There aren’t enough words to express how terrible we feel about what that Russian idiot Putin is doing in Ukraine. It makes me very angry, especially since I’m part Russian, and I hope it’s all over soon for Ukraine AND Putin.
I am proud of Ukraine’s Zelenskyy who has been serving as the president since 2019.
He turned down an offer from the United States to evacuate.
“The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride,”
Words of a true hero.
Today is a sad day; another truly good human has transitioned…
The International Plum Village Community of Engaged Buddhism announced “our beloved teacher Thich Nhat Hanh passed away peacefully at Từ Hiếu Temple in Huế, Vietnam, at 00:00hrs on 22nd January, 2022, at the age of 95.”
In honor of his life of kindness, how about we do this:
Practices to help cultivate self-love and loving-kindness from Sister Dang Nghiem (ordained as Dharma teacher by Thich Nhat Hanh).
From her book ‘Flowers in the Dark’ (Parallax 2021)
Update on Saturday to add this from the Dalai Lama:
“In his peaceful opposition to the Vietnam war, his support for Martin Luther King and most of all his dedication to sharing with others not only how mindfulness and compassion contribute to inner peace, but also how individuals cultivating peace of mind contributes to genuine world peace, Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh lived a truly meaningful life. I have no doubt the best way we can pay tribute to him is to continue his work to promote peace in the world.” https://bit.ly/35dUncV
Here’s what I think about the insane and repressive new Texas law restricting abortion…
They don’t care about the fetus; all they care about is controlling women. I’m right, don’t try to argue with me.
If you don’t have a uterus, you have NO RIGHT to tell ME what to do with my uterus.
If you DO have a uterus, you have NO RIGHT to tell ME what to do with my uterus.
My body, my choice. You do YOU, and I’ll do ME. We’ve done this before, we already fought for the right to make our own decisions for our own bodies. This is such BS.
I’m proud of Lyft, Uber, and GoDaddy who have made statements in support of women’s rights.
I will protest with Naral and Planned Parenthood for all women to have a CHOICE.
FACTS: A new law (SB8) went into effect in Texas that bans abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy. That’s well before many women even know they are pregnant.
The law allows private citizens to sue abortion providers and anyone else who helps a woman obtain an abortion — including those who give a woman a ride to a clinic or provide financial assistance to obtain an abortion. Private citizens who bring these suits don’t need to show any connection to those they are suing.
The law makes no exceptions for cases involving rape or incest. (Source:NPR)
Learn more here: https://www.aclutx.org/en/know-your-rights/abortion-in-texas
Late yesterday afternoon I dragged my poor little broken body out for a walk. “If you don’t use it, you lose it”, that’s my motto. I think it’s best to keep moving unless it’s impossible.
I was about three blocks away when I saw a few neighbor friends in their front yard so I stopped for a chat, mainly to bore them with photos of the grandkids.
Without warning, lights and sirens from no less than eight police cars, two fire engines, and paramedics drove right by us at a high rate of speed in our residential ‘hood. I checked PulsePoint and noted that they were going to a house just a few doors down from where we were.
A medical emergency isn’t unusual, but when it’s accompanied by heavy law enforcement–well, that’s a different story.
“Let’s go see”, I said, and we did.
It turned out that the medical emergency might have been related to an overdose, which sort of explains the police.
The person was on the ground and when my friend saw who it was, he became upset because it was one of his best friends. I instructed him to immediately call the spouse who wasn’t home at the time, had no idea, and was grateful for the call.
Allegedly, the person was impaired and fell, sustaining injuries, and someone else in the home called the paramedics.
My friend didn’t seem to know how to acquire info from the police or paramedics, so I did what I do–take charge of an emergency situation, communicate with all parties, liaise, and sort out the situation.
After the injured person was worked on by paramedics, was talking and breathing OK, stabilized for transport to the hospital and the spouse knew where to go, I continued on my walk.
I contemplated the many times I’ve been either personally involved in crises or as a bystander, and how I seem to exhibit a calm demeanor that encourages others to look to me for answers, to take charge, and to coordinate all aspects of the situation.
I KNEW I did those things but I had never before realized that is something I’m pretty good at. I don’t know where I learned them. It’s just something instinctual, I guess.
Whether it’s a fire or an accident or my son’s surgery, I don’t panic. I go to a place of calm, unemotional, rational, measured assessment while others tend to become stressed and unable to function.
My son once asked me how I survived his life threatening brief illness and major surgery because I seemed so calm. He asked me if I got upset or if I cried because he saw me as strong and capable during that horrible time and I told him this: during his surgery, I went into the bathroom in the waiting room and broke down and cried only one time. Then I looked in the mirror and told myself to STOP. What I never divulged to him was the mantra I kept repeating to myself, “If I cry, he dies. If I cry, he dies.” Truthfully, without the lifesaving emergency surgery, he would not be here now with those two adorable children. I felt as if I willed him to survive. And he did. After it was all over and he was on the mend, I was able to let go of my steely resolve a bit and helped to love him back to health. Every once in a while we talk about that dark time and how his wife and I never left his side, how we both spent every day and slept next to him every night at the hospital until he was released. SIGH.
I realize now with a little self awareness that I have been able to endure unspeakable pain by being stoic. It’s not that I don’t feel the emotion and the fear and the danger, but my mind seems to go to a different place and I compartmentalize (as my therapist would say) the feelings until later. Stuff needs to get done, someone needs to take charge and be a leader or there’s chaos.
If no one else steps up, you can count on me.
