers?  LOL.  

Not happening.  

It seems that there may be a few guys out there who are buying up existing supplies when they become available, then selling them at much higher prices on ebay, and the like.  So I guess some Glock parts are available, if you are willing to pay the price.  I love Capitalism!   

It's a good thing that my beloved Glocks work pretty well just the way they come.  ;)  

Anyway...

My kitty has been sick.  Several trips to the vet over the past couple weeks.  Finally figured out that she has a severe UTI.  More medicine.  But hey, if it makes her better...

She has Congestive Heart Failure and kidney disease, so the UTI is hard on her.  

That's my Girl...

Resting. 

(The Gin and Sprite make her tired) 

Happy New Year.  

Peace.

Whether you are a fan, or not...

 Brian Williams has "retired".  I think.  Maybe.  But he might be back. 

The comments on one of the articles that I was reading about Mr. Williams are a pretty good indicator of where the average American stands.  Americans are absolutely and definitely doing whatever their Team tells them to do, with no further thought.  Left, Right, in between... Folks reading the article believed that Brian Williams' comments referred to "the other Team".  That belief is simply incorrect.  His comments referred to politics and politicians in America today, regardless of party.

I'll admit that I didn't watch him much, but he may be as good as it gets when it comes to mainstream journalism.  I don't know...

His words:

“My biggest worry is for my country,” Williams said. “I'm not a liberal or a conservative. I'm an institutionalist. I believe in this place. And in my love of my country I yield to no one, but the darkness on the edge of town has spread to roads and highways and neighborhoods.”

“Grown men and women who swore an oath to our constitution, elected by our constituents, possessing the kinds of college degrees I can only dream of have decided to join the mob and become something they are not, hoping we somehow forget who they were,” Williams continued. “They've decided to burn it all down with us inside. That should scare you to no end as much as it scares an aging volunteer fireman.”

Like him or not, he nailed it with that statement...

"...but the darkness on the edge of town has spread to roads and highways and neighborhoods.”

“Grown men and women who swore an oath to our constitution, elected by our (their) constituents, possessing the kinds of college degrees I can only dream of have decided to join the mob and become something they are not, hoping we somehow forget who they were,” Williams continued.

~~~~~~~

Anyway.  It's almost Christmas.  I spent last weekend and most of this week in southern Missouri reminiscing.  When I returned home I got back to trying to clean my house.  (long story)  I found a shopping bag full of Christmas ornaments that Judy bought in Branson several years ago.  Still in their bubble wrap and tissue from the day she brought them home.  So I looked at a few of them and decided that it's time to put up a Christmas tree.  

This is my 5th Christmas without her.  I love Christmas.  Always have.  But she was the Christmas Lady.  Like some people are the Cat Lady.  And I miss her and her decorating.  And I have a lot of "Christmas with Judy" stories. 

I haven't decorated since she died.  Well, last year I retrieved and plugged in the lights on her "snowman tree" decoration.  That was it.  It was enough.

My tree is pretty simple.  She has 3 Christmas trees here and a storage room full of decorations.  2 of the trees are huge, one is a small 4 1/2 footer.  I grabbed that one.  I put it up yesterday.  I will decorate it with the ornaments that I discovered in her old shopping bag later today.  

I feel pretty good about it.

 

Peace.

Smarter than a Democrat...

 

Yes, I believe that my cat is smarter than a Democrat.  Not many folks still supporting 'ol Dementia Joe.  The Independents who turned the tide for him left long ago.  The Democrats are fleeing in droves.  A few holdouts like my uncle who will stick with him to the bitter end.  Possibly the dumbest mofo on the planet, my uncle.

The Democrats have a serious problem.  'ol Joe ain't cuttin' it.  They hate Harris.  That 'ol "we've gotta be first to have a female VP" is biting them in the ass.  Man, Harris was the whole package.  Mixed race, female, anchor baby with no real qualifications other than being a climber and a gold digger.  Who could ask for anything more?  She is the definitive Democrat. 

Well, Pelosi is Batshit crazy and it seems that the Party is disintegrating before our eyes.  That makes me smile.  She is struggling to hold it all together.

I might vote for Manchin, if he were a candidate.  I dunno. 

Anyway, there's gonna be a reckoning.  I think the Conservatives have finally woken up.  But then again, I dunno...  I've thought that before.

Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to see such discord and stupidity in my lifetime.

Been waiting on tax stamps for a couple of suppressors.  308 days now.  The last one was 270 days.  Crazy.  ;)

I'd like to post more but I am so freakin' tired.  Incredibly tired.  

Fuck Joe Biden.  ;)

Hope all y'all had a great Thanksgiving and that you have an incredible Christmas.  Luke 2: 1-20...  ;)

Peace