My Morning Cup: A Dusting of Snow...This Week's Happenings...The Wuhan Virus and More

Woke to a fresh dusting of snow...it is beautiful, but I think I have reached that
"I could live on a BEACH..." part of winter.

Saw this craft idea and have to make one this year!

So much this week..let's start with the good stuff and then we can end with Wuhan and Trump, okay?

Made a new friend this week.

Gail...who I have known in passing from the Transit.

To be completely honest she always struck me as closed off...maybe a bit bristly...aloof...until recently when I got to know a little more about her situation.

I had not seen her for a while. When I asked about her one of my friends explained that her heart condition had worsened to the point of needing surgery or facing death.

To complicated matters further she was

A. Not a good candidate for surgery given her other numerous health issues.

and

B. Jehovah's Witness.

The religion comes into play when you realize that transfusions of blood are forbidden...and the cardiac surgeon will not operate unless she signs a form expressively giving them permission for transfusions if something should occur.

Which she absolutely refuses.

To make a long story somewhat briefer...the doctor sent her home...to die.

But not instantly.

She had pretty much stopped going out or doing anything.

So last week I reached out to her...invited her to accompany me to brunch at Almost Home Tea Room (...where she had never been...despite growing up and living in Greencastle all her life...)

To my surprise, she accepted.

We got to know one another, and chatted for over 2 1/2 hours.

I listened a lot.

By the end of brunch I understood her so much more...and we have decided to get together again soon. I can't wait to invite her into our little group.

She went home really happy and phoned me later.

She wasn't bristly or aloof....

She was just lonely...and scared...and maybe a bit mad at the way her life has unfolded.

Needed a friend.

Needed someone to reach out.

Needed someone to listen.

Don't we all, sometimes?

Speaking of listening...

Got the best treat (Thanks to Facebook) this week. Listened to James and Chris play (with vocals)!!!

Wonderful to hear them again.

Life gets so busy in their 30's that moments like these are just The Best!

It is pretty great closing in on 60 as well.

John and I, making our plans for next week and musing how nice it is to be each other's Valentine. after all these years.

And discussing our fur-kids, of course.

"So Mom is looking all over the house trying to find me...and I'm up here watching her search...."
~Sofi

"You think that's something? Dad thinks he is going to use the bathroom sink again...as if..."
~Gadget

Get a cat, they said.

It'll be relaxing, they said.

And...it is...mostly.

This little guy is Sofi's latest and greatest toy. He is scruffy and well-mouthed. She has tore his little tail completely off and now he is basically a one inch teardrop shaped cottonball with pink eyes

But she will FETCH him until one or both of us are exhausted.

"AGAIN!!!"
~Sofi

And even when she wears completely out and drops she still wants to pick with me.

"Come on, Mom...I STILL want to play...just laying down..."
~Sofi

According to the news... Mayor Pete is taking the lead in the primaries...

He may be our best hope.

He is my pick for the primaries in May...but come to General
I will be voting for whichever candidate gets the Democratic nomination. Without reservation.

Because this

has to be stopped.

After the acquittal Trump attended The National Prayer Breakfast where he was

...quiet, contrite, apologizing to the American public for the upheaval over the past couple of months...

Yeah...right.

No..he walked in with a paper waving it about with the Header

"Trump Acquitted"

Then he immediately launched into an hour long rant about the TOP-Scum FBI...and ripping Romney for voting to remove him...and accusing Pelosi for lying about praying for him...and using various obscenities...

(...at the National Prayer Breakfast...)

And it went on and on and on...

Until even the preachers were trying to redirect him...and failing.

But was Ugly Lord Orange-Stroke finished?

Oh no...

Now he has FIRED and removed both Ambassador Sondland and Decorated War Hero & Purple Heart Recipient: Lt. Col. Vindman...and also Vindman's twin brother who had NOTHING to do with his impeachment.

And this is just the tip of the REVENGE firings, I'm thinking.

To Senators Lamar Alexander, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski who stated after the acquittal vote that he has

"...learned his lesson..."

No.

Apparently not.

(...but in November I think you all might...)

I was looking at a recent photo of Fearless Leader, though.

and if you disregard the horrible spray tan...look at the edges and the man's natural coloration and his over-all puffiness...

This might just sort itself...before the election.

That is all I'm saying.

And the Update on the Wuhan Virus.

This photo of downtown Wuhan says it all

You see...Wuhan China is home to 11 million people. Empty streets are unheard of...and kind of creepy.

From a handful of cases by the first week of January and one death...to the current spread across 25 or more countries...well over 34,000 confirmed cases and 725 deaths...