P.S. I made my first Anchor podcast — not my voice though because my microphone didn’t get recognized so I’m using Remy’s voice. Here’s the link, it’s kinda freaky. https://anchor.fm/enchanted-seashells/episodes/Situational-Calm-e16np97
If you don’t live here, have you heard about the recall of our Governor Newsom? I got my ballot in the mail. Personally, I think he’s done a great job to keep us safe during the pandemic. That’s one reason why I’m voting NO on the recall to keep Newsom in office.
It was conjured up by a partisan, Republican coalition of national Republicans, anti-vaxxers, Q-Anon conspiracy theorists, and anti-immigrant Trump supporters.
Remember Bruce Jenner? Well…now as Caitlyn Jenner, he’s thrown his/her hat in the ring to become governor of Cali. Years ago when he was Bruce, I met him and was appalled at the horrible way he treated people. Running very fast is NOT a qualification to govern. That’s about all there is to know.
Here’s what stupid Larry Elder is promoting: minimum wage should be $0. No Medicare or Medicaid.
The other idiot who gets some press is the guy who brings a bear with him. Yes, you read that correctly. A BEAR. I guess because the state animal of California is a BEAR, but we animal activists have launched an investigation–anyone who thinks that bear isn’t abused has their head in the sand.
Lastly, there’s Angelyne, Here’s her pic. She’s known for her billboards and other assets, but we’ve learned that she’s close to 70 years old. ‘Nuff said but I’d love to meet her plastic surgeon!
According to the Los Angeles Times, the candidates are comprised of “peddlers of Q-Anon doomsday conspiracies; ‘patriots’ readying for battle and one organization allied with the far-right extremist group, the Proud Boys.”
POLITICO reported how one of the co-founders and chief organizers of the recall suggested it would be a good idea to “microchip” immigrants, and anti-immigrant rhetoric has been central to recall organizers’ appeals to supporters.
Instead of fighting COVID-19, Republicans are pulling a page from the Trump playbook and attacking Californians. From https://stoptherepublicanrecall.com/about/
This stupid and unnecessary pollitically motivated Republican recall will cost California $100 million – money that could be used to help vaccinate our communities.
Here’s what my hero Stacey Abrams said about the recall: “Governor Newsom has courageously led California through a global pandemic — putting health, science and equity at the center of the state’s response. Republicans fought him every step of the way. Now, they are trying to overturn his election. Californians must stop the Republican recall.”
My other hero, Rep. Katie Porter: “From the start of the pandemic, Gavin Newsom has taken swift action to keep families safe and help them recover financially. That’s what makes this Republican recall so dangerous. It’s not just a waste of time and money that could be used to fight COVID-19 — a successful recall risks slowing down our state’s efforts to end the pandemic as quickly as possible.”
There are literally dozens of candidates. There’s nothing to see here, folks.
Let’s keep it simple.
Vote NO on the recall and let the idiots sort themselves out with their negative and toxic energy.
Will this senseless murder of a species never end? What the hell is wrong with Oregon?
From Defenders of Wildlife:
“It’s a heartbreaking world we live in when even a pair of weeks-old wolf pups aren’t safe. We’re enraged at these senseless killings of wolf pups just barely out of their dens. We know you haven’t given up hope that we can save the wildlife who need us most. These wolves are counting on us – and we can’t do this alone.”
Our ability to fight back depends on US. Please donate.
Rep. Peter DeFazio or Oregon released the following statement in response to a report that the State shot and killed two wolf pups on Sunday.
“The state of Oregon killed two 3-month-old wolf pups under the irrational premise that it would somehow lessen the food needs of the pack. Wolf pups are no threat to livestock,” said Rep. DeFazio. “Nearly 80 years after a federal extermination campaign nearly wiped out the species, I will not sit by and allow the reimplementation of cruel, inhumane, and unscientific policies that degrade local ecosystems. I have called on Interior Secretary Haaland to expeditiously relist the Gray Wolf under the Endangered Species Act to prevent their likely extinction.”
In July, Rep. DeFazio led a bipartisan group of 85 representatives in a letter to Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland urging her to reconsider the decision to delist the Gray Wolf under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Members emphasized the support of over 400 scientists in calling for federal protections for wolves, citing new state laws allowing for hunting practices that have resulted in the killing of hundreds of wolves in the span of a few months – threatening the species’ survival. The Members also stressed that decimating the wolf population would be detrimental to local ecosystems. Full text of the letter can be found here.
DONATE NOW:
Today is the last day to make your urgent gift to protect vulnerable species that we love!
Wolf Protection Fund Fundraiser by Defenders of Wildlife:
https://www.facebook.com/donate/398988634982355/10159819700603756/
Since I recovered from the side effects of my first Covid-19 vaccine, I walked to the beach on a foggy Sunday morning.
I noticed a lot of police and fire truck activity on the bridge overlooking Agua Hedionda Lagoon so I walked over to one of the officers to ask what was going on.
He told me that someone had reported an empty kayak had washed up along the shore and they were following protocol to search for anyone who might have fallen off and needed to be rescued and offer medical assistance.
It’s very possible it was simply a case of a runaway kayak that had come loose from wherever it had been stowed, but they were in full on search and rescue mode.
I left after a while because it didn’t look like they needed my help (haha) and walked back home.
As I walked away, a woman stopped to ask me what was going on. She was maskless, so I told her I don’t speak to people who don’t follow the mask mandate, and kept going. Yes, her mouth dropped open, but I stand by my comment.
It’s simple. Wear a mask!
Subsequently, I learned they searched for more than two hours and didn’t find anyone–or at least I assume they didn’t because there was nothing on the news. If I hear an update, I’ll post the info.
P.S. Me, police, fire, and rescuers were wearing masks. There’s no excuse NOT to follow county guidelines. I hate it too, but I DO IT.
